Introduction to Ragtime Piano: Learn Iconic Pieces

So is there any difference between ragtime, honky tonk, boogie woogie, and stride piano playing?

Ragtime, honky tonk, boogie woogie, and stride style of playing, usually involves playing a steady stride or two-step in the left hand, and playing lots of syncopation in the right hand. As far as use of harmony is concerned, you use mostly majors and sevenths.

Ragtime is considered to be “the American equivalent of the minuets of Mozart, the mazurkas of Chopin, or the waltzes of Brahms.” American ragtime piano music includes works by Scott Joplin, Charles Johnson, Felix Arndt, Joseph Lamb, Nathaniel Dett, Zez Confrey and George Gershwin.

Ragtime piano music is characterized by its syncopated rhythm – accent is unexpectedly placed on the off beat, like the 2nd beat and the 4th beat in a 4/4 time rhythm. This style became famous at the turn of the 20th century with songs written by Scott Joplin like “The Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag”, which influenced many ragtime composers with its harmonic patterns and melody lines.

For aspiring young piano players interested in ragtime piano music, here are some iconic pieces to learn today that will also provide a wonderful introduction to the genre.

“Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin

This song is from a “pianola” roll played by Scott Joplin himself, which was found by chance years ago. With this song everyone stopped what they were doing and a craze for the ragtime piano style was born. Its melody and rhythm are infectious and timeless.

“The Entertainer” – Complete Works of Scott Joplin as played by Richard Zimmerman

Probably, one of the most popular ragtime music, just listen to the first three bars of this song, and you will want to play it on the piano, it’s so inviting.

“Charleston Rag”/”Wild About Harry”/”Memories of You” by Eubie Blake

Watch the piano master play ragtime music live in Berlin, Germany in 1972. His style adds a “cool” flavor and aims to please. “Wild about Harry” became a standard as everyone played it everywhere.

“Top Liner Rag” by Joseph Lamb

Another charming ragtime music, but at a slower tempo. The 2/4 timing draws the listener in.

Difference Between Ragtime and Stride Piano

Have been learning to play ragtime on the piano of late? In that case you may also have come acress the term stride piano (or Harlem Stride).

So is there any difference between the two genres of music?

The primary characteristic of Ragtime is the rhythm, which sounds ragged. Ragtime was heavily influence by African music; John Philip Sousa made it very popular by modifying the march music and adding polyrhythms to it to change it into Ragtime. Its believed that Ragtime gave rise to jazz.

Stride is a way or style of playing the jazz piano, where left hand strides up and down the keyboard. Players often improvise while playing stride.

Instruments Used During Ragtime

The following instruments were used in ragtime:

• Piano (or honkey-tonk piano specifically) is the main instrument in ragtime music. Ragtime piano was characterized by bass notes playing the odd or off beats, chords playing the even beats and a syncopated melody flowing across the whole time signature.
• Drums: Initially bongo drums were used to establish steady rhythms (becasue of its roots in African music) but soon bands started using full drum kits. Drum beats usually included a straight four beats per bar, with a continuous repeating drum pattern lasting two beats (half a bar).
• Guitar: Though not used with classic ragtime, guitar came into prominence when the genre got revived. Acoustic guitars are picked with fingers to replicate the piano’s off-beat bass notes playing against syncopated melodies. Most Ragtime bands use two guitars, the second plays only chord progressions.

How to Play Ragtime Piano: Resources

If you have been playing the piano only for a few months, then the syncopated rhythms can be tricky to master, so let your piano teacher know if you want to learn how to play ragtime; s/he can provide you with specific exercises to improve your ragtime skills.

Here are some useful resources on ragtime music:

• Classic Ragtime Piano — Resources: Recommendations for books, print and online resources, piano recordings, and more.
• Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival: Annually held festival in Sedalia, Missouri.
• West Coast Ragtime Society: Hosts annual festival in Sacramento, CA, along with a youth piano competition.

Honky Tonk Piano

Honky Tonk is a style of ragtime piano-playing in which you play two-four or four-four bass, and syncopated rhythms. It is usually performed on a piano whose strings have been altered to create a tinny sound.

Mrs Gladys Mills, an English musician, was a pop legend in the 1960s, producing hits after hits, and also winning over fans with her vivacious, fun loving personality and singalong tunes.

She preferred playing a piano that sounded more like a Honky-Tonk for her sing-along recordings at Abbey Road Studios, and soon people started calling it Mrs. Mills piano. “Mrs Mills” was a vintage 1905 Steinway Vertegrand piano, frequently used by her for her recordings at Abbey Road Studios in London. The piano sounded like an out-of-tune honky-tonk; the “Mrs. Mills” sound effect (tinny sound) was due to use of lacquered hammers.

Several recordings have been made on that piano; even the Beatles used Mrs. Mills piano (for its unique tinny sound) for few of their songs (“Lady Madonna”, “Penny Lane”, “Rocky Raccoon” to name a few).

KeytarHQ Editorial Team

KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.