Nick Johnston: Biography & Album Information
Biography
Nick Johnston is an acclaimed Canadian virtuoso guitarist, composer, and solo artist widely celebrated for his highly melodic, vocal-like phrasing and sophisticated modern instrumental progressive music. Blending elements of technical shred, blues passion, jazz harmony, and cinematic orchestration, Johnston has carved out a distinct identity in the global guitar community. His solo records consistently feature collaborations with elite musicians such as Guthrie Govan, Paul Gilbert, Marco Minnemann, and Bryan Beller. In addition to his prolific solo catalog and signature guitar line with Schecter, he has contributed guest leads to prominent modern acts like Polyphia, Periphery, and Intervals, and expanded his footprint into heavy metal as a touring and recording member of Mastodon.
Key Albums & Discography
- Atomic Mind (2014): A breakout independent release featuring fan favorites like "Silver Tongued Devil" (with Guthrie Govan) that cemented his technical and compositional style.
- Remarkably Human (2016): A critically lauded masterpiece showcasing his signature emotive phrasing, complex arrangements, and seamless blend of aggressive shred and organic blues.
- Wide Eyes in the Dark (2019) & Young Language (2021): Deeply expressive conceptual releases exploring lush harmonic palettes, intricate time signatures, and rich atmospheric storytelling.
- Child of Bliss (2024): His acclaimed seventh full-length solo album, dedicated to his wife, blending delicate acoustic passages, rich orchestral arrangements, and soaring electric guitar work on tracks like "Voice on the Wind" and "Moonflower".
- Early Mercy (with Harrison / Johnston, 2025): A brilliant collaborative project pairing his intricate guitar textures with master drummer Gavin Harrison.
Nick Johnston's legato and picking chops have stunned fans of his instrumental albums and his live work with Mastodon. For the free lesson with tab/notation head to: https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/a...
0:31 Ex 1a - Hybrid picking and string crossing (v1)
1:24 Ex 1b - Hybrid picking and string crossing (v2)
1:27 Ex 1c - Hybrid picking and string crossing (v3)
2:04 Ex 2a - Fast legato chromatics (v1)
2:11 Ex 2b - Fast legato chromatics (v2)
2:14 Ex 2c - Fast legato chromatics (extended)
3:03 Ex 3a - Bluesy phrasing
3:51 Ex 3b - Bluesy phrasing (v2)
4:48 Ex 4 - Picking and intervallic variations
6:41 Ex 5 - Percussive phrasing