The Strenuous Life - Scott Joplin

[rowbocaster]

Nice playing and great sounding room

[ronald13156]

Well, it sure put a smile on MY face Paul !

That took a few hours to play it this well I guess.

Beautifull sound in guitar btw

Cheers

Ronald

[jessechene]

I can't believe it took a guitarist to play rag the way it should be! Pianists all seem to play it way too fast. They must know that Joplin said never to play rag fast. Thank you for doing it right.

Jesse Chene

[mewhite1528]

Nice....very enjoyable to listen...Best Regards

[bellisor]

that was very nice - i'm curious as to why you repeated the A section instead of playing the D.

[pac750xl]

put a smile on my face mate wish i cud b so truthful bout my mistakes.good stuff keep it up.den

[zorbazoo]

Beautiful playing! I'm curious where the mic was cause it sounded really good.

[Guitrax]

Nice playing!!

i like the idea of the capo,sounds more brilliant.

Congrats.

[Gangly1]

Cheers Guitrax.

I agree that you can get more "attack" with a capo on.

But...shhhh....it also helps with the big left hand stratches!! Lol.

Cheers,

Paul

[TheColoradoan]

Years ago if anyone asked me, I would have said that ragtime only belongs on the piano.  You YouTube guitarists have won me over, though. Well done! :)

(I still have yet to cave on bands playing ragtime, though... :P)

[Gangly1]

Cheers.

I am honoured at such a wonderful pianist saying so.

I tried Weeping Willow, but found it very difficult. The piano and the guitar (in the right hands) are so versatile.

Really pleased you stopped by.

Cheers,

Paul

[JosephMalicke]

Try listening to early 1900s artists who incorporated rag playing into their repertoire, like Blind Blake.

Great playing by the way, gangly1. I listen to recording quite a bit. =)

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot Joseph.

I will, indeed, listen to Blind Blake.

Cheers,

Paul

[Gangly1]

Hi C.

I had a brief holiday in Boulder last week.

Great bands at the Home of the Blues!!

Wish I could have bought you a beer.

Cheers,

Paul

[guitarbastrd]

Nice and smooth, man! I like it.

[Gangly1]

Cheers guitarb.

Thanks for watching.

[himmelblau66]

thank you for this nice rag and nice playing!

[Gangly1]

Thank you for watching.

[xbrasileirax]

Great.!

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot for watching xb.

[JGULLIF]

Lovely.  Thanks for sharing.

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to watch this JG.

Very much appreciated.

Regards,

Paul

[zeropoleski]

Simple stunning. Really wonderful playing. Thanks for posting this. May I ask what kind of mic and video equipment you're using and/or kind of post production enhancement, if any, you've used? The tonal quality is superb as well. thanks in advance.

[Gangly1]

Cheers Zero.

I have sent you a message about the recording.

Regards,

Paul

[fingerstalking]

Nicely done!

[Gangly1]

Thank you fingers. You are a wizard on this instrument of instruments sir.

Regards,

Paul

[Gminor7]

Great sound, great feel. Merle Travis and ragtime on the guitar got me interested in playing guitar in 1972. I've listened to everybody and your playing is some of the best I've heard.  Thanks for sharing! Regards . . .

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot Gminor.

Have you had a drink?? Lol.

Regards,

Paul

[Lansdownekid]

Can you play Swipsey?

[Gangly1]

Hi Harry.

Probably not!!

Regards,

Paul

[betjaboy]

Great artistry Gangly1 - I envy your talent so please keep playing for those of us that cannot sound a note! Can you do the Mexican Serenade?

[Gangly1]

Cheers Betjaboy.

I have the sheet for it. I may dig it out and have a go.

Paul

[BrasilianMusician]

Jee!!! You are good man!! This music is hard! I play it on the piano

[Gangly1]

Cheers BM.

I will go have a look.

Paul

[8natural]

great job.

[Gangly1]

Cheers. Thanks for watching.

[Kaibil69]

bravo! awesome performance!

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot Kaibil. I tried Weeping Willow too....but rather badly!!

Cheers,

Paul

[spqr123456]

Great!

[Gangly1]

Cheers spqr.

[MrRudeDudeman]

Amazing!! thanx for sharing

Ton Engels, arranger of this piece, also has several other video's on the tube himself.

Check his impression of Randy Newman's Lonely at the top... brilliant!!

[Gangly1]

Cheers Rude.

I never knew the man himself was here on YT!!

Off to watch right now!

Regards,

Paul

[van1976]

Wow. I'm impressed--really. I see what you mean --the "Strenuous Life". Very nice chord changes--by the way.

--Van

[Gangly1]

Cheers Van. Have you made a start on it?

Regards,

Paul

[JONJ022]

Your playing is lovely. I'm a huge Scott Joplin and acoustic guitar fan. You've really nailed this piece. I don't suppose you've learned "Maple Leaf Rag", too. I've been trying to learn it on the 5-string banjo since 1985 and am stuck on part C. I'd love to hear how it could sound on a stringed instrument.

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot Jonjo.

I have Maple Leaf as solo in the same book, but I will be doing it shortly as a duet with my brother.

Regards,

Paul

[DrOmmec]

wow that was amazing, i myself am a ragtime enthusiast, it just raises my spirits when im down, great playing

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot Doc. I am really pleased it has the desired effect.

Regards,

Paul

[raulcalderonbird]

Paul: what a good arregement, and well play. Five stars.

[Gangly1]

Thank you sir.

Let me know if you would like to try it.

Paul

[JFL18a]

Absolutely beautiful! could you send me the music too?

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot JFL.

[ruaconnhonho]

bravooo!!!!

5 stars

I like it

can u send me your sheet ???

thanks

[Gangly1]

Thank you.

I have sent you a message.

Paul

[mac6737]

I'm new to youtube and apparently failed at my last attempt. Once more into the breach:

Where can I find this arrangement. I have the DeChiaro book, which down-tunes this to D, but I like the capo, bringing the C key up to D. I've searched Mel Bay in vain. Any hints? Oh yeah, great job! I envy your relaxed right hand.

[Gangly1]

Hi Mac.

I sent you a private message. Did you get it?

Regards,

Paul

[mac6737]

alas, no.

[Gangly1]

Send me your e-mail address via a private message and I will dend you my sheet for this piece.

[Mongo999]

Sounded great. For me, you somehow manage to instill a sense of nostalgia into the piece which made it all the more appealing. I felt like the whole world was sepia-toned there for a couple of minutes!

[Gangly1]

Thank you for your kind comment.

Regards,

Paul

[martin2288]

very well done!

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot Martin.

[bruckner1]

Awesome! You have caught the essence of Joplin!

[Gangly1]

Thank you so much bruckner1.

It's a shame the last section doesn't fit well on the Classical Guitar (or within my ability anyway) because it is the best bit!!

Best Regards,

Paul

[Janeinwales]

Beautifully played and sounds lovely on a classical guitar.

[Gangly1]

Thanks a lot Jane.

The check is in the post!

Paul

[Gangly1]

Ooops! You are not in the USA (quite obviously)... The CHEQUE is in the post!!!

[Janeinwales]

You can send me money anytime - it doesn't matter how you spell it!! lol

[redsoxbred]

It put a smile on my face! Thanks for sharing. my sister is working Scott Joplin and I love ragtime... 5/5!

[Gangly1]

I am glad it did Redsox!

Your sister has great taste in music too.

Paul

[KlausDieSchrecken]

Fantastic stuff. How long have you been playing?

[Gangly1]

Cheers Klaus.

Been playing over 30 years, but never had any proper tuition, regrettably.

Paul

[Gangly1]

Cheers W.

Yes it is.

But I deliberately missed off the last section. Have a look at Medra1980 playing this...he does it all and very well I think.

Regards,

Paul

[t3903d]

Paul, of all your postings, this is a favorite of mine. Well done...how are ya?

Jim

[Gangly1]

Cheers Jim.

I am fine my friend.

Trusting you are too,

Paul

[zedleppelinX]

I'm really looking to take the step from chords to fingerpicking.

How do you suggest I begin to learn fingerpicking and the classical guitar style without a teacher?

[Gangly1]

Try having a look on YT. There are some decent video tutorials about that seem to be quite popular. If they give you a taste for it, then I suggest you buy anything by Frederick Noad for beginners (Classical). He has a great reputation for his method books.

Regards and happy picking,

Paul

[sosauto]

Bravo!! Great work.

-john

[Gangly1]

Cheers John.

How are you coping with the fame?

You'll be on Letterman next!!

Best Regards,

Paul

[pigma123]

Nice and relaxing music to listen at - and with even more emphasis when it is performed in this professional way !

I think that this type of music is played too seldom !

[Gangly1]

Thank you so much for the kind comment.

Regards,

Paul

[0104vtvs]

I've never heard any Scott Joplin piece played on guitar with more feeling - it's really an inspiration

[Gangly1]

Thank you sir and welcome to YT.

I can see you are a big Scott Joplin fan.

Regards,

Paul

[0104vtvs]

yes, indeed - and to tell you the truth I would really like to hear you playing more of his pieces on this level

[houndheadhenry]

Excellant ! :-)

[Gangly1]

Why thank you Henry.

[HotRatsAndTheStooges]

Love it! That's so amazing!

[Gangly1]

Cheers Hotrats.

[Schwein9]

Bravo Signore! Grazi!

[Gangly1]

Thank you!!

[comecazzosifa90]

Interpretazione sublime!!! ottima veramente!!! Bravissimo!!!

[Gangly1]

Grazie mille.

Sono lieto che desideri.

Paul.

[xannirose]

Still as moving as ever. I love your rendition. It 'brightens' my new day. Thank you.....

[Gangly1]

Thanks again xannirose.

Regards,

Paul

[zacharron]

Very well paced and musical. You have great tone! I have Heliotrope Bouquet and Dallas Rag up on my page if you care to check them out. So many great players out there!

Zane

[Gangly1]

Thanks Zane.

I am off to have a look now sir!

Regards,

Paul

[xannirose]

I loved it. Didn't know if the one or two 'mistakes' were intentional or not ! Great job. Moving....

[Gangly1]

Thanks very much xannirose. I think I "deadened" a couple of notes unintentionally but, remarkably for me, I think this is free of wrong notes!!

Thanks again,

Paul

[korkars]

I miei piu rispettosi omaggi e complimenti per l'emozionante versione. Bravo!! Grazie

[Gangly1]

Vi vorrei ringraziarvi per recivere il vostro complimento e omaggio. Grazie tanto.

[GreenHat9]

Paul, that's beautiful! Like many of the other folks who've commented on your "The Strenuous Life", I appreciate the slow tempo. You may have said this somewhere in the comments and I missed it, but is this your own arrangement for guitar? It's sweet. I play this piece on the piano, also slowly, on my YouTube video.

Thanks for sharing this with us,

Paul

[Gangly1]

Thanks very much Paul for the kind comment and the subscription. It is an arrangement by Ton Engels from a book of Classic Ragtime Solos for Guitar published by Mel Bay Publications.

The tempo marking in the score is 60bpm so it was not my idea to play it at that speed!! Bsides which I couln't play it much quicker anyway!

I may have a go at Weeping Willow from the same book shortly.

Regards,

Paul

[stringpiano]

This is good, Gang. Nice touch. Nive feel that clearly demonstrates your obvious musical empathy. To my understanding you catch an´ reproduce all the flavours, colours an´ moods that one might think S.Joplin originally intended. If not too much trouble for you I should like a copy of the tab. In case I can send you my E-mail adress.

[Gangly1]

Thanks string.

Send me a private message with your e-mail address and I will get it scanned for you.

Regards

Paul

[medra1980]

very good, you didn't play the last part in E though. I play it without a capo.

[Gangly1]

Thanks medra. Yep.... I chickened out of the last section. Too hard for me, especially on the classical.

Paul.

[medra1980]

i know it's really hard, i have problems with it myself between two chord switches so i always slow it down a little at the end,

[medra1980]

i like how you play the chords completely at occasional moments instead of just picking two or three strings, you have a good feeling for pace, i normally play it faster but i like how you do it too, really gentle and solid, do you have any more vids of ragtime? maybe i will add some of mine in the future, greetings Ben

[Gangly1]

Hi Ben.

I have no other vids ready yet of ragtime tunes. I may do another from the same book soon.

Please post your version of Strenuous Life. I would really like to hear it. There are no other guitar versions here on YT.

Regards

Paul

[medra1980]

Hi Paul, yes i will post it but i have to get a better cam first. That book you were talking about is not the ragtime book from JM Versini is it?

I checked out your version of Classical Gas, i thought it was so cool i'm learning it myself now :-) It's suchs a great fingerpicking riff combiner and yet not extremely difficult. I love that song.

If you like Strenuous Life try out Possum and Taters by Charles Hunter, another great ragtime performer from the 1900's.

Grts Ben

[TheApacheShepherd]

PHENOMENAL!!! (Hopefully so was my spelling of that word)

[Gangly1]

Thank you Apache.

Paul

[av020151]

nice and slow - just as it should be - great

[Gangly1]

Thanks av02151. Glad you like it at this tempo, because I can't play it any quicker!!

Paul

[quincydubois]

Perfect !!

[Gangly1]

Thank you. On or two mistakes in it still!!

[joealsilva]

Nice song!And very well played too!

[Gangly1]

Thank you sir.

[wwelti]

That was very nice! Thanks for playing it! :)

[Gangly1]

Thank you Wilfried.

Regards

Paul

[jamescharles999]

really great playing, an inspiration. What kind of guitar is that?

[Gangly1]

Thank you Jim.

It is an Oscar Teller 1967 (model unknown, because the label inside has faded with age. Like me!)

[AndanteLargo]

OH! How I loved this!! I listened two times. I like that you don't play it TOO fast. Joplin wrote in his music that the player should be carefull not to play too fast!! Brilliant playing Paul!!

Best wishes!

Peo

[Gangly1]

Thank you Peo. My music is 60bpm which did sound a little slow to me. Upped it only a bit though.

Really glad you like it.

Regards

Paul

[soniameh]

Hi Paul,

Welcome back That was very very nice I am sure you can make even a simple scale sound sweet you have a god gifted sweetness in your hands for which all musicians thrive for :) Thanks for sharing

Regards,

Himanshu

[Gangly1]

Thank you very kindly Himanshu.

I can assure you it is nothing as lofty as a gift from god! Just an inexpensive audio processing suite!

Best Wishes,

Paul

[oldwhtman]

I used to think that ragtime guitar sounded best on a steel string guitar with metal finger picks, but I might have to reconsider my bias. That was excellent. Your diversity amazes me. Any Leo Kottke or Beethoven in your repertoire?

[Gangly1]

Thanks Mike.

I have some Beethoven lurking somewhere, but I suspect Leo's stuff is beyond my capability.

A couple of duets with my brother are next on the agenda: "Heartsong" by Gordon Giltrap and an Acoustic Alchemy piece.

Regards

Paul

[jnclassicalguitarist]

Hello Paul,

Thanks for this most awaited video!

I wish you could see the smile on my face and the tapping of my foot.

Excellent performance!

Regards,

Julie

[Gangly1]

Thanks Julie.

Nice to know it had the intended effect!

Regards

Paul

[romford25]

It was very nice !! Great performance!

Regards, Dmitry.

[Gangly1]

Thank you Dmitry,

Regards

Paul

[pumpehagle]

Nice, I liked it a lot. And great playing as always!

[Gangly1]

Thank you pumpehagle.