Abstract: A plurality of logically sequential data blocks of a file to write to a shingled magnetic disk are received. The first data block of the plurality of logically sequential data blocks to a first physical data block of a data track, wherein the first physical data block is part of a sub-band of radially adjacent physical data blocks in a shingled direction, is written. The remaining data blocks of the plurality of logically sequential data blocks to radially adjacent physical data blocks in the sub-band in the shingled direction, beginning with a physical data block radially adjacent to the first physical data block, are written.