Broadway Rag

[FinkChrist]

I love this!! Ragtime is great, I can't wait til I'm actually good enough to play the style well x)

[pianojohn113]

@FinkChrist Ragtime is one of the most rewarding styles of music to play, because it sounds great, and it provides an excellent exercise in style. Glad you liked this one!

[misterdotwookie]

Hey you're really good. I have learned most of your Beatles tutorials and some Lennon. But I think, if you know it, you should try teaching us Sympathy for the Devil, by the Rolling Stones. Please?

[JimWMcGowan]

Spectacular stuff! If you ever figure out how to give ragtime tutorials online, I'll be glued to your channel for months ...

[pianojohn113]

@JimWMcGowan I'd love to be able to do tutorials on ragtime, so I'm open to suggestions from anyone who has an idea on how to teach those songs..

[justicethepianoman]

work on rootbeer rag!! You are great

[pianojohn113]

@justicethepianoman Thanks, I appreciate it. Root Beer Rag is tough to teach on a video, but I'll keep it in mind. :-)

[justicethepianoman]

@pianojohn113 i meant just play it. You don't need to teach it. Cheers

[Iain0101]

Great stuff. Excellent tutorials! It would be great to see you do a tutorial of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" specifically that solo riff in the middle.

[pianojohn113]

@Iain0101 Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I've been working on a plan for a "Scenes" tutorial for about two years now, so I should have something posted at some point. Very difficult song to teach on a video, unfortunately!

[andy1w5jobas]

This is so enjoyable to watch ! Brilliant.

[CorrodedAlloy]

Lovely to see someone playing ragtime at the proper speed for a change. Ragtime should never be played fast.

[pauljonesesquire]

Hey John, love the rag time, I would also like to see you do a version of the entertainer if you know it. I'm working it out on the guitar & its a good challenge.

[hhelpmaboab]

Really nice, John.

Is the pause at, e.g., 0.10 and 0.16, written into the original?

It's curious, because it would instantly confound any couple trying to dance a 2-step to the tune.

[pianojohn113]

@hhelpmaboab Thanks, glad you liked it. The idea to pause is actually something I stole from my favorite rendition of the song done by Max Morath. His version included a pause in those two spots, and I thought it was great, so I incorporated it into my own. I've done the same thing with a few other Max Morath songs.. I guess I just like his arrangements. But you're right about those who are trying to dance to it!

[SCilovemusic]

Hey this is a cool song... you should post more like it... this seems to be a style you enjoy playing:)

[no1unorightnow]

Wow, this is awesome!

Do you think you could do a tutorial on the "full version" of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer"? I know an "abbreviated version", which uses fewer chords, and only the main theme. Even if you can't do a tutorial, it would be awesome if you could post you playing it, so I can at least hear what it's supposed to sound like, and hopefully be able to play it myself. (I have the sheet music, but can't "hear" how some parts should sound when I "listen" to it in my head.)

[no1unorightnow]

Sorry about the extra comments I had here.. it didn't seem to be working, but it was.

[pianojohn113]

@ no1unorightnow Thanks, glad you liked it. I''ve thought about doing ragtime tutorials, but they're a little more difficult to teach on a video than others.. mainly because they don't use chords so much as they do individual notes. When you throw in the syncopated rhythms, it's even more of a challenge. But if I can figure out a way to do it without being confusing, I'll post one up for sure!

[no1unorightnow]

@pianojohn113 That makes sense. Even if you can't figure out a "usable" tutorial, it would be neat to just see and hear how the full version of "The Entertainer" is supposed to go.

[RCA630TS]

Clean, great, excellent touch with ragtime. Thanks for the delightful show and an uncommon rag!

[clare879]

I'm having a great time learning from your tutorials and yes I'd love a few rag time tutorials. If you'd be interested in doing one for "Crippled Inside" by John Lennon that'd make my day. Thanks PianoJohn you're a great teacher!

[Wor45]

i love ragtime piano. i am currently finishing off Maple Leaf Rag. I am glad to see that this style is still embraced today.

[ohmygoshitsmedosch]

Me too!!

[tobythedog1020]

oh ok i gotcha but u shud do a video on it...just a suggestion lol

[tobythedog1020]

i love this i wanna learn the entertainer tho if u know how? :)

[evelynchallinor]

This reminds me of the Overture in the Chicago soundtrack. It's toetappingly inspiring!=]

[Hanfgurkenhasser]

Just amazing. I LOVE it. =)

[WatsAVideo]

plz plz plz plz post a tutorial. plz

[TheYellowSubmarine13]

*GASP!* Will you post a tutorial?? That's absolutely

fantastic!! PLEASE????

[SamuelHawke]

Holy Crap! I soooo want to learn that, that was brilliant! I just love ragtime songs!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! I love ragtime too, and learning how to play those songs helped me a lot when I was beginning to learn modern pop tunes.

[pianoomar100]

Can you teach me how to play Broadway Rag?

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Okay, it's almost been a year, any word on that posting of Ragtime Pieces?

[crazypianolady]

I do love a bit of ragtime!

[pianofan2204]

Very nice rendition. I like especially this repeating little pause, i.e. at 0:33.

[putrid11]

Pretty darn good...and I'm one harsh critic...but what's with that extra beat added to the end of the phrases in the A-section?

[groovycake]

I LIKEY!

[cbindal]

One thing I would request though is a theory video in which you can teach some exercises for the left hand as it provides rhythm and bass notes for the chords using the right hand.

[cbindal]

Now there are many great piano players but you are a great combination in the sense that not only do you play the piano, you are also internet savvy (so you can record and upload your videos) and not only do you have a will to share your skill, you have a very good ability to teach as well. You have enough videos to keep me busy practicing for at least next 1-2 years. Keep up the good work and may God bless you.

[cbindal]

Hi Pianojohn, I have learnt Michelle and Strawberry Fields Forever using your videos so far. Also posted Imagine as a video response to your Imagine tutorial. Had You Tube been born a decade ago and had you posted these videos back then, I would have mastered all of these songs by now but alas, that's not the case.

[tdenusa]

That's how ragtime should be played. Not too fast but at a reasonable pace and with expression.

[mrdeecup]

holy cow! that's still freakin' amazing. That's why I definitely wanna learn some of this music. It's difficult & fun to play, but it's not classical, it moves! Didn't know you had this on here, BRAVO!

[gritstrek]

dunno, in its on way its a classic, so doesn't that make it classical?

[unamidu88]

Welle done, have you got this partitions please ????

[KawhackitaRag]

Very good version of this rag by the way!

[martyhk0]

I agree. You have to do Root Beer Rag. That would be GREAT

[mission2marsden]

try root beer rag by billy joel sometime

[cherieepps]

thanx 4 the reply, musicnotes didn't have it either...am still looking. really enjoy your style!

[audreyeg7]

that sounds great! would u possibly have sheet music?

[pianojohn113]

I don't have sheet music available to send for this song, but you should be able to find it online at the various digital music websites. Glad you liked it!

[skyler7010]

wow you need to post some lessons on this stuff sounds great

i need to out piano my sister and this would be great!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! I'd love to post lessons on ragtime, but that style of music is really hard to teach on a video without using sheets.. kind of like classical music, in a way.

[cherieepps]

looking 4 the sheet music to this...any good sites 2 use?

[pianojohn113]

I think musicnotes-dot-com is a good source.. There are also some great ragtime songbooks in the music stores and online.

[KawhackitaRag]

"Broadway Rag" can be printed out for free off Ted Tjaden's "Classic Ragtime Piano" website (can be found through google). There are whole pages on this site devoted to the works of such composers as Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, James Scott, Charles L. Johnson, and George L. Cobb. In addition there are a lot of other rags, waltzes, and related tunes lumped under thematic categories.

[shcorporation]

This is great! I love ragtime too, please post more of it! The Entertainer, Maple Leaf Rag and Pineapple Rag (all by Scott Joplin)would be brilliant! Keep it up John! By the way, what's coming next in terms of beatles tutorials?

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! Maple Leaf Rag was the first ragtime song I learned many years ago, along with The Entertainer.

Beatles tutorials will include more stuff from Abbey Road, as well as a few tunes from Sgt. Pepper.. hope to get them up there soon!

[idasynco]

WOW, do you go to ragtime festivals? You would fit right in! There is one coming up soon in Sedalia, MO.

[pianojohn113]

I've heard of those ragtime festivals, and would love to be a part of them someday.. They just always seem to be too far away to travel to!

[andy1w5jobas]

Thats sound brilliant !

[pianojohn113]

Thanks very much! :-)

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Great Job! Can You Play Any Of The Other "Big Three"(Joplin, Scott, Lamb) Hits? Like: The Maple Leaf, The Entertainer, The Easy Winners, (Scott Joplin) On The Pike, Great Scott Rag, Climax Rag, New Era Rag, (James Scott) Sensation Rag, Ethiopia Rag, Excelsior Rag, American Beauty Rag, Ragtime Nightingale (Joe Lamb)

[pianojohn113]

Glad you liked it! Over the past 30 years I've played all of those except On The Pike and Great Scott Rag. I still play Maple Leaf, although it's rather sloppy now, as I've sped it up too much. Have you heard Ragtime Oriole? It's either Scott or Lamb.. That's one of my all-time favorites.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Really!? 8/12 Over 30 Years Ay? Not To Shabby.

All I Know How To Play Is "The Entertainer" But I'm Learning The "Maple Leaf Rag." You Can Always Slow Down (I Also Know Cuz I Have The Same Problem) And Thanks, I'll Look For It.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Found It! (Super Fast! Less Than A Minute) And It Is By James S. Scott (1911).

[pianojohn113]

It's a great song, and I especially like Max Morath's version of it.

Maple Leaf Rag is quite difficult, but once you learn it, you'll never forget it!

[Morahman7vnNo2]

I Know!(Can't Wait To Master It), But The Funny Thing Is, I Hear A Lot Of Its Characteristics In Other Rags After It. So I Guess Its Was His Best Example Model "Classic Rag" As Well As "Fig Leaf" And "Gladiolus"(Rag).

[thestuvy]

id love to see you do root beer rag by billy joel. especially if you could do a tutorial, even though that might not be possible.

[pianojohn113]

A tutorial would be tough, but I may post a performance.  Thanks for the suggestion!

[wigglewagon100]

you are outstanding!

i love ragtime music. :]

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! It's my favorite style of music, actually.

[willsing4fun]

wow, i really wish i could play liek that. I love ragtime piano music!

[pianojohn113]

I love ragtime too.. Thanks for the kind words!

[breakfastboy89]

Scott Joplin's music is such a great thing to listen to. It's great to see that someone still likes the ragtime feel.

Not to mention that all your videos happen to be great. Keep up the great work!

[pianojohn113]

I've always loved the ragtime sound.. I think it's just a part of me.

Thanks for the comment, glad you liked it!

[GS336]

Broadway Rag was actually written by Jemes Scott, not Scott Joplin.

[pianojohn113]

Yes, and many people make that mistake. James Scott wrote some excellent tunes that mostly go unnoticed today because Scott Joplin has become so well-known.

[ragtimemax]

Oh trust me, there are MANY who are very enamored with ragtime, and I must say, I very much enjoyed your recording! A lot like Guido Nielsen, but with a looser, folksy feel!

[pianojohn113]

Hey, thanks very much! I do like Guido Nielsen, although I think he sometimes relies too heavily on the pedal where there should be more staccato.. but he's very talented, and I appreciate the comparison.

"Ragtimemax" is a great name, by the way! Reminds me of Max Morath, one of my all-time favorites!

[commhughes]

love it, john. great music!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[FlyingTog]

That sounds pretty freakin cool. Nice piano, too, BTW.

You know, I'd love to heard The Eagles - Desperado, and maybe a lesson. I've tried my best to teach it to myself, but even playing piano for 12 years and guitar for over 1 year, I still can't really read music. I can watch fingers and listen like a pro, though! Haha.

[pianojohn113]

Desperado is a fun song to play and fairly easy to learn, too. I'll try to get that one done soon!

[Thesansman]

How long does it take you to learn a song like this?

[pianojohn113]

This one only took me a week or so, but I'd played it many years ago so I was really re-learning it. Depending on how difficult it is and how often I work on it, though, it can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to really learn a ragtime song.

[Pian0z]

Hey, great playing..as usuall :)

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[Rizzo1087]

As Usual...Excellent work!!!

[pianojohn113]

Thanks very much!

[Pajamirault]

This is fantastic. I love the sound of ragtime, but I've never really gotten into playing it much. Maybe now I will. Excellent job.

[pianojohn113]

Thanks, I appreciate that! Ragtime is a great skills-builder for piano, IMO. Gives both hands a nice workout too!

[LacyK]

Cracking job......That's the most joplin-esque, non Joplin rag rag I've ever heard....I recognised quite a few Joplin bits within this.....who wrote this one and when?

[pianojohn113]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. It was written in 1922 by James Scott, who was part of the great Joplin-Lamb-Scott trio of ragtime writers in the early 20th century. James Scott's syncopations were often more intricate and complex than Scott Joplin's, but Joplin enjoyed a little more commercial success. They were all great, though.

[bjmapa]

Wow! Fantastic! Will there be a tutorial for this? coz i love the way you teach! :D

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! Probably won't have a tutorial on this one, it would just be too difficult to try to teach on a 10-minute video. It might be a fun challenge, though! :-)

[Morahman7vnNo2]

You Could Make It A Two-Part.

[UnclassicalPiano]

very nice job!

[pianojohn113]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[jjangmes]

sweet... reminds me of an old western bar.

[pianojohn113]

Thanks! It helps if you play it while wearing a cowboy hat.

[BakerStIrregular]

Outstanding. Just wish I could play like that. Thanks for this.

[pianojohn113]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. There's no other sound quite like ragtime!