Frog Legs Rag

James Scott · Level 6 (Expert) · jazz and blues · Piano

James Scott’s first big hit (1906), published by John Stark, Joplin’s publisher: with Joplin and Joseph Lamb, Scott makes up the trio of masters of “classic” ragtime. D♭ major, 2/4, 89 bars (about 2 minutes), complete score.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• The right-hand calls (octaves and repeated chords) need a supple wrist: never tense. Key signature with 5 flats: name them aloud before playing and spot the places where accidentals cancel them. The piece starts with a pickup: count the incomplete bar before coming in. One hand sometimes plays two voices: hold the long notes for their full value and let the main line sing louder than the accompaniment.

Source : PDMX / MuseScore · Public Domain