Songs · Advanced
The Entertainer (opening)
Scott Joplin · The Entertainer, a ragtime two-step (1902): introduction and first strain
C major2/4 time21 barsboth hands
Arranged: Joplin’s notes, shortened: the introduction and the first strain, ending on its last chord instead of leading into the second strain. The notes here are not exactly the ones the composer wrote.
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About this piece
Ragtime sets a steady, march-like left hand against a right hand that lands just off the beat. The left hand jumps: a low bass note on the beat, then a chord in the middle of the keyboard. Practice the left hand alone until the jumps feel easy. Joplin wrote “Not fast” at the top.
What it practices
- ragtime syncopation
- left-hand jumps: bass note, then chord
- octaves in the right hand
- sixteenth notes
Where the notes come from
Mutopia Project edition (Chris Sawer, from a reproduction of the original 1902 edition; public domain), compared with this file note by note by our checking script, except the last bar, where we leave out the three notes that lead into the next strain.
How to practice with it
- Listen first. Press Play and follow the moving line with your eyes. The lit notes and keys show what sounds right now: blue is the right hand, orange the left.
- Slow it down. Use − and + to set the tempo. 60% is a good place to start.
- One hand at a time. Choose Right or Left, learn that hand, then put them together.
- Wait for me. Turn it on and press Start. The lit keys show what to play, and the music waits until you play them, on the screen, on your computer keyboard or on a MIDI keyboard.
- Loop the hard part. Turn on Loop, pick the bars, and play them a few times in a row.
Click a bar in the music to start from there. Space plays and pauses. The computer keys A S D F G H J K play C D E F G A B C (press ⌨ Computer keys under the music to see them on the piano).