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Thread: Noob question playing in different keys

  1. #1
    Striving for adequacy Mark Hawkins's Avatar
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    Default Noob question playing in different keys

    I subscribe to Mike Marshall's school. He recommended that I play "You Are My Sunshine" in D because it better fits my voice. So does that change the melody notes? What I mean is if the group is playing in D and I get a break do I still follow the melody as I learned it in the key of G?
    Mandolin, sorta like guitar only cooler!

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  2. #2

    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Yes it does change the notes. All the notes need to move up a fifth or down a fourth. In the key of G only the F note is sharped, in the key of D both F and C are sharped. You should probably get a teacher or friend to help you because there is more than can be explained in a paragraph or so. It is a lot easier to show than tell.

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  4. #3

    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Take your g solo and move it one string towards the floor.

    --A

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  6. #4
    Striving for adequacy Mark Hawkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Thanks guys, that helps a bunch! I'd ask Mike but honestly it takes a week or two for an answer. I realize that I've got a lot to learn about theory and several scales to master but I'm just at the point where I'm grasping I,IV,V here so the simple explanation is probably best. I'm sure I'll get to the whys & wherefores soon. In the meantime I can at least transfer what I know down a string.
    Mandolin, sorta like guitar only cooler!

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    Registered User Kevin Stueve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    part of the appeal of a mandolin easy to change keys, just move the pattern up or down a string.

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  9. #6

    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    It's great to find a quick down and dirty solution. BUT, I suggest that while you USE the quick solution, you spend some time understanding the theory behind the quick solution. As you increasingly understand the "whys", you will be able to apply solutions to a wide variety of questions that arise.

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  11. #7
    Registered User bennyb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Howdy Mark,
    Here's a basic Mandolin version of "You are my sunshine" in D with guitar back. It requires tefview(free), a small download available here. You can turn off either track in the top right hand corner of the screen, where you see "1" and "2", you can also turn the volume down in either track under Midi options; you can switch to notation by clicking the little "M" in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Hopefully, I won't be in trouble with Mike

    YouMySunshine(basic).tef

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  13. #8

    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    But you have landed on, perhaps, the best place to start learning how music works. And the answer will stick with you. This one is much easier than it looks, even if it doesn't map into words all that well. Once you grasp it, you'll probably slap your forehead and go "duh." I would encourage you to strive for that magic moment. Search online. Review a few youtube videos or little written lectures until you get it. Mike will appreciate your enterprise and he'll have a better idea about how to seed your musical future.

    From there...that's the paradigm for understanding the rest of music. 1) It's not that complicated, 2) you're probably just one idea away from understanding that big idea 3) you probably need to understand a given small idea before the big idea will click. So, peck away at the small ideas and strive to understand the bigger ones.

    Happy deciphering

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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    A very useful tool from the old jazz player's trick book is to learn the melody of a tune like "You are my Sunshine" and then play it in every key, all of them, including all the flat ones. You really learn your instrument that way.

    Granted it's not needed for most styles of mandolin playing, but being able to play in any key certainly adds to your versatility.

    Imagine showing up at an Irish session...the one where they tune to Eb.....and being able to play all your D, G, A, Em, etc. tunes in Eb, Ab, Bb, Fm, and so on.

    Or the Bluegrass session where someone wants to play the tune in B.

    Not to mention playing any jazz with horn players.

    Just a thought.

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    Confused... or?
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Quote Originally Posted by pointpergame View Post
    ... 1) It's not that complicated, 2) you're probably just one idea away from understanding that big idea ...
    Absolutely! I spent decades assiduously avoiding theory, even if I knew some scales, lots of chords, and a usable bunch of licks on guitar. Upon finally diving into "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory", I was amazed at how easy a read it was and how smoothly all those threateningly mysterious bits & pieces fell together. Definitely DID slap my forehead and go "duh"!

    It's about as complicated as learning that there are 26 letters and some of them are vowels and they can come together to form whatever sound, or idea, you want.
    - Ed

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  19. #11
    Striving for adequacy Mark Hawkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Thanks all for the advice. I fully intend to spend some time working on theory (actually since my original post I've taken & passed the 1st section quiz @ Artistworks) I simply needed the quick solution so I could finally play/sing a tune at the weekly jam session I attend rather than pass to the next person. I played "You Are My Sunshine" in D @ the session last night & took a break to play the basic melody line (in the correct key)! This was a huge deal for me. I had a teacher in high school tell me that I couldn't sing & should use his class as an extra studyhall. I've played guitar for decades as well Ed, but I never, ever sang. I never really realized until recently what a devastating effect that teacher's comment had on my psyche. It was a tough hurdle to overcome but I threw myself out there last night & I'm never looking back!
    Mandolin, sorta like guitar only cooler!

    Eastman MD-305
    Loar LM-700

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  21. #12
    Registered User pit lenz's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Congrats!
    Way to go, Mark!


    (Wasn't there a thumbs up icon somewhere?)

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  23. #13

    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Quote Originally Posted by pit lenz View Post
    Congrats! ...
    (Wasn't there a thumbs up icon somewhere?)
    Not sure, but the "thumbs up" sign supposedly means different things in different countries (I didn't know this until recently). Wikipedia link, and random Google Search results: link and more info and another link. I suppose, since this is an internationally-viewed website, they probably didn't want misinterpretations or something. That would be my guess, anyway. I tend to use the mandosmiley icon: for things like that.

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  25. #14
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Hawkins View Post
    Thanks all for the advice. I fully intend to spend some time working on theory (actually since my original post I've taken & passed the 1st section quiz @ Artistworks) I simply needed the quick solution so I could finally play/sing a tune at the weekly jam session I attend rather than pass to the next person. I played "You Are My Sunshine" in D @ the session last night & took a break to play the basic melody line (in the correct key)! This was a huge deal for me. I had a teacher in high school tell me that I couldn't sing & should use his class as an extra studyhall. I've played guitar for decades as well Ed, but I never, ever sang. I never really realized until recently what a devastating effect that teacher's comment had on my psyche. It was a tough hurdle to overcome but I threw myself out there last night & I'm never looking back!
    Mark, this is the coolest thing I've read in a while, you rock, Daddy-o! Long live those who teach and encourage, may those who crush dreams be blighted . . . or enlightened . . . or something, anyway, congrats.
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  27. #15
    Registered User DSDarr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Hawkins View Post
    Thanks all for the advice. I fully intend to spend some time working on theory (actually since my original post I've taken & passed the 1st section quiz @ Artistworks) I simply needed the quick solution so I could finally play/sing a tune at the weekly jam session I attend rather than pass to the next person. I played "You Are My Sunshine" in D @ the session last night & took a break to play the basic melody line (in the correct key)! This was a huge deal for me. I had a teacher in high school tell me that I couldn't sing & should use his class as an extra studyhall. I've played guitar for decades as well Ed, but I never, ever sang. I never really realized until recently what a devastating effect that teacher's comment had on my psyche. It was a tough hurdle to overcome but I threw myself out there last night & I'm never looking back!
    Way to go Mark! Similar story for me by the way. My 5th grade (or was that 6th grade?) music teacher told me (in front of the class) that I should sing more quietly or not at all. Devastating in retrospect because I never sang again really (I'm nearly 60 now). Once I started trying to learn mando (still trying to learn for that matter) I realized that being unable, or un-willing, to attempt to vocalize made learning tunes by ear extremely difficult. I'm still a poor ear-learner but (I hope) getting better and I do make a some attempt to sing now to figure out things...

    David

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  29. #16
    Registered User James Rankine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Noob question playing in different keys

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    Granted it's not needed for most styles of mandolin playing, but being able to play in any key certainly adds to your versatility.

    Imagine showing up at an Irish session...the one where they tune to Eb.....and being able to play all your D, G, A, Em, etc. tunes in Eb, Ab, Bb, Fm, and so on.


    Just a thought.
    Though of course the idea is to just tune your instrument up a semi-tone, in the process excluding the box and whistle players, though I do take your point.

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