[Neal]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

Neal,
Just because the key is G, or whatever, does NOT mean the first chord will be the root chord.

I can't think of well known examples, but here's my 'Phelp's Flats', played in open G, but it starts on the Vmi, or Dmi chord:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1YsznT3tlI

Regards,
Howard
http://www.howardemerson.com/

Context Howard, the OP was looking at pages in a "bluegrass book", and doesn't know what they mean by the "key of G". Occam's Razor, sorta, in a case like this eh?

BTW, Loved Phelp's Flats.