If I learn a song melody in a key, but all the notes are part of another scale does it work in that key as well? For example, I learned a basic Little Maggie in B, but all the notes used are on the G scale as well. If I am asked to play it in the key of G is it the same? Or will it work OK? This is for a mandolin, btw.
Beginner question on keys
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Hey @jsclownfish!
No, it won’t be the same. What 99.9% of people mean if they say to play it in the key of G is to play it with G as the tonal center (i.e. G referred to as the 1). Even though it may not actually be using the G major scale, we just call it “G” (or perhaps “G modal”).
This may seem confusing if you think about it, but most grassers don’t think about it too hard (lol!)
If I can explain further: Little Maggie uses the Mixolydian mode (that is, the 7th is flatted). The G Mixolydian scale is the same notes as the C major scale, but we wouldn’t think of this as playing in C Major. Rather, we would think of it as playing in G with an alteration (the flat 7th).
In your example, if you know Little Maggie in B and someone wants to play it in G, you’ll need to transpose your version down four half steps to be in G.
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