The Makam
Scales, Moods & Microtones
Only for iPhone
Free · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS.
iPhone
Hear Turkish music as it's actually played — with the microtones, master performances, and rhythmic cycles that Western notation can't capture.
You've heard Turkish music. Now hear how it works.
Why download The Makam:
Stop hunting YouTube for the right Rast. Every makam comes paired with its definitive recording - the performance that defines the mode, by the masters who shaped the tradition. Curated by ear, one tap away.
Hear taksim, the way it lives. Each makam includes a curated improvisation (taksim) that shows how the mode actually moves - the characteristic phrases, the ornamentation, the turns and resolutions that no scale diagram can teach.
Hear every scale instantly. Tap any makam - Rast, Hicaz, Ussak, Saba, Segah, and more - and hear it on authentic ney samples at exact microtonal pitch. No theory required.
Microtones, finally translated. Every note is labeled both in Turkish notation and against the Western note you know: "quarter-tone flat, 50 cents flat from E." A bridge between Turkish music and the Western ear that's been missing.
Rhythm, where it belongs. A makam without its usul is half a tradition. Browse the rhythmic cycles - Aksak, Duyek, Sofyan, Curcuna - with audio for each. See which usuls pair with which makams.
Find what you need in two taps. Search, mood filters, seyir direction, family relationships, characteristic intervals. Built for the practice room, the stage, the studio.
Built for:
Musicians - a fast, accurate reference for Turkish classical and folk music. Look up an unfamiliar makam, hear how a master plays it, check a microtonal interval, hear a usul before you play it.
Producers and composers - exact microtonal pitch data, authentic ney samples, and curated reference performances for film scoring, world music production, modal textures, and DAW work.
Learners - pronunciation, mood, seasonal context, plain-language explanations. Start with your ear, not a textbook. Hear the tradition's greatest performers, not synthesized scales.
Curious listeners - a way into Turkish makam, one of the world's deepest musical traditions, with sound first and theory second.
What's inside:
Curated links to definitive reference recordings by master performers
Curated improvisations (taksim) demonstrating each makam's character
Authentic ney audio at microtonal accuracy
Microtone labels translated to Western reference pitches
Usul library with authentic rhythm cycle audio
Seyir, durak, guclu, mood, time of day, family relationships
Notable pieces tagged with their makam and usul
Works offline (curated recordings require internet). No account. No subscription. No tracking.
Made by a musician who couldn't find a tool that respected this tradition the way it deserves.
Support: hello@themakam.com
Privacy: themakam.com/privacypolicy
Ratings & Reviews
The developer, Mehmet Aydin, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
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Information
- Seller
- Mehmet Aydin
- Size
- 124.2 MB
- Category
- Music
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 15.1 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - iPod touch
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2026 Mehmet Aydin