The Quickest Way to Master Maqams & Play Modulations like a Pro

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I was eleven when I started learning Santoor (Persian hammered dulcimer). 

Back then, I didn’t know the difference between scales. 

My teacher would play one scale for me, and then play a different one, and I couldn’t really tell what the difference was. The only thing I knew was… it sounded cool!

When you play the Santoor, you are stuck in one maqam for a long time because you have to do a lot of tuning. So it was a big deal for me when my teacher told me I would be moving onto a different one. 

I started to hear the difference a little bit then, but still, the world of maqam felt immensely deep, mysterious, and very hard to grasp. 

Fast forward today, I can tell apart not only different maqams and modulations, but nuances of maqams in Persian, Arabic and Turkish music. But it didn't come easy. 

It took (and is still taking) years of dedication because each type of music approaches maqam in slightly different ways. 

If you're reading this far, you are very likely trying to master Arabic maqams so you can understand the music better and play them authentically. (But you may be frustrated with lack of information as well.)

You might be asking: 

  • How are there no chords?
  • How do you improvise properly instead of just hitting random notes in a scale? 
  • How do you modulate between maqams smoothly and convincingly? 
  • How do you remember all these scales? 
  • How do you make sense of all this?

If you're feeling like this about maqams right now, it's okay. You're not alone.

In fact, in a survey I did a while ago, over 50% of OudforGuitarists subscribers responded that they are struggling to tell apart or understand different maqams. 

But don't worry. Let me show you 1 simple technique that will change the outlook of your maqam learning. 


1 simple technique that changed the way I hear scales forever.

It all started to change when I was in my teens learning music. 

I started to associate different feelings with different pieces of music. Some made me feel melancholic, some made me sense joy and energy. 

After a while, I started to recognize that certain sounds or melodies created a mood or feeling. 

As I began to remember the sound of my favourite songs on the radio, they would pop into my head every once in a while and I could sing the melody exactly as I heard it.

Around the same time, I was forced to learn how to tune my instrument my Santoor without the help of my teacher. After using a tuner to tune, I realized I could predict (with the help of my voice) how the note I was trying to tune was supposed to sound. 

I was learning relative pitch. The ability to recreate a pitch based on a reference note. 

Using my voice, and feeling how my throat muscles moved was when I really understood what an ‘interval’ is. It’s the distance between one note to another.

So… accidentally, by singing my favourite songs and notes to tune my instrument, I started to learn relative pitch. Relative pitch is one of the most helpful skills to help you learn and master maqams, and learning how to play a taqasim. 

As Oud players, or as instrumentalists, we often focus too much on playing a maqam on our instrument, BUT, we are missing out on using our primary instrument in learning music: our voice.

When you use your voice, your body can feel the difference between one note to another note, and the idea of 'interval' is imprinted in your mind. 

But your voice alone can only get you so far.

There are 3 important elements that make this learning process a lot smoother and faster. 

I didn't know these elements when I was starting my maqam education...which resulted in long years of struggle.

But now that I learned these elements and many of my students have had success with them, I want to share them with you.

These 3 crucial elements that will help you get a nice overview of the maqam system more quickly, enable you to understand middle eastern music, and eventually play a soul-stirring taqsim.

Here's what you need to know.

3 Secrets to Mastering Maqams that most people overlook...

At different times in my life, I had different levels of awareness when it comes to maqams. It took my many years to gain the benefits of these 3 crucial elements.

These 3 crucial elements will help you learn maqams more quickly and eventually play an awesome taqsim.  

1. Ear training for each maqam - you need to be able to hear a melody well in order to play a melody well. A wise man once said, “If you can sing it, you can play it”. So use your voice, and FEEL every maqam! This, by far, is the fastest way to internalize and master maqams.

2. A systematic approach, step-by-step approach - there are tons of maqams and trying to conquer them all at once is a recipe for disaster. I’ve made them easy to digest with my own unique system for teaching them. YOU don't have to do the work or spend time researching and guessing. Divide and conquer.

3. Melodic development - there are so many ways to modulate from one maqam to another. So I've streamlined modulations, and you’ll learn the modulation patterns and guidelines that will help you create melodies that flow authentically.

Where can you get all of these in one place?

Only with the Maqam Mastery Program.

Introducing Maqam Mastery Program

Get a huge overview of 30 maqams and their modulations and connections to other maqams.

The Maqam Mastery Program is like a maqam map which uses video tutorials to demonstrate the core building blocks of 30 maqams, the key modulations that are most intuitive, while training your ears to hear, feel, and perform different maqams.

Specifically, you will… 

  • Train your ears by listening and singing along with hours of special Ear Training exercises and FEEL maqams through the vibration of your own voice.

↓↓ Give this sample Ear Training lesson a try! ↓↓

  • Learn 9 essential maqams: Ajam, Nahawand, Kurd, Hijaz, Rast, Bayati, Sikah, Saba, Nawa Athar.
  • Learn 21 more maqams that are related to the basic maqam families: Ajam family, Nahawand family, Kurd family, Hijaz family, Rast family, Bayati family, Sikah family, Saba family, Nawa Athar family.
  • See how different maqams are related by the unpacking the common elements or building blocks within each.
  • Learn countless modulations and key modulations points for each maqam.
  • Play taqsim with authentic, idiomatic phrases that are particular to each maqam which makes your playing sound more natural and seasoned
  • Learn modulation patterns and guidelines for each maqam, so you'll have a bag of tricks up your sleeve on your favourite maqams and comprehend professional taqasim performances.

This program is NOT about note reading or memorizing. It's about FEELING the maqams in your body, and playing them naturally with your instruments. 

And you'll be able "to get Bayati to sound like Bayati should." 

Maqam Wheels

IMAGINE - This weekend, you'll finally start to feel a couple of different maqams like never before. 

By next month, you may catch yourself humming your favourite maqam on your way to work, naturally modulating to another maqam

And you'll know you've internalized the maqams, and by then, you'll be playing taqsim more naturally and more confidently than you ever did before!

Pick a Package and Join Now!


To join the Maqam Mastery Program and start internalizing maqams, follow these 5 simple steps:

1. Pick a package that suits your needs below.

2. Make a payment on PayPal.

3. Wait a few minutes for an email called "Claim Your Order"

4. Open the email, click the registration link, and register online. 

5. Find the program on your "Dashboard" page. Start learning!

Enroll today and get 5 hours of Taqasim Workshops

The Ultra Package

maqam mastery program mastery package

Most popular package! Buy this package if you want the full benefits of Ear Training with expanded Ear Training resources to seriously boost your progress, this package is for you. 

  • Feel different maqams in as quickly as a few hours using 17 additional ear training modules, (5 hours of audio)Arabic Maqam Ear Training Audio Pack Vol 2 & (2 hours of audio) Arabic Maqam Ear Training Audio Pack Vol 1. 
  • SEE your modulation options and how maqams are interrelated in the visual diagram Maqam Wheel.
  • Use the Maqam Mastery Reference Guide as a companion to times when listening to an unfamiliar maqam. Have your Arabic maqamat, Turkish makamlar and Persian Dastgah all in one comprehensive 83-page maqam blueprint.
  • Learn idiomatic phrases and modulation patterns for each maqam with a systematic progression of difficulty
  • Build your repertoire in each maqam with sheet music for 23 traditional Middle Eastern songs 
  • Bonus Lesson: "Important Lesson on Posture"
  • Bonus Lesson: "The Mindset of Middle Eastern Musicians"

Valued at $1710+

Payment Plan also available

The Full Package

Maqam Mastery - Oud Geek Package

Start hearing what is going on in a taqsim and playing your own taqsim naturally.

  • Train your ears anywhere, anytime with a 2-hour audio program, Arabic Maqam Ear Training Audio Pack Vol. 1
  • Learn idiomatic phrases and modulation patterns for each maqam with a systematic progression of difficulty 
  • Build your repertoire in each maqam with sheet music for 23 traditional Middle Eastern songs 
  • Get 2 Bonus Lessons "Important Lesson on Posture" "
  • Bonus Lesson: "The Mindset of Middle Eastern Musicians"

Valued at $1320

Get support from a real Oud teacher

By enrolling in this program, you'll also get:

  • Up to 6 months email/video support - ask me any questions or request feedback at any point, and I'll help you via email or personalized video.
  • Free Access to online "office hours" on Zoom where you can get hands-on, real-time support every month. Every other month for USA time zones, and Euro-Asian time zones. .

What People Are Saying


"The Maqam Mastery Program is truly unique. Navid is a wonderful teacher who breaks down the components of maqamat in simple and clear ways. Learning aurally through these modules is far better than working from a book, and for those who don’t have access to an oud teacher, the Maqam Mastery Program is priceless.” 

– Larry Bitensky, composer and pianist, Professor of Music at Centre College (US)

 

“My main problem is sounding authentic, and this is where the melodic development part of the videos really comes in handy. After a little while of paying attention to the development of the melody as instructed, I got Ajam to sound like Ajam should, rather than my just hitting random notes in the scale.” 

– Sam (UK)


“It is really good for me (non-oriental) to get the basics right. Most of the time, people from arabic origin find the maqam so ‘natural’, that they can not start to explain and you are really giving me a good starting position. 

– Ernest (Belgium) 

 

“The Maqam Wheel is a nice memory aid.” 

– Paul (Canada)


“Wow. I simply cannot believe what you guys have done here. It is completely utterly amazing how you have demystified maqamat. The lessons are so clear and explanatory – must have taken forever. And the manual alone looks like it was a daunting task. You really have done a nice job here and should be very proud. It is a historical move for players and admirers of the instrument. In a way it’s almost as if you have unveiled the tricks of a magicians performance. For me and other musicians this is a huge win! For traditional players this could be a huge upset to their craft – but all in all, bringing forward the importance and beauty of the oud and middle eastern music in general out weighs everything. 

Modulation had always been a struggle, so hats off to you for creating an amazing program that conquers it’s intricacies! Super excited to work through all the content! 

Worth every penny and then some!” 

– Dann (US) www.ambientoud.com

Is the Maqam Mastery Program for me?


"How long does it take to see results?"

Everybody is different and everybody takes different amounts of time going through the material. The material in this program requires daily practice. When it comes to learning maqams and improvisation, even I am still learning and improving with every year that goes by that I apply these concepts.

"What if it doesn't work for me?"

These concepts will definitely work to deepen your understanding of maqams and improvisation, however some people may need extra help. We hold monthly office hours to give you the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. However, if you are not completely satisfied with the contents and materials, please contact us within 60 days for a full refund.

"I’ve seen similar stuff in the past—what makes this different?"

This is different than your usual maqam information in that I give tons of practical examples of modulation that you can use. The Ultra package also includes a full Arabic Maqam Ear Training Program (which can function as a stand-alone course).

“I don’t know how to read music.” 

The Maqam Mastery Program uses notation in some places to present the basic intervals of each maqam, but the focus of this program is to train and use your ears. Note reading is optional and not required to complete this program.

 

“I don’t have the time right now.” 

Once you join, the Maqam Mastery Program is yours for life. You can access these lessons and download them anytime. If you're busy right now, start slowly or come back to the course when you are ready. You can use the program to refer to anytime. 

Haven't practiced in a while? It will be there for you where you left off.

The whole point of the Maqam Mastery Program is to save you time by guiding you effortlessly through a jungle of maqams. 

 

“Couldn’t I find this for free on YouTube?” 

You might be able to find comparable free material elsewhere, but it’s going to be difficult to find all in one go, especially the ear training materials. This material is completely unique and has never been presented before in an online course. We’ve packaged everything you need in one place, so you can get started right away. 


"Seems too expensive...."

Okay, let's have a look at what you'll gain from this program:

  • Materials worth 18 private lessons
  • Ear training exercises worth 9 hours in private lessons
  • Lifetime access to the entire program (and any future updates to the program)

...and more! 

All these private lessons alone will cost you anywhere from $1080 and up in today's market.  

With the Maqam Mastery Program, all the lessons are pre-recorded, and you can go through them at your own pace, and you can come back to reference them again and again. I think it's a great investment. :)

60-day money back guarantee! 

Let us take the risk off your shoulders. I'm confident that you will have a much deeper understanding of the language of maqams and manuver different maqams in your taqasim playing. 

But if you feel you didn't learn anything from the Maqam Mastery Program, email us within 60 days of your purchase, and we will refund every penny immediately. 


Imagine getting that "Aha" moment when you start hearing and FEELING maqams.  

For the price of 5 or less private lessons, it'll be yours. 

The world is starting to open up again - your next jam is just around the corner

Take the time now to learn everything you can about maqams and how they relate to one another so that you can UP your taqasim game at your next jam.

Be smarter than me.

As I mentioned earlier, I spent years fumbling around, learning some Arabic and Turkish music here and there, but not really getting it. 

My biggest failure was not seeking enough training and education to fill the gaps in my knowledge. 

If I were to do it all over again, I would find a teacher, find a course, and stop trying to do it all by myself aimlessly or by guessing.

So stop wasting time. Join the Maqam Mastery Program today, and get ready to play amazing taqasim and impress your audience!

Pick a Package and Join Now!

Full

Maqam Mastery - Oud Geek Package
  • 18 video lessons 
  • Textbook with sheet music for 23 traditional songs
  • 2-hour Arabic Maqam Ear Training Audio Pack Vol 1.
  • 2 Bonus lessons

Most popular!

Ultra

maqam mastery program mastery package
  • 18 video lessons 
  • Textbook with sheet music for 23 traditional songs
  • 2-hour Arabic Maqam Ear Training Audio Pack Vol 1. 
  • 5-hour Arabic Maqam Ear Training Audio Pack Vol 2. 17 Ear Training Modules
  • 2 Bonus lessons
  • Maqam Mastery Reference Guide
  • Maqam Wheel

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