Maqam

The term maqam, has to do with a type of Arabic music. It is a set of notes with traditions that define the relationships between them, habitual patterns, and their melodic development. The plural of maqam is maqamat. The nearest equivalent in Western classical music, is the use of major or minor tones. Most maqamat music is based on quarter tones. Today, you are starting to hear more and more of a mixture of western and maqam music, which I personally quite enjoy.

in music of the Middle East and parts of North Africa, a set of pitches and of characteristic melodic elements, or motifs, and a traditional pattern of their use. Maqam is the principal melodic concept in Middle Eastern musical thought and practice (parallel to iqa'at in rhythm).