need help analyzing this progression

[No_Use]

the progression is "G#(or Ab)major / 1/2 B major / 1/2 F#(or Gb) major" -> repeat

- edit
I'm not 100% familiar with the english music terminology, by major I mean simple major triads, not major7
- end edit

To me it sounds "round" in itself, so I guess it's in one key ?

We have G#,D#,F#,A#C# but also a C in the G# chord which obviously doesn't fit somehow.

So in what key is this progression (is it some modal thing maybe) and what's up with the altered C/C# ?

Thanks.

[jancivil]

would have to hear it to say for sure, but my guess is it's parallel major chords, I, bIII, bVII, I.

a rock kind of thing that seeking to analyze in classical terms would be a waste of time. why does the C or B# not fit? it's the third of that chord.

the cart of some after-the-fact analyses of things that happened in one area won't pull the horse of what happens even in that area, leave alone another area where the thrust is different. in general terms, the key is that first chord, Ab or G#. The bIII and bVII belong to some form of minor mode, but lacking a line, who knows which.
Wouldn't be shocking to hear a lead using a B against that Ab chord.

if my guess is right, there are parallel fifths and octaves going on, which in addition to the 'cross-relation' of C-Cb or B#-B, is problematic part-writing in the classic sense, but that matters not at all unless you're adhering to that style for a test or a gig, and these changes surely don't.

[No_Use]

Thanks.

would have to hear it to say for sure, but my guess is it's parallel major chords, I, bIII, bVII, I.

So you would say it's basically a progression in the key of G# (or is it Ab, how to determine this ?) with some altered chords, so no modal key ?

[jancivil]

Thanks.

would have to hear it to say for sure, but my guess is it's parallel major chords, I, bIII, bVII, I.

So you would say it's basically a progression in the key of G# (or is it Ab, how to determine this ?) with some altered chords, so no modal key ?

doesn't matter a whole lot, but calling out 'key of G#' is going to be odd for people used to charted music.

G# major as a key is a non-starter, for instance. it will have 7 sharps plus a double sharp, Fx, and that doesn't happen. but, this isn't going to fit G# as a key since the only other two chords given are from G# minor basically...

but as you start spelling out the parts of the chords, you have to decide what's best:

G# B# D#; B D# F#, F# A# C#, vs:
Ab C Eb, Cb Eb Gb, Gb Bb Db.

as the lead player I would approach the chord changes on paper, as minor pentatonic basically and maybe play around with the third of the I chord, which is known as 'blues third', ambiguous. But, I'd have to hear the context, it could be electronica of some kind. Still, G# major scale isn't going to work too well.

[No_Use]

But, I'd have to hear the context, it could be electronica of some kind. Still, G# major scale isn't going to work too well.

Yes, it is electronica.
If you want to take a listen (which I'd appreciate) I just send you a PM right now with the link.

Thanks again.

[jancivil]

yeah, you may as well say it's in G# or Ab and think of the other chords as an alteration of, the main feeling is 'major-y', they're all major chords and the sound is 'bright' and 'up'.

but if you ran Ab major scale on it, it won't do you any favors. that approach would have you running a Cb major, then a Gb major scale and would come off cheesy.