Acoustic Guitar

## 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?"