Metric Modes (IQA'AT) & Melodic Modes (MAQAMAT)

Demonstration by: Vince Delgado

Demonstration by: Jihad Racy

In the following descriptions of some of the most popular iqā'āt, dum denotes a low, resonant tone and tak denotes a high, crisp tone.


dum	tak

Maqāmāt are often understood in terms of scalar units such as tetrachords (set of 4 notes) that constitute the nucleus of the expanded modes (usually spanning two octaves). The following are five representative maqāmāt.
Traditionally Rāst and Nahawand rest on C, while Bayyāti, Hijāz, and Sabā rest on D

Wahdah

Wahid means "one" in Arabic and Wahdah has a single 'dum' at the beginning. The Wahdah is primarily just an initial accent with varying fills, and can exist in various lengths. eg.:

( 1 ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- 1---- | ---- | ---- | ---- )
dum dum

Rāst

Rāst means "straight" or "right" in Persian. It is similar to the major scale but with the 3rd and 7th degrees flattened by, roughly, a 1/4 tone. During descending the 7th degree is usually fully flattened. (:half flat):

Masmūdi

Masmūdi consists of two main variants. One is 4 beats long and has a lively character (Masmūdi Saghīr, which means small Masmūdi.) It is fairly common in dance music. The other variant is 8 beats long with a slow, more solemn character (Masmūdi Kabīr which means big Masmūdi.) The following is an example of the Masmūdi Kabīr:

( 1 ---- 2 ---- | ---- 4 ---- 5 ---- | ---- 7 ---- | ----)
dum dum tak dum tak

Nahawand

     Nahawand is similar to the harmonic minor scale during ascending and to the natural minor scale during descending:

Nahawand.jpg (1681 bytes)

Samā'i Thaqīl

Samā'i Thaqīl means "heavy Samā'i" and is commonly heard in both Ottoman and Arab classical musics. It consists of a 10 beat pattern usually transcribed as 10/8.

(1 ---- | ---- | ---- 4 ---- | ---- 6 ---- 7 ---- 8 ---- | ---- | ----)
dum tak dum dum tak

Bayyātī

Bayyati uses D as tonic with the 2nd and 6th degrees flattened by, roughly, a 1/4 tone. During descending the 6th degree is usually fully flattened:

Maqsūm

Maqsūm is one of the most prevelant Arab rhythmic modes, typical of dance music. It consists of a 4 beat pattern usually transcribed as 4/4. A simple version is:

( 1 ---- | ---- 2 ---- | ---- 3 ---- | ---- 4 ---- | ---- )
dum tak tak dum tak

Hijāz

Hijāz uses D as tonic. During descending the 6th degree is usually fully flattened:

Malfūf

Malfūf is a fast rhythmic pattern, typical of popular and folk music. It is usually transcribed as 2/4 or 4/4 and may accompany lively dancing.

( 1 ---- | ---- 2 ---- | ---- 3 ---- | ---- 4 ---- | ---- )
dum tak tak

Sabā

The word Sabā refers to the easterly breeze and the mode is often associated with a feeling of sadness. Notice that the mode does not include the octave interval: