Taqsim in Maqam Hijaz - Middle-East/ North-Africa

Do you want to know more about Arabic music and their way of improvising? Or maybe just like to play crossover music with a Middle -Eastern or North- African flavour? This course provides phrases, technical skills and insight into this magical music and the fascinating world behind.

At the end you will be able to play a nearly 5 minute solo taqsim performance and understand the way of thinking behind, or ..... just take the parts you like and shape it to your needs. The course was designed for medium/advanced guitarists, but is also interesting for all melodic players. It can be played on 'normal' electric and acoustic guitars in the standard tuning, no microtones involved.

In addition to jazz music where improvisation is often vertically related to harmony, the maqam system provides a handy tool for horizontal modal melodic developments. The Hijaz sound resembles the 5th mode of the D harmonic minor scale, known as phrygian dominant, but the approach is different. We also find the hijaz mood in Gypsy, Balkan, mediterranean folkloric and flamenco music.

A taqsim in Arabic classic culture is a solo performance, considered the highest form of instrumental art in Middle Eastern culture. It shows the performer's improvisational strength and creativity. Historically developed on oriental instruments such as ud, saz, nye and canun, it really sounds cool on guitar.

The course is taught in English. It contains a performance video, guided with score and tabs for guitar. Beside the practical part it provides theoretical insight in the melodic maqam system and shows how the melodic path of the improvisation unfolds.