Practice in interval steps
Besides Random and the circle of fifths, TwelveTones can walk the same idea through all twelve keys by a fixed interval: chromatic, whole tone, minor third, or major third. The starting note decides where the list begins.
Why intervals, not only the circle?
The circle of fifths is a strong grid — but many drills live on other step sizes. Chromatic motion trains nearest neighbours. Whole tones and thirds show up in scales, diminished and augmented chords, and jazz lines. Knowing only C–G–D–A does not mean you own those paths.
Step sequences in the tool
- ½ — chromatic, e.g. from C: C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A, A♯, B
- WT — whole tone, then the other whole-tone scale: C, D, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, then C♯, D♯, F, G, A, B
- m3 — minor thirds in three diminished four-note cycles
- M3 — major thirds in four augmented three-note cycles
- 4ths / 5ths — circles of fourths and fifths, as before
Intervals that do not fill the octave in one cycle are concatenated. You still check off twelve keys — only the order follows the interval.
Choose a starting note
Under the mode buttons sits the starting-note row. Tap E♭, for example, and the sequence begins there; accidentals follow the spelling of that start. In Random mode the starting note is disabled because the list is shuffled.
A short practice recipe
- Pick a short exercise (scale, arpeggio, lick).
- Open TwelveTones, choose e.g. m3 or ½, and set the starting note.
- Play the list top to bottom; only mark a key done when it sits.
- Later, run the same loop from another start or in Random mode.
Frequently asked questions
What are interval step sequences?
You transpose the same exercise not at random and not only around the circle of fifths, but by a fixed interval: half step, whole tone, minor third, major third, fourth, or fifth. You still cover all twelve keys, in a different musical order.
Why doesn’t a whole-tone step visit all twelve keys in one pass?
A whole-tone cycle hits only six keys, a minor third four, a major third three. TwelveTones concatenates the remaining cycles so all twelve keys still appear — the next cycle starts on the next unused chromatic pitch.
How do I set the starting note in the tool?
Open twelvetones.eu/?lang=en, pick a step sequence (½, WT, m3, M3, 4ths, or 5ths), then tap a starting note underneath. Random ignores the starting note. Progress and settings stay in your browser.