The great ragtime pieces of the early 20th century were written mostly for Piano, but many translate superbly for the Guitar, and David Laibman will show you how. Here's a mystery: if the great ragtime pieces of the early 20th century were not written for Guitar, and if they weren't player on the Guitar at all (until some of us started doing so half a century ago), then why do they work so will on Guitar? Well, thumb vs. three fingers on the right hand (we'll leave out the pinky for now) creates that subtle antagonism between steady bass and syncopated melody - the 'twinkle in the eye' of Ragtime. There is a theory that the original borrowing actually went in the other directed, from three-finger Banjo to Piano. Who knows? But I'm finding that the 'educated thumb' is only one neat thing about ragtime Guitar. Classic rags are very expressive, with moods and tempers, hills and valley. You can capture some of this with left-hand notes (slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs), with right-hand brushes, rolls, nail strokes, with clever use of open strings and natural harmonics. This works. It is it's own story - not an imitation of a Piano, or of a dixieland or jazz band. It is, simply - ragtime Guitar. In these lessons, I have tried, for the most part, to meet two goals. First, to create versions of some of the most beautiful classical rags that 'lay down' well on Guitar, so when you play them you are working with the instrument, not fighting it. I have tried to pitch and arrange the pieces so that a lot of the action is in first position rather than high up on the neck, and to keep left hand gymnastics to a minimum. Second, I didn't want these arrangements to sound like 'student' arrangements, too elementary to be believable. It is all about striking a balance. I am generally pleased with the result, and I hope you will be too. While the focus of these lessons is on the 'greats' - Joplin, Lamb and Scott - I have also included one of my own recent compositions: Pandora's Rag. This version is simpler than the one I play on my recent CD, Adventures in Ragtime, in Em, G and E, rather than Am, C and A, and not so high up the neck. I hope you like it; I think it has some nice harmonies. No one will ever touch the ragtime masters, but I would not be doing them justice if I didn't try to use their inspiration to strike out on my own a bit. And that is what you should do too! It would be great is you learn to play these charming and challenging pieces. But even greater if you improve the arrangements, adapt them to your own tastes, see if you can apply the various techniques to other music - ragtime, and beyond - that can give pleasure to yourself and others, and enrich the treasure-house of fingerstyle Guitar. None of us has tapped even a fraction of its full potential - and that's what makes it fun!" - David Laibman

MBGU Fingerstyle Curriculum: Best Ragtime Solos Book/CD Set by William Gangel. Edited by Steve Siktberg. For Guitar (Fingerpicking). Solos. MBGU. Ragtime. Intermediate. Book/CD Set. 72 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc (MB.21362BCD). ISBN 9780786675975. Ragtime. 8.75x11.75 inches. The MBGU Fingerstyle Curriculum Best Ragtime Solos: offers the Fingerstyle guitarist a diverse collection of ragtime pieces ranging from the classic piano rags of Scott Joplin and Tom Hayden to the "bluesier" rags typical of guitarists from the Mississippi Delta. Both standard guitar notation and tablature are provided throughout for the convenience of those who are more comfortable reading in one style or the other. All tunes in book are included on CD.

Ragtimes Heft 2 (Fur Flote und Gitarre). By Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Edited by Othmar Endelweber. Chamber Music (Recorder & Guitar). For flute and guitar. Published by Doblinger Music Publishers (DB.GKM-00230). ISBN M-012-19814-7.

Ragtimes Heft 1 (Fur Flote und Gitarre). By Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Edited by Othmar Endelweber. Chamber Music (Recorder & Guitar). For flute and guitar. Published by Doblinger Music Publishers (DB.GKM-00229). ISBN M-012-19668-6.

The Entertainer. (Enthalt sowohl eine schwierigere Konzertfassung, als auch eine leichte Fassung for den Unterricht 2-3). By Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Guitar. For guitar. 4,2-3. Includes both concert version and esay version. Composed (1902). 8 pages. Published by Doblinger Music Publishers (DB.05-00953). ISBN M-0112-16678-8. Joplins Entertainer gilt als der wohl beruhmteste Ragtime uberhaupt. Schwertbergers Ubertragungen auf die Gitarre wahren alle typischen Eigenheiten des Stils und klingen authentisch.

Scott Joplin, Special guitare tablatures by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For Guitar. Jazz. Ragtime. Songbook. Text Language: French. Published by ID Music (ID.SB3012). With Text Language: French. Ragtime.

Ragtime guitare (TAB) arranged by Jean Marie Versini. For Guitar. Jazz. Ragtime. Songbook. Text Language: French. Published by ID Music (ID.SB3051). With Text Language: French. Ragtime. Tablatures pour jouer du Ragtime a la guitare.

The Entertainer. (Sunflower Slow Drag). By Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For Guitars (2). Published by Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag (HF.FH-2672). ISBN M-2034-2672-1.

Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For 2 guitars. Published by Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag (HF.FH-2598). ISBN M-2034-2598-4.

Original Rags. Something Doing by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For Guitars (2). Published by Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag (HF.FH-2447). ISBN M-2034-2447-5.

Ragtime Guitar of Rev. Davis 2-DVD Set by Gary Davis and Ernie Hawkins. For Guitar (Fingerpicking). Solos. Grossman-Guitar Workshop. Ragtime. Beginning-Intermediate. DVD. Duration 173 minutes. Published by Grossman's Guitar Workshop (MB.GW980SDVD). Rev. Gary Davis was an incredible ragtime guitar player whose arrangements illustrate what has become known as the Piedmont guitar style. In this double DVD lesson, Ernie Hawkins teaches each section phrase by phrase and carefully shows you the right hand picking as well as the left hand fingerings that were unique to Rev. Davis' approach. You will be able to easily follow the instruction with the tab/music booklet. Also featured are split screen segments where each section is played slowly and you can study the movements of each hand. As a bonus we have included various audio performances of Rev. Davis playing each song.

The Entertainer by Scott Joplin. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Film/TV; Jazz; Standards. Piano. 4 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.18848). About Digital Print Sheet Music Digital Print is printable sheet music available anytime, anywhere. Just purchase, print and play! View your online sheet music at home, school, work or anywhere you have a computer connected to the Internet. With Digital Print, you can print your digital sheet music immediately after purchase, or wait until its convenient. And our software installation is easy - we'll guide you through the simple steps to make sure you have Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR and the Sheet Music Plus AIR application. Learn more

Maple Leaf Rag & The Cascades by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Arranged by David Stocker. For 4 guitars. Grade 2-3. Score and parts. 32 pages. Published by Les Editions Doberman-Yppan (DY.DO-475). ISBN 2-89503-251-3.

Three Pieces by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Arranged by Jeremy Sparks. For 4 guitars. Grade 2-3. Score and parts. 48 pages. Published by Les Editions Doberman-Yppan (DY.DO-181). ISBN 2-921204-56-8.

Rag-Time Dance by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Arranged by Jeremy Sparks. For 4 guitars. Grade 2. Score and parts. 16 pages. Published by Les Editions Doberman-Yppan (DY.DO-017). ISBN 2-920274-01-5.

Easy Winners by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For 3 Trumpets & Piano (Guitar, Bass, Drums optional). Swiss import. Grade 3.5. Score and parts. Published by Editions Marc Reift (MA.EMR-6480).

Elite Syncopations by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For 3 Trumpets & Piano (Guitar, Bass, Drums optional). Swiss import. Grade 3.5. Score and parts. Published by Editions Marc Reift (MA.EMR-6465).

Easy Winners by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For 4 Trumpets (Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums optional). Swiss import. Grade 3.5. Score and parts. Published by Editions Marc Reift (MA.EMR-6321).

Elite Syncopations by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For 4 Trumpets (Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums optional). Swiss import. Grade 3.5. Score and parts. Published by Editions Marc Reift (MA.EMR-6306).

Classic Ragtime Guitar, Volume 2. (Arranged for Fingerstyle Guitar). By David Laibman. For Guitar (Fingerpicking). Solos. Grossman Audio. Ragtime. Intermediate. Book & 3-CD Set. 44 pages. Published by Grossman's Guitar Workshop (MB.22190BCD). ISBN 9780786682690. Ragtime. 8.75" x 11.75" inches. Classic Ragtime Arranged for Fingerstyle Guitar Volume 2 presents staples of the ragtime repertoire as interpreted by David Laibman. The "rags" are presented in standard music notation as well as tablature. The book includes three CDs worth of instructional audio covering each of the five pieces broken down section-by-section. These are complex and challenging arrangements but ones that will certainly tickle your fingers!

Classic Ragtime Guitar, Volume 1. (Arranged for Fingerstyle Guitar). By David Laibman. For Guitar (Fingerpicking). Solos. Grossman Audio. Ragtime. Intermediate. Book & 3-CD Set. 48 pages. Duration 180 minutes. Published by Grossman's Guitar Workshop (MB.22189BCD). ISBN 9780786682683. Ragtime. 8.75" x 11.75" inches. Classic Ragtime Arranged for Fingerstyle Guitar Volume 1 presents staples of the ragtime repertoire as interpreted by David Laibman. The "rags" are presented in standard music notation as well as tablature. The book includes three CDs worth of instructional audio covering each of the six pieces broken down section-by-section. These are complex and challenging arrangements but ones that will certainly tickle your fingers!

Entertainer by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). For 3 guitars. Rivoal Yvon. Classical. Grade 2. Score. 6 + 6 pages. Published by Editions Henry Lemoine (LM.26306).

Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Edited by Detlef Tewes. For Mandolin Orchestra / Plucking String Orchestra (Guitar). Part. Composed 1868-1917. Duration 4'30. Published by Edition 49 (E4.E49-03037-14).

The Entertainer by Scott Joplin (1868-1917). Edited by Detlef Tewes. For Mandolin Orchestra / Plucking String Orchestra (Guitar). Parts. Composed 1868-1917. Duration 4'30. Published by Edition 49 (E4.E49-03036-14).