These days, a lot of my practice happens wherever and whenever I can fit it in.
Sometimes that means I have my bass.
Sometimes I have a guitar.
And sometimes I’m sitting in the car waiting for my kid to get out of school with no instrument at all.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean I can’t practice.
Recently, while I was sitting in the car, I decided to run through all 12 major scales out loud.
A Simple Way to Run Through All 12 Major Scales
Instead of going through the keys chromatically, I organize them in groups of minor thirds.
I start with C and move up in minor thirds:
C → E♭ → G♭ → A
For each key, I verbally recite every note of the major scale.
Once I get back to the starting pitch class, I move the starting key up a half-step and do it again:
D♭ → E → G → B♭
Then I move up another half-step:
D → F → A♭ → B
Three groups of four keys gives me all 12 major keys.
There are plenty of ways you could organize the keys. I like this one because the structure gives me a clear route to follow. I don’t have to stop after every scale and decide which key comes next.
I can just focus on recalling the notes.
But the major scales aren’t really the point.
You Can Practice What You Want to Access
Taking away the instrument takes away the familiar shapes, patterns, and physical cues you normally rely on.
So you’re left with what you can actually recall, hear, or imagine.
And it doesn’t have to be major scales. Try chord tones, intervals, changes, melodies, or anything else you want to access more easily.
You don’t need the perfect practice environment.
Because even without your instrument, you can still practice.
