Harmonically simple chord changes, especially compared to jazz.įor a casual piano player, none of these are too difficult to learn, but can be harder to combine together fluently.Ragtime piano has a very distinctive “old time saloon” sound which is defined by some key characteristics: Here’s a performance of Jelly Roll Morton’s Fingerbreaker, a notoriously challenging rag. Stride piano is one of the most difficult styles to master, due to its sheer technical nature. This ultimately created a new style similar to Ragtime, called Stride. These compositions, like The Entertainer, Maple Leaf Rag or Solace are fully written and can be learned note for note from the sheet music.Īs ragtime evolved over time, particularly through live performances in clubs during the 1920/30’s, it become more improvisatory and virtuosic. Ragtime requires you to have a strong sense of rhythm and some technical proficiency to play it well.Ĭomposed ragtime, like the rags of Scott Joplin, are a great first step for classically trained pianists. So, is ragtime hard to play? Ragtime is too hard for complete beginners, but is approachable by those who have been playing piano seriously for at least 2-3 years. They are a lot of fun to play, and can really impress your friends. One of the most common questions I hear from beginning piano students is "can I learn to play Maple Leaf Rag?" Or, "Is The Entertainer approachable as a beginner?" Ragtime and stride piano are some of the most popular old-time piano styles.
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