MaqamatHead.jpg (22123 bytes)

MAQAMAT
Commonly used in Arab Music
With Ascending Intervals & Transpositions
Prepared by: Sami Asmar

#: sharp;  b: flat;  +: half-sharp;  -: half-flat;  (b): flat on descending;  (n): natural on descending;  bold: most common
Western Major Scale is Ajam (or Mahur) = 1  1  1/2  1  1  1  1/2 = C  D  E  F  G  A   B  C

Rast
  1 3/4 3/4 1 1 3/4 3/4
C D E- F G A B-(b) C
D E F+ G A B C+(b) D
E F# G+ A B C# D+(n) E
F G A- Bb C D E-(b) F
G A B- C D E F+(n) G
A B C+ D E F# G+(n) A
B C# D+ E F# G# A+(n) B
Saba
  3/4 3/4 1/2 1.5 1/2 1 1/2
C D- Eb E G Ab Bb B
D E- F Gb A Bb C Db
E F+ G Ab B C D Eb
F G- Ab A C Db Eb E
G A- Bb B D Eb F Gb
A B- C Db E F G Ab
B C+ D Eb F# G A Bb
Bayati
  3/4 3/4 1 1 3/4 3/4 1
C D- Eb F G A-(b) Bb C
D E- F G A B-(b) C D
E F+ G A B C+(n) D E
F G- Ab Bb C D-(b) Eb F
G A- Bb C D E-(b) F G
A B- C D E F+(n) G A
B C+ D E F# G+(n) A B
Nahawand
  1 1/2 1 1 1/2 1.5 1/2
C D Eb F G Ab B(b) C
D E F G A Bb C#(n) D
E F# G A B C D#(n) E
F G Ab Bb C Db E(b) F
G A Bb C D Eb F#(n) G
A B C D E F G#(n) A
B C# D E F# G A#(n) B
Hijaz
  1/2 1.5 1/2 1 3/4 3/4 1
C Db E F G A-(b) Bb C
D Eb F# G A B-(b) C D
E F G# A B C+(n) D E
F Gb A Bb C D-(b) Eb F
G Ab B C D E-(b) F G
A Bb C# D E F+(n) G A
B C D# E F# G+(n) A B
Kurd
  1/2 1 1 1 1/2 1 1
C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C
D Eb F G A Bb C D
E F G A B C D E
F Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb F
G Ab Bb C D Eb F G
A Bb C D E F G A
B C D E F# G A B
Huzam
  3/4 1 1/2 1.5 1/2 1 3/4
C+ D E F G# A B C+
D- Eb F Gb A Bb C D-
E- F G Ab B C D E-
F+ G A Bb C# D E F+
G+ A B C D# E F# G+
A- Bb C Db E F G A-
B- C D Eb F# G A B-
Others
Sikah E- F G A B- C D E- 3/4 1 1 3/4 3/4 1 3/4
Shad Arban G Ab B C D Eb F# G 1/2 1.5 1/2 1 1/2 1.5 1/2
AjamAshiran Bb C D Eb F G A Bb 1 1 1/2 1 1 1 1/2
Hijaz Kar C Db E F G Ab B C 1/2 1.5 1/2 1 1/2 1.5 1/2
Nawa Athar C D Eb F# G Ab B C 1 1/2 1.5 1/2 1/2 1.5 1/2
Nakriz C D Eb F# G A Bb C 1 1/2 1.5 1/2 1 1/2 1
Suznak C D E- F G Ab B C 1 3/4 3/4 1 1/2 1.5 1/2

Maqamat sharing the same notes or scale intervals:
Farah Faza = Nahawand on G,  Ushaq = (Ascending) Bayati,  Muhayyar = (Descending Bayati)
Buslik = Nahawand on D,  Yakah = Rast on G,  Nawa = Bayati on G, Shad Arban = Hijaz Kar on G
Hijaz Kar Kurd = Kurd on C,  Zingula = Hijaz Kar on D