Maqam (Arabic) · Cheerful · bright
Ajam Scale
Maqam Ajam is the brightest of the maqamat and the closest in feel to the Western major scale, with a cheerful, open character (voiced here with a lowered 7th, Mixolydian-style). It contains no microtones, making it an easy entry point for Western musicians.
Open the interactive Ajam scale →On the piano keyboard
Ajam scale shown on C
Structure of Maqam Ajam on C
Shown on root C — the same interval pattern applies in every key.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Arabic solfège |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 1 | راست |
| 2 | D | 2 | دوكاه |
| 3 | E | 3 | بوسليك |
| 4 | F | 4 | جهاركاه |
| 5 | G | 5 | نوى |
| 6 | A | 6 | حسيني |
| 7 | Bb | b7 | أوج |
| 8 | C | 8 | راست (octave) |
Ajnas — the building blocks
Each maqam is built from two overlapping tetrachords (ajnas). The lower jins defines the maqam's character; the upper jins provides resolution. Understanding ajnas reveals how maqams relate and modulate between each other.
A pure major tetrachord — the brightest and most Western-sounding genus in the Arabic maqam system.
The lowered seventh (B♭ / Awj) is the only non-major element, adding a subtle but distinctly Eastern colour.
Ajam scale on every key — keyboard diagrams
C
Db
D
Eb
E
F
F#
G
Ab
A
Bb
B
Ajam scale in every key
| Key | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | D | E | F | G | A | Bb |
| Db | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | B |
| D | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C |
| Eb | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | Db |
| E | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D |
| F | F | G | A | Bb | C | D | Eb |
| F# | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E |
| G | G | A | B | C | D | E | F |
| Ab | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | Gb |
| A | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G |
| Bb | Bb | C | D | Eb | F | G | Ab |
| B | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A |
Emotional character & uses
Ajam is celebratory, bright and open — the closest maqam to the Western major scale. Its single alteration (the lowered seventh / Awj) adds just enough Eastern colour to keep it distinctly Arabic while remaining immediately approachable for any listener worldwide.
- Festive and celebratory music
- Upbeat folk and popular songs
- Introductory maqam pieces for beginners
- Cross-cultural fusion compositions
Variations & related maqams
Ajam transposed to start on B♭ (Ushayran/Awj) — the most common form in classical Arabic music.
A major-type maqam on F with a natural seventh — a close cousin of Ajam with a brighter upper octave.