Maqm

Maqm is a term that appears in various contexts with no single, universally accepted meaning. In many cases, it is likely a misspelling or transliteration variant of maqam, the Arabic term for a musical mode used in traditional Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and related music. A maqam describes a system of scales, characteristic melodic patterns, and a particular tonal center that guides improvisation and composition. The concept has a long theoretical history in medieval and modern music theory and is a core element of genres such as Arabic classical music and Ottoman makam music.

In other contexts, maqm may be encountered as a proper name, acronym, or idiosyncratic spelling in transliteration of non-Arabic terms. Some online texts or datasets may use maqm to denote a project name, organization, or fictional location, though such uses are not standardized.

Because maqm is not a standard term in major reference works, it is important to verify spelling and context when encountered. See also maqam, makam, and maqamat.