shash maqām

The term "shash maqam" refers to a collection of six maqamat (singular: maqam) in the musical traditions of Uzbekistan and Central Asia. A maqam is a fundamental concept in Middle Eastern and North African music, encompassing a set of pitches, characteristic melodic elements (motifs), and a traditional pattern for their use.12

These maqamat are not just scales; they also define the mood and character of a musical piece. The music often includes microtones, which are finer pitch distinctions than the half-tones found in Western music. While approximately 50 maqamat exist, a smaller number are most commonly used. The taqsim is a common instrumental genre within this tradition, typically improvised and exploring various maqamat before returning to the original.13