By name: genre-energy-guidance description: Per-genre, per-role energy guidance for jam agents. Provides descriptive musical intent across LOW (1-3), MID (4-6), and HIGH (7-10) energy bands. Use when jam agents need energy-appropriate musical behavior for a specific genre, or when falling back to generic energy guidance for unsupported genres.
Genre Energy Guidance
When to use
Apply this guidance whenever a jam agent receives an energy level (1-10) and a genre context. The guidance tells you what kind of musical behavior is appropriate — not specific patterns or notes.
The 3-band energy model
Every genre defines guidance across three energy bands for each role (drums, bass, melody, chords):
| Band | Range | Intent |
|---|---|---|
| LOW | 1-3 | Sparse, restrained, space-dominant |
| MID | 4-6 | Core groove, balanced activity |
| HIGH | 7-10 | Full density, maximum expression |
Each bullet line is descriptive musical intent — a short phrase capturing the character, density, and attitude for that role at that energy level. Agents should interpret it through their instrument's sound palette, not treat it as a literal recipe.
How to apply
- Look up the current genre in
references/genres.md - Find your role (drums, bass, melody, or chords)
- Read the bullet for your current energy band
- Use the description to shape your pattern's density, complexity, and character
- Stay within the energy band boundaries — don't play HIGH behavior at MID energy
Fallback rules
- Unknown or unsupported genre: Use the
Genericsection. It provides role-appropriate energy guidance without genre-specific flavor. - Ambiguous energy: If the energy level is unclear, hold your current energy level rather than guessing.
- Missing role: If your role isn't listed for a genre (shouldn't happen), fall back to Generic for your role.
Anti-patterns
- Literal pattern recipes: The guidance says "walking quarter-note bass" — this describes a feel, not a Strudel pattern to copy verbatim. Translate intent into your sound.
- Ignoring energy bands: Playing full-density fills at energy 2 violates the guidance even if the genre matches.
- Overriding genre character: At the same energy level, Jazz drums and Punk drums should sound very different. Don't flatten genre distinctions.
- Treating guidance as mandatory: If the musical moment calls for a brief departure (a fill, a break, a surprise), that's musicianship. The guidance sets the baseline, not a cage.
Reference data
Full per-genre, per-role energy tables are in references/genres.md.
Supported genres: Dark Ambient, Pop, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Waltz, Afrobeat, Lo-fi Hip Hop, Drum & Bass, Reggae, Prog Rock, Latin, Mixolydian Rock, Cinematic, Bossa Nova, Punk, Generic.