A method and a device for efficient write operations are disclosed, which may be used in connection with shingled magnetic recording (SMR) in order to reduce write amplification (read-modify-write). The tracks on at least one data carrier surface are grouped into bands, and the address space of logical block addresses is divided into address subsets. Each of these address subsets is permanently assigned to a dedicated selection of tracks derived from all bands. Depending on the embodiment, the dedicated selection of tracks may be chosen in such a way that no write amplification occurs in a first phase and/or that recent data or newly added data can be altered without necessitating read-modify-write.