animalwithin - 3-17-2013 at 08:06 PM
So I've been at Oud for several weeks now and with my limited practice time i have gotten down 5 maqam by ear (rast, bayati, sikah, saba, and hijaz).
I'm learning more as the days go by. I figured since I'm coming from a guitar background (3 years) and my fingers have the speed, I thought composing
would be easy. Now I don't expect to produce symphony quality music but something simple however I can't. Everything I put together doesn't sound
right to me and piecing together the maqam hasnt helped. I've yet to lean a full song though so maybe I'm worrying prematurely, but do you guys have
any advice on composing your own melodies?
Brian Prunka - 3-18-2013 at 05:31 AM
I know your fingers don't have much to do with it 
Learn as much repertoire as you can. Maqam isn't just the notes, it is a whole set of relationships, tendencies, melodic fragments, etc. that can
only be learned by hearing it in context.
Try singing, it brings a different dimension to composing.
Guldeste - 3-29-2013 at 01:18 PM
Just to add to Brian's excellent points: if you want some wonderful instruction on composing with maqams, try to get to a course by Ross Daly. For
instance: http://www.labyrinthmusic.gr/en/seminars/ross-daly
It's an amazing experience.
David.B - 3-30-2013 at 01:35 AM
There is not much to add, just maybe this thread to better understand the process of assimilation and creation -> http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=13876
Originally maqamat were already melodies -> http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=7795#pid685...
BTW, I don't write songs, I focus on memorizing and improvising, so I'm not the best person to give advice ...
animalwithin - 4-1-2013 at 11:39 AM
Thanks for the advice guys!