Hicaz makam
The best-known makam of the Hicaz family, on Dügâh (A). The wide step between its second (Dik Kürdi, near B♭) and third (Nim Hicaz, near C♯) is its signature sound; half cadences on those two notes give the makam its character.
At a glance
- Karar (tonic)
- Dügâh (A)
- Güçlü (strong note)
- Nevâ (D)
- Yeden (leading note)
- Rast (G)
- Seyir (melodic direction)
- ascending–descending (çıkıcı–inici)
- Key signature (donanım)
- B bakiye flat (4 komas), C bakiye sharp (4 komas), F bakiye sharp (4 komas)
- Scale (dizi)
- a Hicaz tetrachord on Dügâh, with a Rast pentachord on Nevâ
The scale, note by note
As written in Turkish notation. Under each note: its koma accidental, if any, and the nearest clarinet note, with its Boehm fingering.
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1 A
On the clarinet: A4 · played as written
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2 B
B bakiye flat (4 komas)
On the clarinet: B♭4
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3 C
C bakiye sharp (4 komas)
On the clarinet: C♯5
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4 D
On the clarinet: D5 · played as written
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5 E
On the clarinet: E5 · played as written
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6 F
F bakiye sharp (4 komas)
On the clarinet: F♯5
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7 G
On the clarinet: G5 · played as written
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8 A
On the clarinet: A5 · played as written
Playing koma notes on the clarinet
A Boehm clarinet has no keys for koma accidentals. Players take the fingering of the nearest note and bend the pitch with the embouchure or an alternative fingering, listening for the makam’s colour. The scale above shows which notes need it.
Hicaz in Dizek
When you scan a piece in Hicaz, pick “Hicaz, Hümayun — B♭ C♯” as the key on the scan screen. Dizek reads the koma accidentals as the nearest flats and sharps, writes the note names in Turkish if you like, and transposes for your clarinet, including the G clarinet.
Photograph a page in Hicaz, play it tonight
Get DizekSources
Makam theory after the Arel–Ezgi–Uzdilek system, as described by TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi and Klarnet Park.