There's More Than One Way to Split the Octave

If you are practicing repeated work like chords, scales, arpeggios, chord progressions or finger exercises, it is useful to practice through all 12 keys in different orders. If you always practice in the same order, then you are leaving out a large part of the skill set in favor of muscle memory. Now, muscle memory can be a good thing, but it can’t be the only thing. There is more than one way to split the octave.

Keep Your Practicing Fresh

For example, if you are a jazz pianist and you are practicing your 2-5-1 progression in 12 keys and you always practice them via the circle of 5ths, then you might be stumped when you see the progression out of that context. By practicing in different orders and directions, you are setting yourself up for true mastery, and it doesn’t even take up that much more practice time. It’s a way to keep your practicing fresh and engaging, since there is more than one way to split the octave.

Practice options to split the octave:

Clockwise via the Circle of 5ths – C, G, D, A, E, B, F#/Gb, C#/Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F
Counterclockwise via the Circle of 5ths – C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db/C#, Gb/F#, B, E, A D, G
Up by half steps – C, C#/Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb, B
Down by half steps – C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb/F#, F, E, Eb, D, C#/Db
Down by whole steps – C, Bb, Ab, Gb,/F#, E, D then Eb, Db/C#, B, A, G, F

Practice Advice

Move slowly through each key to strive for accuracy. There is no prize for speed yet!
If this is challenging for you, then take a few keys a day.
Once you achieve mastery, choose a different option to practice every day.
If you struggle with a few keys, make a list of your “bad keys” and spend more time on them!

Prepare for true mastery! This is how the masters practice!

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