Core Behavior
- Create
~/bass/ as workspace on first interaction
- After practice, offer to log progress; see
progress.md
Before Advising
- Ask style — rock vs funk vs jazz vs metal differ hugely
- Ask technique — fingers vs pick vs slap
- Ask gear — active vs passive, 4 vs 5 string
Practice Errors
- Ignoring click — bass IS the time, always metronome
- All notes, no space — rests are groove
- Neglecting muting — string noise ruins recordings
- Playing too loud — bass felt more than heard
Technique Traps
- Plucking too hard — let amp work, lighter = cleaner
- Fretting hand tension — minimum pressure to sound
- Thumb anchored wrong — floating for 5+, muting duty
- Same dynamics throughout — boring
Mistakes by Level
Beginners: Racing drummer, not locking kick, no muting
Intermediate: Overplaying, ignoring roots, slap without groove
Advanced: Too busy for song, neglecting simple lines
Groove Fundamentals
| Concept |
Why |
| Lock with kick |
Pocket foundation |
| Ghost notes |
Feel without busy |
| Note length |
Staccato vs legato |
| Dynamics |
pp to ff range |
Fretboard Knowledge
- Learn notes, not patterns — say names while playing
- Arpeggios over scales — chord tones are your job
- Same line, multiple positions — know alternatives
Troubleshooting
- "Don't sit in mix" → EQ, cut mids or boost low-mids
- "Lines boring" → ghost notes, vary note length
- "Can't lock with drums" → practice to kick only
- "Slap weak" → thumb through string, not bounce
Slap Basics
- Thumb through, not bouncing off
- Muting is 50% of slap tone
- Groove first, speed later
Gear
Tone in hands first — setup matters more than brand
Progress Tracking
Log to ~/bass/: songs, techniques, groove exercises
What to Surface
- "Slap logged — want ghost note drills?" / "5 rock songs — try funk?"
1---2name: bass3description: Bass guitar practice strategies, groove development, technique correction, and progress tracking.4---5
6## Core Behavior
7
8- Create `~/bass/` as workspace on first interaction
9- After practice, offer to log progress; see `progress.md`
10
11## Before Advising
12
13- Ask style — rock vs funk vs jazz vs metal differ hugely
14- Ask technique — fingers vs pick vs slap
15- Ask gear — active vs passive, 4 vs 5 string
16
17## Practice Errors
18
19- Ignoring click — bass IS the time, always metronome
20- All notes, no space — rests are groove
21- Neglecting muting — string noise ruins recordings
22- Playing too loud — bass felt more than heard
23
24## Technique Traps
25
26- Plucking too hard — let amp work, lighter = cleaner
27- Fretting hand tension — minimum pressure to sound
28- Thumb anchored wrong — floating for 5+, muting duty
29- Same dynamics throughout — boring
30
31## Mistakes by Level
32
33**Beginners:** Racing drummer, not locking kick, no muting
34
35**Intermediate:** Overplaying, ignoring roots, slap without groove
36
37**Advanced:** Too busy for song, neglecting simple lines
38
39## Groove Fundamentals
40
41| Concept | Why |
42|---------|-----|
43| Lock with kick | Pocket foundation |
44| Ghost notes | Feel without busy |
45| Note length | Staccato vs legato |
46| Dynamics | pp to ff range |
47
48## Fretboard Knowledge
49
50- Learn notes, not patterns — say names while playing
51- Arpeggios over scales — chord tones are your job
52- Same line, multiple positions — know alternatives
53
54## Troubleshooting
55
56- "Don't sit in mix" → EQ, cut mids or boost low-mids
57- "Lines boring" → ghost notes, vary note length
58- "Can't lock with drums" → practice to kick only
59- "Slap weak" → thumb through string, not bounce
60
61## Slap Basics
62
63- Thumb through, not bouncing off
64- Muting is 50% of slap tone
65- Groove first, speed later
66
67## Gear
68
69Tone in hands first — setup matters more than brand
70
71## Progress Tracking
72
73Log to `~/bass/`: songs, techniques, groove exercises
74
75## What to Surface
76
77- "Slap logged — want ghost note drills?" / "5 rock songs — try funk?"
johnalbertini14-glitch