Maple Leaf Rag

[xpccoffee]

this brings back sooo meny memories

[Xavinan]

Excellent job. I enjoyed a lot listening this nice arrangement.

[Pickinbuddy]

Beautiful tone on that Gibson banjo--clear, crisp and articulate...

[P47ROCKS]

Hi Joe,

I've tried all sorts of variations on an email address to you. They all come back undelivered.

[earnamint]

@P47ROCKS Thanks Bill. I was not aware of the email issue. It's Greg in Australia. Joe would like to purchase a copy of Lime Rock TAB as you play it, and a good video DVD. Please try this email address: simg@tpg.com.au,

Thankfully,

Greg Simcock,

for Joe Iacovella

[earnamint]

Hi Bill.

I enjoy your music so much and would appreciate you forwarding information on how to get hold of a copy of Lime Rock polka - as you play it, and a video too. Email greg at mylord.tpg.com.au.

I am Joe, in Australia

Thanks, for your music

[P47ROCKS]

Howdy,

I used the piano score, but I did transpose it down to G from Ab.

[WombatVlogs]

Hey man, is the tab in your book in G key or original A flat? Thanks bro, keep on pickin' ;D

[justpickn]

Great rendition!



[Telelikeitis]

I think Mark Barnett had an arrangement of this tune too.

[MrLedt]

I'm surprised because he's not asian.

[ComradeMorshu]

Bill is just bringing the banjo back to its roots -- the banjo was a ragtime instrument before the piano. It's only after the ragtime revival of the 1940s-1950s that the piano came to prominence over the banjo in ragtime. Scott Joplin's mother was a banjo player, and her music was crucial in his compositions.

[MrDrumdweeb]

This guy is awesome!! I hope that bill does another version of Duke's Caravan. Epic!

[jerkfacejim]

The F4U Corsair Rocks too !!!!!!

[jerkfacejim]

Bill.. I just wanted to say I learned Melodic banjo from one of your instructional books

from the 70's.. I still have it.. Tom and Jerry, Bill Cheatham and Black Berry Blossom.

Your style is awsome..

Jim

[JimmyDeLocke]

Banjo Bill does it again. I gotta believe that if Scott Joplin heard this he would love it.

[jakethefiddle]

smashing!

[orefrima]

hehe, great playing and I like the shirt! will check your book out :D

[alienguppy]

Hey do you by chances the tabs for that?

[P47ROCKS]

@alienguppy Howdy. Yes I do. It's one of 12 in my Scott Jopin banjo book available through my website.

Bill

[ccjr019]

Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing.

[imaladdin339]

been a few months since last post, are there still any shirts available?

[b1ak3m]

NIce work!

[krimskrams]

this is still open g, right? got some pretty cool moves i can't figure out that well :D

[P47ROCKS]

@krimskrams Howdy, yes this is in G tuning. The original key is A flat, but I transposed it down to G.

Bill

[mandobanjoguitar]

what a cool song, sounds great on banjo.

[jakethefiddle]

i play five string,and will try and learn some new stuff from your vids here,its very inspiring to see a truly well practiced and tallented bloke!!!cheers,Jake buckton.

[justaman6972]

Bill I recently bought an Orlando brand banjo and can't find anything on the maker of this sweet banjo. Its old and in excellent condidtion. Any info you may have would be super. Nice rag man thanks soooo much! Made my day!

[P47ROCKS]

Howdy justaman6972,

I haven't seen an Orlando in many years. I believe it was made in Japan.

[drgrimm918]

Please tell me where I can get one of those shirts!

[P47ROCKS]

Hello drgrimm918,

The shirt has the logo for the music store I teach at: The Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor in Grenada Hills, CA. It's a take-off on the California state flag with the bear playing the banjo. You could call them to order one.  818-282-9001

[P47ROCKS]

@drgrimm918 Howdy drgrimm918, I teach at the Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor in Grenada Hills, CA. The store's logo which is on my shirt is a take-off on the California state flag. They sell them there. The phone number is 818-282-9001

[ventman2au]

That is amazing Bill. Always loved this tune from when I saw the Joplin story on TV. Is the version you played on You Tube available in Tab or only the older version in your Hot Licks book?

Alan

[davefrog100]

exellent job bill, would love to hear you do more joplin rags davefrog100

[tenormac]

simply wonderful Bill.

[LTmattYT]

good shit

[tommygunatkins]

you done amazing, if i ever don quite as good, I'd die, how'd you live through it sir??

[ThrashNeon]

Bill, I've been trying to learn this tune for years from your "Hot Licks & Fiddle Tunes" book... it's great to finally hear/see you play it. Thanx!

[P47ROCKS]

Hello ThrashNeon,

When I first arranged Mapel Leaf Rag back in the early 70's I didn't have the actual sheet music. That is the version in the Hot Licks book. It's "ok", but it's missing a lot of details. A few years after that, when I got more interested in Joplin rags, I purchased the piano music, studied them, made appropriate transpositions to better banjo keys, and produced the 12 arrangedments on my Scott Joplin CD.

Cheers,

Bill

[P47ROCKS]

Howdy,

I use Gibson/Scruggs mediums: 010, 012, 014, 024, 010 for two reasons. First, I play a lot of guitar with medium gauge strings, therefore I can't feel banjo lights hardly at all. Secondly, my old RB-12 is so bright I do everything I can to mellow it out: medium strings, loose/spongey head, 5/8 Shubb compensating bridge with wood laminated to the feet to make it even taller.

[88ragtime]

Bill, do you use light or medium gauge strings, and what's your reason for using the gauge you do? Thanks, and love your playing!!!

[worzeeee]

brilliant ive just bought your tab book wish i could play it half as good

[Linn8379]

That was brilliant, Bill. This just totally made my day! You're fantastic.

~Linn

[88ragtime]

Could you play "spanish fandango" with your banjo? That would be so cool!!!

[P47ROCKS]

It's a 1938 Gibson Mastertone RB-12, I bought it in 1976. I paid top dollar for it then, it's priceless now.

[88ragtime]

What brand and model of banjo are you playing, Bill? How much was it? Again, wonderful video.

[themelonbread]

I knew it had to exist! I just started learning how to play the 5-string... And while I do look forward to bluegrass standards.... blues and ragtime have a much bigger place in my heart.

I was too afraid to ask my instructor if he ever played that stuff, but now I'm gonna ask him next week to eventually teach me this song!

Anyways... Would you call the 5-string's open G tuning more specialized and utilitarian than that of a guitar's? I don't see how I might be able to do complex harmonic stuff

[Acidic0man]

awesome

[88ragtime]

Fine pickin', sir!!!

[88ragtime]

I just bought a six string banjo, and now I'll have to learn this, my favorite Scott Joplin tune on it!

[P47ROCKS]

Hello 88ragtime,

I'm glad you like my arrangement. It's in G which is a half-step lower than the original piano key: Aflat. The 5-string banjo is in an open G tuning. Since you have a 6-string banjo which is essentially a guitar neck on a banjo body, I would suggest looking for an arrangement in A. I've heard it played this way, which utilizes the open strings: A which is I, D which is IV, and E which is V.

Cheers,

Bill

[88ragtime]

Thank you, Bill. I almost wish I bought a 5 string, but since I'm a guitarist I thought it would be easier to just get a six string banjo.

[threedollar78]

Good to hear the Scott Joplin stuff! Nice job.

[banjobilly32]

Very tasteful and clean! Keep them coming Bill!