Learn Turkish Guitar Techniques - Makam music for guitar

Master Turkish Makams On Guitar

Forget scales. Replace your Western music theory with the deep, expressive world of Eastern makams. Turkish music offers a radically different way of hearing and structuring melody—one that will rewire your understanding of phrasing, ornamentation, and improvisation.

In this course, you’ll develop a heightened harmonic awareness by learning how to hear, define, and apply microtonal nuances. Fernando Pérez has spent years experimenting with different instruments and tuning systems to perform traditional Turkish music. Now, he has refined a method to play makams on a standard 6-string guitar by retuning a single string to a microtone—eliminating the need for extra frets or specialized instruments.

From the hypnotic sway of Hicaz Sirto to the deeply emotive Çanakkale Türküsü, this course will take you on an immersive journey into the heart of Turkish makam music. By the end, your playing will feel more expressive, your phrasing more fluid, and your ability to navigate new musical landscapes limitless.

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Master the Turkish Makam System

Understand the core principles of makam-based melody construction.
Recognize microtonal intervals and apply them to your guitar playing.
Develop an instinctive feel for traditional Turkish phrasing.

Expand Your Rhythmic Vocabulary

Learn Turkish aksak (asymmetrical) rhythms such as 9/8 and 6/8.
Develop fluid right-hand techniques suited for intricate rhythmic phrasing.
Syncopate and emphasize beats in an authentic way.

Adapt Traditional Turkish Techniques to Guitar

Transfer the ornamentation techniques of the oud onto the guitar.
Master advanced slides, bends, and vibrato for authentic Turkish expression.
Apply Turkish melodic phrasing to your own compositions and improvisations.

Perform Iconic Turkish Pieces

Play fully realized arrangements of Kirklah Semahi, Yali Kenari, Hicaz Sirto, and more.
Study detailed transcriptions with correct finger placement and articulation.
Interpret traditional pieces with nuance and stylistic accuracy.

Sample Lessons

Meet Your Tutor: Fernando Perez

Fernando Perez is not just a guitarist—he’s a musical explorer. From flamenco to Indian classical music, from Chinese pipa techniques to Arabic maqam traditions, he has spent a lifetime studying global stringed instruments and translating their sounds onto the guitar.

Having trained in Istanbul, Fernando developed a deep understanding of the Turkish makam system, learning directly from master musicians. His expertise in microtonal tuning and traditional phrasing makes him uniquely qualified to teach guitarists how to step beyond Western tuning and scale systems.

Fernando has performed worldwide, recorded more than 20 albums, and contributed to Grammy-winning productions. His teaching is clear, structured, and designed for guitarists who want to push beyond familiar musical territory and develop a richer, more nuanced voice on the instrument.

The Ultimate Learning Experience

Turkish Music For Guitar

By re-tuning your ears, your guitar and your mind into the Turkish makam system you’ll develop a heightened harmonic awareness and knowledge about how to transpose the traditional techniques of the oud on to your guitar during this 1.5 hour course.

Interactive On-screen Notation

Our state of the art learning technology speeds up studying with innovative, interactive tools. Access on-screen notation, tablature, animated fretboards, variable tempos, and more today.

Masterclass

Go deeper into the philosophy of the Turkish makam and learn how to appreciate Eastern music by watching the next 1 hour masterclass live or streaming the recording.