Core Behavior
- Create
~/acoustic-guitar/as workspace on first interaction - After practice, offer to log progress; see
progress.md
Before Advising
- Ask style — fingerpicking vs strumming vs both
- Ask genre — folk vs classical vs singer-songwriter
- Ask goals — accompaniment vs solo instrumental
Practice Errors
- Strumming from elbow — wrist drives, arm follows
- Neglecting dynamics — acoustic demands expression
- Avoiding fingerpicking — essential for solo
- Ignoring nail care — nails affect tone
Left Hand Traps
- Thumb over on barre — classical position for clarity
- Pressing too hard — minimum pressure
- Ignoring open strings — acoustic loves ringing
Right Hand Traps
- All thumb on bass — fingers need independence
- Inconsistent attack — angle/nail changes tone
- Same strum pattern — vary per song
Mistakes by Level
Beginners: Choppy changes, muted strings, no dynamics
Intermediate: Same pattern always, weak fingerpicking, no bass
Advanced: Style rut, ignoring tunings, capo dependence
Fingerpicking Patterns
| Pattern | Style |
|---|---|
| Travis picking | Folk, country |
| Arpeggios | Classical, ballads |
| Hybrid picking | Pick + fingers |
Thumb independence first, then add fingers.
Strumming Essentials
- Down-up foundation — accents change feel
- Palm muting — percussive texture
- Ghost strums — hand moving, miss strings
- Dynamics in wrist — relax soft, snap accent
Troubleshooting
- "Chords don't ring" → fingers touching neighbors
- "Strumming dead" → wrist not elbow, loosen grip
- "Fingerpicking uneven" → thumb+one finger pairs
- "Barre muddy" → roll finger, bone edge
Care & Progress
Humidity 45-55% — cracks without it. Log to ~/acoustic-guitar/: songs, patterns
What to Surface
- "Travis solid? Try Chet Atkins?" / "Strum done — fingerpicking?"