Maqam Ajam on guitar

The notes, one by one

Steps are counted in equal quarter tones of 50 cents, the usual written convention for Arabic maqam. Real intonation shifts with region, maqam and player. Pitches are given in cents above the tonic; a fretted semitone is 100 cents.

Ajnas

A maqam is built from small units of three to five notes, each with its own colour. These are the units of Maqam Ajam.

• Jins Ajam

  On C, 5 notes

  C · D · E · F · G

• Jins Upper Ajam

  On G, 4 notes

  G · A · B · C

Sayr

Jins Ajam on the tonic, then a second jins from the ghammaz, G, up to the octave.

1. Jins Ajam establishes the maqam around the tonic, C.
2. At the ghammaz, G, the melody passes into the second jins.
3. That second jins is either Upper Ajam, which leans up to the octave C, or Nahawand; the choice decides whether the seventh is B or B flat.

Example phrase

Climbs Jins Ajam to rest on the ghammaz, G, goes on through Upper Ajam to the octave, then comes back down to the tonic.

A short outline written for Fretwise that follows the sayr above. It is not a quotation from the repertoire. Press “Play the phrase” on the neck to hear it.

Sources

• MaqamWorld: Maqam Ajam

Tuning convention: 24-tone equal temperament. Intervals are written as in the source; practice varies by region and player.