key changes

[ScottS]

I asume just open posistions on mandolin are in the key of G. If I were to play chords in A, what would I do? I know 3 of the closed position chop chords but i cant find anything about what to do with key changes?

[John Flynn]

Well, if you are talking open chords, you can play in several keys, including A, with mostly open chords. If you are talking closed chop chords, you can play in any key at all. I am not sure what your question is exactly.

[jlb]

If you are looking for an easy way to play an A chord, I'm not sure this is technically a chord, but I will sometimes play EAEA, fretted:

0
0
2
2

[ScottS]

In bluegrass, there are all these key changes. In the key of G or C or A. I am mainly talking about chop chords. What Im trying to figure out is, when im chopping chords in G then they switch to the key of A. Do I play the same chord shapes?

[250sc]

Yep. Move the whole thing up two frets.

[duuuude]

In bluegrass, there are all these key changes. In the key of G or C or A. I am mainly talking about chop chords. What Im trying to figure out is, when im chopping chords in G then they switch to the key of A. Do I play the same chord shapes?
As far as hand shapes, yes you can if you're using the regular bluegrass chop chord shapes, these are movable up & down the neck and across the courses of strings to form new chords.

[angrymandolinist]

If you play your G, C, and D chords two frets up, you've got A, D, and E, the I IV V of A Major. Move up three more frets and you're in C. Up another two and you're in D. You can play basic chop chords this way in any key.