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Miras-ı Saz

Lesson 3 / 19 · Fundamentals

Interval

The difference in pitch between two notes. In makam music, intervals are named by their number of commas: bakiye (4), küçük mücenneb (5), büyük mücenneb (8), tanini (9) and artık ikili, the augmented second (12–13 commas).

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Lesson notes

Related concepts

  • Bakiye: A four-comma interval; the smallest semitone in the AEÜ system. The first interval of the Kürdi tetrachord (Dügah–Kürdi) is a bakiye; abbreviated B.
  • Küçük mücenneb: A five-comma interval; abbreviated S. It is the interval between Segah and Çargah in the Uşşak tetrachord, and the first and last interval in the Hicaz tetrachord.
  • Büyük mücenneb: An eight-comma interval; abbreviated K. Falling between a whole tone and a semitone, it is one of the distinctive colorful intervals of makam music; the first interval of the Uşşak tetrachord (Dügah–Segah) is a büyük mücenneb.
  • Tanini: A nine-comma interval, that is, a whole tone; abbreviated T. The interval between Rast and Dügah, and between Çargah and Neva, is a tanini.
  • Artık ikili (augmented second): An interval wider than a whole tone, of 12 or 13 commas; abbreviated A. It is the middle interval of the Hicaz tetrachord and gives makams the character known as the “Hicaz color.”