Cracking The Detroit Code Testimonial - Brian McCarthy
What Was The Biggest Obstacle In your Mind That Would Have Prevented You From Purchasing Cracking The Detroit Code? Price and uncertainty of how the course would develop. I don't have a lot of spare money to begin with but I had just moved to a new area and didn't have a new teacher lined up yet so I thought that the money I would save in not having lessons for a few weeks would justify spending on your course. Once I figured out how I was going to pay for it I was just concerned about how it was going to be taught. I thought that if it was just a bunch of transcriptions from random songs that I would be disappointed.
What did you find as a result of buying Cracking The Detroit Code? I was delighted with how the course progressed - using Jamerson's natural progression from simpler to the more involved and busy lines was perfect. Following Motown chronologically and breaking down the lessons into specific subjects like Rakes and Chromaticism was great.
What specific feature do you like most about Cracking the Detroit Code? The BIAB backing tracks were extremely helpful. As a bass player, especially practicing alone, it is hard to know how your playing will sound as a part of band. Providing the BIAB tracks allowed me to hear how my bass lines were affecting the overall sound of the song and why specific note choices are good or bad.
What other benefits have you found from Cracking The Detroit Code?
1. My practice is much more focused now thanks to the tips and drills associated with the actions plans and the deliberate practice method.
2. I have been playing more upright bass recently and as I was progressing and moving away from simple country 'root, fifth' lines I reopened my CTDC lessons. I found them extremely useful in my upright practice routine becoming more adventurous in my lines and developing a jazzier style.
3.I've noticed that it helped a lot with my ear training as well. Once the common chord progressions were mapped out, practiced to and referred to again and again I began to notice them everywhere. Ear training is one of those super important aspects of being a good musician that seems too hard to attain when you first start but this course improved mine almost without me even noticing.
Would you recommend Cracking The Detroit Code? I would. I'm not sure how much an advanced musician with formal music training would get out of it. That being said, I would recommend it to any beginning to intermediate bass student, electric or upright, that are looking to improve their technique, ear training and practice routine.
Is there anything else you'd like to add? I agree with you that the skills learned in this course are transferable to many different genres of music, not just soul and R&B, and would encourage you to enforce that point more in the future.
Thanks, Paul!
Brian McCarthy, Hobeken New Jersey, USA
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