Graceful Ghost Rag - Modern ragtime on guitar; only audio with tab sheet

Another best of my whole ragtime arr. and performances. Recorded over 10 years ago into the tape, now I add my arrangement sheet for the video... ;-)

[@MsPandaRosa]

Mm-mm-mmm, a glorious & graceful variation of a most elegant piece. I still see a most elegant manatee, wrapped in her grand ghostly rags, undulating in the most elegant way to the unfolding chords given here.

[@zacclark5945]

A bit late on commenting. I am a pianist who enjoys ragtime a lot so naturally I eventually gravitated towards William Bolcom. I found the piano version of this piece sometime close to 2013 and started working on it and I had been playing it swung. Some adjudicators that I played this piece for had told me that basically "You should never swing ragtime." For a old stylistic standpoint this is true, but Bolcom actually played it with a light swing instead of just straight. Personally I enjoy it with a tiny bit of swing but whats great about music is how each individual interprets it. Great recording loved every second of it.

[@AC-he8ln]

Very nice work. I wonder how are you playing the first chord in the third measure (the 7-0-x-x-x-1) though haha

[@RagtimePassion]

Hi, well... long fingers like giraffe's neck...hahaha

[@rogermarcus2050]

According to the tab, from the very beginning, if the guitar tuning on the left side of the tab is correct, i.e., standard tuning, how is the open 6th string an F, the high d and f (1st an 2nd strings) tabbed as 8 and 5 respectively? Not clear, according to the tuning??

[@RagtimePassion]

+Roger Marcus ; Well, my fingers would be just a little bit longer than you... anyway, using capo on 1-fret may help you a little...

[@RagtimePassion]

Hi, thanks for your most poetic comment... I surely admit that this is a kind of Mile-stone among my whole arrangements - or, in my life ;-)

[@Ieecy]

I enjoyed your wonderful performance. I was looking for this sheet music when I saw your video. If you don't mind, could you share the sheet music? This video is six years old, but I sincerely ask for it.

[@RagtimePassion]

Hi, thanks for comment... About the tab, it is NOT shared in public - because of the authorized piblicity - but could be handed to someone who really needs to play or enjoy... not for some money ;-) Please contact me via E-mail on my website, then I could contact you parsonally - Thank you.

[@RagtimePassion]

Danke - usually for your nice comment. However, nowadays I often wonder if it would be worth or not to post my playing video more than the simple audio added some image photos or tab sheet for guideline... this also means what my playing is NOT good-looking... ;-)

[@ZStevie]

That's excellent that you arranged this for guitar! I recommend listening to Bolcom's own recorded performance, which someone put on KZbin (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnmTgJSbdteJiqc). Bolcom did play it with some swing (but not an exaggerated swing; he spoke about this in an interview a few years ago).

[@RagtimePassion]

Nylon Steel ; Thanks for comment - yes I have the CD where Bolcom played, however, I will recommend you one by Masanobu Ikemiya plays.

[@AndyThomasStaff]

what the crazy jesus is this video aspect ratio?!?!?

[@juventinoflores8626]

Qué agradable interpretación . Saludos a ambos. Gracias por este momento musical . Desde Querétaro (México) Juve Flores

[@RagtimePassion]

Muchas Gracias!

[@sofee0722]

久々ですね。素直に表現すると、切ない感じの曲調で、個人的にはこのタイプは、好きです。 tab譜が、『弾けるものなら弾いてみー』的で、ビギナーの自分としては、好きな部分だけ、 コピーしてみたいと思います。

[@aklosismedia4735]

I met old Bill Bolcom nice man

[@RagtimePassion]

+AklosisMedia ; WoW!! Hope I will, too... ;-)

[@RagtimePassion]

Hi, thanks for comment. Here I use the standard tuning, however, used Capo on 1 fret to realize the flatted key ;-)

[@thomcarls2782]

Is the tab a half step down from the score above it? I noticed that the score starts on double Fs in the bass and the tab starts on double Es. It seems like the rest of the tab follows this pattern of being consistently a half step lower.

[@RagtimePassion]

Though played with Capo on 1F - this means I always play all Ragtime Tunes in ORIGINAL KEY, what is my primary mission - NEVER be lost FOREVER!!!

[@rastashredder93]

Hi! thank you for this beatifull arrangement. I'm learning it thrugh tablature, but I don't know how would I be able to play certain parts. For example, at the beginning,(0:008) how could i play the G note(3rd fret 6th string) and the frets 5 & 8 on the 1st and 2nd strings? I'm understanding it wrong? thank you for your help and your amazing playing :D

[@RagtimePassion]

pablo eduardo ; Hi, thanks to comment. Well - you can play exactly same as written with your fingers... but may be needed "Wide Stretched". A little help is to use Capo on 1-fret, so you can play this in the original key and a little bit easier - as I played... ;-) If you need to buy this tab in PDF, please contact me to my E-mail showed on my Website.

[@Lennythewinner]

I play the piano but listening to your arrangement and playing I wish I'd learned the guitar instead ~

[@RagtimePassion]

hi, thanks for your HONORABLE comment for my play!! - however, hope you play this wonderful tune on the piano, because I NEVER play the piano except for the chord playing...

[@hadwasgone466]

Wonderful playing and arrangement! I have really enjoyed several of your videos! By any chance would you be willing to share a pdf of your arrangement of the Graceful Ghost for guitar? I'd love to play it in a concert this summer Cheers James Kerr

[@RagtimePassion]

Hi, thanks for your comment... and about Tab sheet of this rag, please Email me - checking my website below ;-) www.ragtime-passion.com/01_eng/

[@SteveMcBill]

Wonderful RP. A beautiful arrangement and rendition of William Bolcolm's rag - your playing is/was superb. If you have the arrangement still available which you could mail me then I would love to make it available to a wider audience via my website (if that would be OK) ?? Cheers and take care. Steve.

[@gemmamarisuarez]

Hello Dear friend, how long time!, it's nice to meet you again, this arrangement is fantastic, congrats, it sounds very great!!, and thanks for share the spartito to us. In this days I'm playing a famous ragtime :), I hope to sub it soon. Best regards from Spain, Gemma

[@RagtimePassion]

Dear Steve, thanks for your deeply kind comment. I will send you a message later ;-)

[@Henjo29]

Very nice! Is it in standard tuning?

[@RagtimePassion]

Hi, welcome your comment, too... ;-) this may be one of my most challenging rags EVER!

[@MsPandaRosa]

Well, I do like Manatees, and your guitar suggests their quiet elegance.

[@RagtimePassion]

Muchas gracias por tu escrito... y por lo que no me has olvidado ;-) Espero mucho tu toca de Ragtime! Hasta la vista, desde Nagoya, Japon.

[@arrau08]

Gosh it's so beautifully rendered, of course you didn't swing AND it's on guitar! I really love your version.

[@RagtimePassion]

Hi, thanks for comment. YES, as Ragtimer I never SWING always ;-)

[@yeah6052]

wa.... 대박... 도전...!

[@yeah6052]

첫줄에서부터 막혔다

[@RagtimePassion]

相当に難しいよ～集中力と根性が必要です（笑）　サンプルを1枚目だけ送ります。ちなみに、去年チューニングを変えて再アレンジしたけど、練習する根性が続きませんでした...

[@mmzeleks]

Thank you sir. I have been looking for this for a while. Great playing mate!

[@arrau08]

Came again to soothe my soul. So calming and elegant.

[@RagtimePassion]

arrau08 ; Thanks for comment - To play again, I need quite a few quantity of exercise...

[@anitadavideduo]

wow!!

[@RagtimePassion]

!!! ;-)

[@emilycantmusic9034]

Would you happen to have a pdf of the short music? I would love to print it out and bring it in to learn with my teacher because I'm slow 😂

[@RagtimePassion]

Please contact me via E-mail that you can find in my site below - while this rag is seriously difficult to play... anyway it could be an object to play the guitar in Ragtime style ;-) www.ragtime-passion.com/01_eng/contact.html

[@RagtimePassion]

;-)

[@grenks6387]

What at first that sounds like a 9 not a 8... ???,?!?!!???!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!!