Practicing in Circle of Fifths

[Dylan Ritter]

In my latest attempt at properly learning to play the pedal steel, incorporating disciplined practice routines, I decided to do perform all the daily exercises in a circle of fifths routine. What I mean is that, if I'm practicing rotating between the four major grips, for example, I will do the four up in the first key (key of C open 8 fret), then descend on the G (open 3 fret), ascend on the D (open 10 fret), and so on. once I complete the round on the F I continue/restart on the higher octave, i.e. C on 20th fret, and so on.

After doing this for about the past six weeks, I've found it to be beneficial for all of the following reasons-

1- While at first some of the 'next fret' to go to took some thinking, it didn't take too long to go to the correct next fret without thinking, so helpful in automatic memory especially when playing in some of the lesser used sharp/flat keys
2- instead of running exercises on a fixed timer it can be a matter of completing a certain number rounds, while adding change between measure/beats to keep things a bit more musical
3- and most importantly it really helped me improve accuracy (intonation) on the higher frets.
4 - any exercises involving horizontal movement (e.g. harmonized scales) have the 'where to go to' fret for any key automatically reinforced

To re-iterate, I do this for practicing grips, scales, harmonized scales, speed picking exercises, and whatever else starting on a given key (I usually pick C) and repeat in a circle of fifths pattern.

I'm mentioning all of this because I've found it a good way to improve more than just one element at a time and figure to pass it along as an idea for anyone else that it might help along the way.

Dylan

[Slim Heilpern]

Good routine!

I do something similar with my chromatic harmonica practice, but I go up in fourths instead of fifths -- same end goal, but to me, doing the circle of fourths is more musically intuitive and fun.

- Slim

[Bill McCloskey]

I always practice by going counter clockwise around the circle, ie 4ths. My focus is jazz and many progressions follow the circle of 4ths, including a ii V7 I progression.

[Fred Treece]

Good one. I have been doing something similar, which was an outgrowth of some non-diatonic Paul Franklin and Joe Wright bar control exercises. Really helps with intonation, especially in the upper register..

Ascending 4ths are as you say Bill, just going counterclockwise on the circle. Also sometimes called Descending 5ths.