Modulating from G to A

Gary Arnold · From: Panhandle of Florida, USA

What's the best way to modulate from one key to another in the pedals up position and the pedals down position. Lets use the key of "G" to "A". Thanks guys Very Happy

Steve Hitsman · From: Waterloo, IL

Which key are you modulating to?

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

and it depends how the modulation is actually composed into the tune.

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Bobby Hearn · From: Henrietta, Tx

Typically you go to the 5th chord of the key you are modulating to and then to the one but there are exceptions.

Gary Arnold · From: Panhandle of Florida, USA

G to A

John Sluszny · From: Brussels, Belgium

G E7 A or G G#A or whatever...

John Sluszny · From: Brussels, Belgium

G E7 A

Gary Arnold · From: Panhandle of Florida, USA

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

Two suggestions to set the ball rolling - with pedals up in 3rd engage A&F then release as you slide up to 5th.

With pedals down in 10th release A as you slide down to 5th and engage E, then release B&E.

Generally, decide which A you're heading for from which G, and look for the E or E7 in between.
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Jeff Garden · From: Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, USA

Looks like you're after a "pivot chord" modulation here Gary in going from the key of G to the key of A.
All that means is that you need to pick a common chord in both keys to "pivot" or cross over from one key to the other. in this case you have the following chords in the keys of G and A:

G: G Am Bm C D Em F#dim G

A: A Bm C#m D E F#m G#dim A

Note there's only one common chord and that is Bm. After the Bm you are now within the key of A so you could effectively continue on with any chords in the key of A. Guys have suggested above it's common to go to the 5 chord in your "destination key", the key of A, which would be an E or E7 and then you could go to your 1 chord A etc.

So, to get from the key of G to the key of A you can use

G - Bm (common chord) - A

or

G - Bm (common chord) - E7 - A

etc.

Now you just have to look at fretboard locations, pedal/lever combinations, and string groups for each of the chords you want in the progression above.
I would make a list of locations/pedals/knee levers for EACH chord i.e. G = 3 open, 6AF, 8D, 10AB etc

Then play mix and match and have some fun with the options you've picked out and see what sounds good to you. What string groups do you want to be on? Where do you want to be on the neck? Do you want the progression to work up the neck or down the neck?

Note if you wanted to modulate from the key of G to the key of D you would have more common chords in both keys and more choices available for pivot chords.

Hope this helps.

Gary Arnold · From: Panhandle of Florida, USA

Thanks Jeff, this is what I was looking for and thanks to the other members for there post also. Gary

Jim Peter · From: Mendon,Mich USA

Jeff, thank you for your post I have never thought of it that way. I do have a question about the common chords that G and A share. As you mention the Bm is a common chord but it appears that the D chord is also a common chord. Would it be permissible to use that as well?

Thanks,
Jim

Jeff Garden · From: Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, USA

Good catch, Jim. Smile

Yes, D would work as the other common "pivot" chord in modulating from the key of G to the key of A as well.

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