Answer to the above input in an ordinary Google search field: “Syrian music scale” doesn’t refer to a single scale but to the maqam system, which is central to Syrian and other Middle Eastern music. Maqamat are melodic modes that use a combination of specific intervals, including quarter tones (pitches between the semitones of Western scales), to create unique “colors” and emotions. Common maqamat include Rast, which resembles a major scale with a lowered 3rd and 7th, and Bayati, similar to a natural minor scale but with a lowered 2nd.
Key Characteristics of Maqam (Syrian/Arabic Scales):
Microtones: The most distinctive feature is the use of quarter tones, which are not found in Western music. These are pitches exactly between the half steps (semitones) on a piano, for example, between E and F.
Modular Structure: A maqam isn’t a single scale but a combination of smaller melodic units called jins. These jins can be three or four notes long.
Emotional and Tonal Color: Each maqam has a specific character and is associated with different emotions, colors, or moods, though these associations are largely based on cultural tradition rather than strict scientific proof.
Examples of Common Maqamat:
Rast: A foundational maqam that is often compared to a major scale but with specific adjustments to its intervals, such as a quarter-tone lower 3rd and 7th.
Bayati: Similar to a natural minor scale but with a significant characteristic: the second degree is typically lowered by a quarter tone.
Sikah: Resembles a Phrygian scale but involves specific microtonal alterations to its first and fifth notes.
How to Approach a “Syrian Scale”:
Understand the Concept of Maqam: Rather than looking for a single fixed scale, learn about the different maqamat and their unique melodic structures.
Learn about Quarter Tones: Familiarize yourself with how quarter tones are represented in notation (using half-sharps and half-flats) and how they affect the overall sound.
Listen to the Music: Listen to examples of Syrian or Arabic music to experience the different maqamat and understand their emotional and melodic characteristics.
Study by Imitation: Transcribe and imitate common phrases, called taqasim, to learn how musicians improvise and phrase within a specific maqam.
