Uşşak makam
A basic makam on Dügâh (A). Its second, Segâh, one koma below B, gives Uşşak its colour.
At a glance
- Karar (tonic)
- Dügâh (A)
- Güçlü (strong note)
- Nevâ (D)
- Yeden (leading note)
- Rast (G)
- Seyir (melodic direction)
- ascending (çıkıcı)
- Key signature (donanım)
- B koma flat (1 koma)
- Scale (dizi)
- an Uşşak tetrachord on Dügâh, with a Buselik 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 koma flat (1 koma)
On the clarinet: B4
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3 C
On the clarinet: C5 · played as written
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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
On the clarinet: F5 · played as written
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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.
Uşşak in Dizek
When you scan a piece in Uşşak, pick “Uşşak, Buselik — no sharps or flats (koma flats rounded)” 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 Uşşak, play it tonight
Get DizekSources
Makam theory after the Arel–Ezgi–Uzdilek system, as described by TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi and Klarnet Park.