Welcome to the new MaqamWorld

MaqamWorld is an online resource dedicated to teaching the Arabic Maqam modal system, which is the foundation of traditional Arabic music. This website mainly covers music from the Eastern Mediterranean part of the Arab World (Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria), with a focus on the early to mid-twentieth century period.

After 17 years in operation, MaqamWorld has been rebuilt with the help of a 2016 grant from The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC). MaqamWorld includes the following new features:

A full translation to Arabic, French, Italian, German, Greek, Spanish and Portuguese.
Support of displays of all sizes (especially smart phones).
Google Search.
Updated and more relevant content.
Higher quality images and audio samples.
Better navigation menus and sub-menus.
Clickable notes that generate sound.
A "Contact Us" page for viewer feedback.

If you like this website please check out the companion book INSIDE ARABIC MUSIC, co-authored with my friend Sami Abu Shumays (creator of MaqamLessons). The book is a comprehensive reference on Arabic Music and was released by Oxford University Press in August 2019.

Maqam

Learn about the Arabic Maqam modal system with notated scales and recorded examples.

Maqam

Jins

Learn about the Jins, the scale fragment that is the building block of every Maqam.

Jins

Rhythm

Learn about the Arabic rhythmic cycle called Iqa‘, made of the primitive sounds dum and tak.

Iqa‘

Forms

Learn about the Arabic music forms, called Qawalib, used in both vocal and instrumental music, composed and improvised.

Forms

Instruments

Learn about the traditional Arabic Instruments, melodic and percussion, as well as Western instruments that have been "Arabized".

Instruments

Publications

Learn about the book Inside Arabic Music (co-authored with Sami Abu Shumays) that was published in August 2019.

Publications