Bayât

Bayât is a musical mode or scale used in traditional Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and other Middle Eastern music. It is also known as a dastgah or makam depending on the specific musical tradition. The fundamental structure of Bayât typically involves a specific arrangement of intervals. In its most common form, it features a major second, a neutral third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, and a minor seventh. This interval structure gives Bayât a distinctive melancholic or yearning quality, making it a popular choice for expressing emotional depth in musical compositions and improvisations. Different regional variations and interpretations of Bayât exist, leading to subtle differences in its precise tuning and melodic nuances. It is a foundational element in the repertoire of many Middle Eastern musicians and is frequently encountered in both classical and folk music. The mode can be played on a variety of instruments, including the oud, ney, qanun, and various string and wind instruments.