Arabic Music Maqamaat

Balanced, confident, and noble — the foundational maqam of Arabic music.

Strong opening on C, gentle rise to G, characteristic half-flat on E and B.

Widely used in classical, religious, and celebratory music.

Yearning and emotional — Rast with a raised intensity.

Similar lower jins to Rast, but upper Hijaz jins creates tension.

Romantic and emotional classical compositions.

Bright, celebratory, and festive — close to the Western major scale.

Natural E gives a bright major quality; B♭ keeps it grounded.

Festive occasions, wedding music, joyful compositions.

Intimate, warm, and gently sorrowful — the most commonly used maqam in Arab music.

The half-flat E gives an unmistakable tenderness; resolves firmly to D.

The default maqam for countless songs, mawwal, and religious recitation.

Deeply emotive, plaintive, and spiritual — named after the Prophet’s grandson.

Strong ascending line from A to D, with half-flat B creating pathos.

Religious music, spiritual songs, laments.

Intensely melancholic, grief-stricken, and introspective.

The diminished interval (G♭) creates unbearable tension; deeply sorrowful.

Elegies, laments, expressions of deep grief and longing.

Exotic, mysterious, and evocative — the sound most associated with the East.

The augmented second (E♭–F♯) is instantly recognizable and dramatic.

Spiritual music, call to prayer, dramatic classical pieces.

Double augmented seconds create an intense, dramatic atmosphere.

Two augmented seconds give extreme chromatic tension.

Rare, dramatic compositions and virtuoso taqsim.

More open and expansive than standard Hijaz, with a brighter upper register.

Hijaz lower jins with natural 6th and 7th gives a sweeping quality.

Extended improvisatory pieces, bridging Hijaz and Nahawand.

Close to the natural minor — tender, romantic, and gently melancholic.

Familiar minor tonality with Arabic melodic ornamentation.

Love songs, romantic compositions, instrumental pieces.

Yearning, longing, and romantic — a favorite in Egyptian tradition.

Natural minor-like with a Dorian flavor; warm and open.

Egyptian romantic ballads, popular songs.

Gentle sadness with Persian influence — the pure natural minor.

Aeolian mode; simple, direct, and universally understood minor feeling.

Persian-influenced pieces, gentle laments.

Simple, folk-like, and earthy — close to the Phrygian mode.

The flat second gives a grounding, serious quality.

Folk music, popular songs, straightforward compositions.

Rare and complex — combining Kurd’s earthiness with Hijaz intensity.

Dramatic chromatic movement creates an unusual, striking color.

Virtuoso pieces, rare classical compositions.

Even more intense than Saba — the deepest grief in the maqam system.

Flat second intensifies the sorrow already present in Saba.

The most extreme expressions of sadness and mourning.

Bright, Western-sounding, and joyful — the Arabic major scale.

Essentially a major scale; open, optimistic, and celebratory.

Festive music, marches, compositions requiring brightness.

Open, majestic, and bright — a powerful, confident maqam.

Mixolydian-like quality; strong and declarative.

Majestic compositions, official occasions.

Dramatic, with contrasting character between lower and upper halves.

Minor lower half meets augmented second at the top — theatrical.

Dramatic compositions, theatrical pieces.