Ajam is the maqam that resembles the major scale. It has no quarter tones. In its basic form it has the same notes as the major scale, which makes it a comfortable starting point for anyone who knows Western scales.
Choose an instrument and a root above to see Ajam on the fretboard.
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RootQuarter tone (half-flat ↓)Other notes (including regular flats and sharps)
Note: a regular flat (like E♭) is a semitone, so it is blue. Only a half-flat (↓, e.g. E↓ or B↓) is a quarter tone, shown in yellow. Each quarter tone is drawn inside the fret box above it, and if that box also holds a regular note, both are shown side by side. Play it by bending the string or on a fretless guitar.
Step 1: choose the tuning (düzen) for the electric bağlama
Structure and notes
Degrees: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Notes on D: D E F♯ G A B D♭
Notes on C: C D E F G A B
In terms of notes, Ajam in its basic form is identical to the major scale.
Quarter tones
Maqam Ajam has no quarter tones, so it can be played on instruments with regular frets without any change.
How to practice
Turn on the drone on the root to hear each note's relation to the tonic.
Choose one position (three frets) and play it note by note at the metronome's tempo.
Use the tuner to check that every note is accurate.
Try the same maqam on other instruments, guitar, bouzouki, bağlama and bass, and hear the difference.
What users and teachers say
Instrument sounds are based on open-source recorded samples (Karoryfer Samples: Black And Green Guitars and Black And Blue Basses; University of Iowa Electronic Music Studios; tonejs-instruments).
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Tuner
—
— Hz
— cents
±50 cents
♭●♯
Play a string to start
Settings
Input level
Diagnostics (if the tuner does not work)
Press "Run diagnostics", play a string during the test (about 3 seconds), and send me the report that appears.
Info
On a phone the tuner listens through the built-in microphone. On a computer, choose your sound card or audio interface from the "Input source" list. Automatic audio processing is turned off so the measurement stays accurate. If the metronome plays while you tune, its click may be picked up by the microphone.