Richard Smith plays Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag

[@demef758]

The way Richard keeps a bass line running while playing the tune with his other fifteen fingers just blows my socks off!

[@chucksilverstein4923]

1:43 😮

[@Jamikazeify]

"Wait, that's illegal."

[@Wookie8058]

Hahaha I actually lol'ed... :)

[@Wookie8058]

HAHAHAHA 15 Fingers... I about fell the fuck off my chair!! Gawd that was great... Thank you for making this old fart laugh, literally out loud...

[@robysixtytwo]

It's been days and days that I can't stop listening and listening to this song.

[@jimharris8597]

I can listen to Richard play for hours. His timing, and skills are what makes him one of the worlds best players.

[@whalesong999]

He imparts a cadence to the playing that adds more than sound but that feeling that goes through a person to cause automatic toe tapping. Some grand picker this man is...!

[@Sunakfilth]

Me too.. Any idea what guitar he's using?

[@MagicTammi]

@@whalesong999 He's so much better than Tommy Emmanuel!

[@aerofly2]

MagicTammi , not sure he’s better, just a different style. Both are experts in their own style of play.

[@stumplifter]

His tone!

[@AdamFerrari64]

This and His “the entertainer “ cover are so impressive.

[@n.rfaherty9819]

And his pineapple rag 😩😩👌

[@annettebaker4203]

and Snowy Morning Blues, and oh, everything! But you're right, mostly Pineapple Rag!

[@scottjopiin9934]

Very impressive indeed.

[@booooo666]

And requiem for a marionette.. And all the rest.. I've never seen hin slip up once.

[@samcastorani3948]

He’s amazing. Chet Atkins also does a great job of The Entertainer on guitar. Beautiful!

[@antonioperillo1182]

It's the first I listen to this wonderful ragtime piece played with a guitar.....graceful and talentful!!!!!!! Many sincere compliments from Italy!! By a Keith Emerson fan👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😊😊😊😊

[@scottjopiin9934]

I must say, this is a very good rendition. Sounds pretty darn well Mr. Richard Smith. Keep it up!

[@haanashim]

I have to think Joplin would have enjoyed this performance. This is pure genius.

[@scottjopiin9934]

I loved the performance! Bravo!

[@briantaulbee6452]

I was just sitting here listening and thinking "wonder what Scott Joplin would think of this rendition ".

[@alexkalish8288]

Richard Smith has been a great talent since he was 10 years old. Now he is amazing in his range, that was played perfectly ... .

[@chirilas5217]

👏👏👏 BRAVO RICHARD,!!!!, you are unique. What a great execution of this difficult piece. Congratulations. Excellent performance.👏👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@skygh]

Awww Richard, you are beyond good brother. What a joy

[@Ignazio-g3d]

Rag time suonato come pochissimi al mondo, grazie grazie per questo ❤😂❤❤

[@martinspencer366]

One of THE all time great guitarists and probably the greatest living guitarist today. It's practically impossible to play better than Richard.

[@skygh]

Go watch Richard and Tommy Emmanuel playing together. Both these guys are brilliant guitarists and song interpreters

[@brianfauteux7711]

It's impossible to listen to Richard play and not feel joy!!Such an incredible talent!!

[@cliffwest5617]

Back when this was written by Joplin, he took it to a publisher,and the publisher said it might not sell well because it was too difficult to play. Well ? There you are folks.

[@JoshuaSobel]

I thought that was a myth? I've heard the same thing said about several other pieces by other composers. Either way, it makes for a fun story. Personally, I don't find the Maple Leaf Rag too hard to play on piano. But then I found the Fig Leaf Rag to be very tricky. Go figure. Either way, this is a fun performance!

[@Kuijl1]

Well Ragtime at that time was 'the' popular music rising. it had to sell (hence the remark of the publisher). The average pianist who was on level 4 out of 10 would had problems with the Maple Leaf Rag (probably lvl 7). But again the music had to sell and the publisher was afraid this would be too difficult for your average at home piano player and it would halt people buying the sheet music. Maple Leaf Rag is still advanced piano music, but of course there are many more difficult pieces. Especially in Contemporary Ragtime you can find extremely difficult Ragtime music, like William Bolcom's Serpents Kiss (level 9 maybe even 10) and many others.

[@jamie123b]

But this is the worlds best finger picker guitarist, it’s too difficult for most folk

[@markrymanowski719]

And Maple Leaf Rag became the first popular music million seller. It took 34 years to get there.

[@104thDIVTimberwolf]

Just because Richard Smith makes it look easy doesn't mean it's not impossible.

[@outlawdirty7886]

he's one of the best, hands down. a level of understanding and technique that literally takes a lifetime for most people to access!!

[@peterschaefer8524]

Gonna go watch “The Sting” again. Those Joplin tunes are great.

[@ztahs]

Wonderfully done. Scott Joplin never gets old. There is just such a beautiful complexity to his music.

[@neciaburford9574]

Fantastic playing ! 🎉👏🇦🇺

[@houmm08]

Brought a massive smile to my face. Brilliant.

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Beautiful. Outstanding interpretation of Mr. Joplin's rag. Loved it!

[@adampalm4444]

Less than 1k ppl "liked" this since 2016 makes me wonder wtf is wrong w/the world. Mr Smith is immaculate playing this extremely challenging Joplin piece. Pure Americana perfection.

[@David-ig8of]

Makes me realize that not many people know what an accomplishment this is toplay on guitar....awesome talent...

[@JonathanElzur]

He's British.

[@cameronsmith6755]

The man is nothing short of AMAZING!!!

[@banjoboy01]

his technique is crap dumbass

[@tylerrose7599]

Coming from a banjo player lmao

[@andyphillips7435]

All of him!

[@paulgarcia8700]

How I would like to congratulate him personally and give him a warm and fraternal hug. It's the best version I've heard on guitar and I think it's truly sensational. In fact, he has nothing to envy to any pianist, including the author Scott Joplin.

[@OHCelt]

Also go and find Bob Evans’ version of Maple Leaf Rag - it is superb too.

[@mikevansummern7509]

Just bought tickets to go see him on Monday. Can't wait!

[@ianwattsOfficial]

New subscriber 🐎 cheers from Australia 🦘🐨 sending support 🦘 keep up the great music 🎶

[@J88541]

I mean I can play this on piano and thought that was impressive, but this... It's art

[@jamesstuartbrice420]

great, I am really impressed. It sounds so complex and non-repetitious the way he plays it. Beautiful performance and arrangement!

[@seanhonan9152]

He's the best guitar player I've ever heard or seen.... effortlessly changing difficult chords quickly and so accurately.....what a gift God has given you!

[@coryCuc]

He wasn't world champion for no reason ;). Richard Smith is at the top of players I want to see. His version of the entertainer is very good as well

[@eligostheexalted]

God didn't make him this way. He did. Constant practice over years makes for this.

[@coryCuc]

@@eligostheexalted duh. Literally no one on the face of the earth thinks that he doesn't have to practice lol.

[@eligostheexalted]

@@coryCuc It just annoys me when people downplay the accomplishments of individuals and put that shit on God's plate. God didn't do jack shit to save that dude's life, the surgeon did, etc.

[@seanhonan9152]

@@eligostheexalted If a person isn't given a gift by the Holy Spirit.....you can practice all you want and will never sound like that.....guess you'll find this out once the dust has settled.........

[@davidmckenzie420]

My favorite ragtime song--and what a treat to see it done this way.

[@RaulMonge-v4l]

Hola Richard, que lindo talento te dio Dios para no dejar morir el Raptain de scott joplin. Lo felicito hermano eres fenomenal uncrak tocando bendiciones 🇨🇷

[@george5120]

This is an energetic song, in the sense that listening to it would intensify my workout at the gym.

[@WildRiceRDMC]

Richard is the best......It is a real pleasure to listen. Ear Candy

[@rickbullock4331]

One of the best guitarists around. 👍👍🇨🇦

[@johnbaines4908]

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone play a guitar better than this in my 50 years on this earth. Just awesome skills...

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Most people have no idea how utterly knuckle-busting these Joplin tunes are to do on guitar.... Richard Smith makes the difficult look - and sound - effortless and the impossible seem possible. Musical genius like this is so rare.

[@natron8]

Richard has now made my top 5 list. tommy, chet, jerry and buster b. thats good company

[@s6y9l]

thunder cock what about Scotty Anderson?

[@Jtuesday51]

Best guitarist without question is JOE PASS

[@roromoho]

Buster B Jones the forgotten one, but what a master he was.

[@roromoho]

@@Jtuesday51 You cant compare Joe Pass with Paco de Lucia, Chet Atkins, Steve Vai, André Segovia, Django Reinhardt or Rory Gallagher...total different approach of the instrument. Its like comparing Van Gogh and Dali, its just stupid. Art is not a competition, just in case.

[@75blackviking]

First computer program I ever wrote as a kid played a rendition of this on an Apple IIe. One of my happiest memories. I like his guitar version better though.

[@Sunakfilth]

The speed is incredible.. Doesn't miss a note.

[@dielaughing73]

Best left hand in the biz

[@MyGrassIsGreenest]

Great version of this, prob my fav guitar version on youtube!

[@robertgrimsted877]

One of my favourite songs reminds me of experiencing my life

[@Divocwax]

It's more about how good Smith is, and less about high quality audio.

[@AV8RHKoenig]

You don’t even really have to be a guitarist to appreciate how talented this man is.

[@stevej.longariello3384]

Thanks to utube, fine players like Mr. Smith can share his/her art with the world. Thank you Mr. Smith. On a good day, I can play the Maple Leaf Rag.Very difficult piece of music

[@raymndharrison64]

Richard Smith is the best guitarist I have ever heard and I have heard a lot

[@demef758]

I won't disagree with you, but there are several others who are in his league. Tommy certainly comes to mind. Regardless, how can anyone NOT marvel at how effortlessly Richard makes it all look!

[@simon-oy6um]

Plays it like taking a sunday morning stroll 😊😊😊

[@jakubzapala9691]

Absolutely love when his chubby fingers dance like this... Makes my ears happy and somehow I'm also craving sausages, dunno why.

[@tarpnarp]

Lol wtf

[@richardgratton7557]

Great job, Richard. I had a video game on my old Commodore 64 called "Frantic Freddie" that had this melody playing in it, I never knew what it was called. Until now. :)

[@jamesdylandean614]

That is called Travis picking and was made mainline by Merle Travis and then extended in artistry by Chet Atkins and others. Richard is one of the foremost practitioners of this method.

[@brunoroba7281]

Il est exceptionnel .... bravo Richard ...

[@rehamkcirtap]

Always nice to hear you play something

[@erivers71]

Richard Smith= GOAT

[@andrewsilverstein6186]

Absolutely wonderful

[@thebus3181]

I just learned it on piano and i don’t understand how someone else can play it on a different instrument, this is great.

[@haanashim]

With everyone else there's a sense that they're just happy to execute a particular bar, whereas he's so technically in control that every phrase is shaped for expression.

[@ericcommarato7727]

It’s magical!

[@acousticland]

well done played man. Surfing arrangement of a classic...congratulations

[@vwbug1971]

Your best yet, Richard.

[@Jamesdylandean]

I have seen him perform a number of things, and this is by far the best that I have ever seen him. His style to me seems more strident than a lot of the top finger-pickers, sort of a Chet on five cups of coffee.

[@gtnsteve1]

I think you might not have meant "strident."

[@Jamesdylandean]

@@gtnsteve1 -No I meant strident!

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

His style isn't strident; it is confident. He's using the kind of articulation and attack which ought to be used when playing this number. BTW, if you want to hear Chet on "five cups of coffee," look up another phenomenal guitar player, the amazing Scotty Anderson.

[@gopalsmart4671]

His jazz chord progressions, rhythm, leads are very fantastic. His movement of zazz rhythm is top. Gopal, guitarist, musician. South India, 641014

[@paulinesmalley847]

Richard Smith just a pure genius

[@tgholford]

King of the ragtime guitar!

[@Wookie8058]

A rather busy piece of music written for a piano played on a guitar... Rags are difficult to begin with, playing them on a guitar is next to impossible,.. Richard is an amazing talent....

[@Ignazio-g3d]

❤sona il rag/time come nessuno Al mondo ❤grazie

[@VicJang]

Holy shxt… it sound like he has four hands! Amazing!

[@Bazonthebass]

Doss. Puts me in my mind of the equally great Chet Atkins.

[@XT69xt69XT69]

Damn I wish I could play as well as Richard Does! FANTASTIC!!!!

[@tjdonaldson6923]

Terry Garrett you can Brother!

[@jimmccarley9609]

Hey Terry, while you might not reach Richard's level of expertise, you can come close enough if your fingers and ears still work. Anyway, he sells a thumbpicking dvd on his website. Then, become familiar with the caged system, and you're off and running! I am doing it after 40 years of playing with a plectrum. It's a blast, a whole new world of exploration and fulfilment.

[@sunaJH]

This tune around 1900 sold 1,000,000 copies of sheet music,1st instrumental to do so

[@davidkreider942]

Did ya notice there’s only 3 strings on that guitar!! Very good!

[@jonathanmccomb4187]

Look closer.....

[@Sunakfilth]

I just purchased this lesson.. This could take a while🎸🎶🎶

[@MichielvanGessel-f2x]

Great, greetings from the Netherlands!

[@MichielvanGessel-f2x]

My Hero!

[@JimFalboguitar]

Richard- you are boss, well done, sir!

[@tonzone21]

Well done sir! Keep ragtime alive!

[@javidThoman]

So beautiful and awesome.

Que MARAVILHA! Thank you, Richard Smith! When are you going to come to Porto, Portugal?

[@richardsmithmusic]

José Couto I would love to come to Portugal! I need a promoter to set up a gig. I don’t have a agent there

[@IanAGP]

Richard should be a CGP, one of the best pickers out there

[@coryCuc]

Agreed. TE officially/unofficially made him one in some interview I was watching a while back.

[@thomaswalz3515]

Fabulous! KZbin's algorithms are throwing everyone's version of this Joplin piece at me... not complaining BTW... One of these days I'll have this polished a bit better... but Richard set the bar pretty high....

[@Gordon595]

Incredible

[@TheEdgarRus]

Well played, Legend :) Might have to learn this one.

[@thundaga4005]

Amazing rendition.

[@josephspinelli2620]

What a blessing!

[@DavidSilk1956]

I can play like that...when I'm dreaming.

[@jeremesalazar1076]

Bravo...excellent musicianship.

[@victorppereira]

Obrigado... um grande abraço do Brasil...

[@schwartzenheimer1]

Nothing to say but, "Wow!"...

[@michaelmoore3452]

Absolute STUD

[@Sunakfilth]

This man is in a league of his own..

[@marshallalbritton9521]

Well done.

[@richardsleep2045]

Astonishing guitarist

[@garethallman5388]

Just simply genius

[@davidmcnab9127]

Delightful!

[@jackheslin5237]

GREAT PICKING!

[@cheesemouse7774]

Tommy Emmanuel and Richard Smith playing ragtime music together. Now that's a real treat!

[@Названиеканала-ф9ж]

This video should have 395 millions views🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dantamamasbait645]

This probably one of the most difficult arrangement in guitar

[@Sunakfilth]

Amazing player is smithy🎼🎶🎶🎸

[@SteveBlom]

Fantastic!

[@Leutchik]

Wonderful !!

[@timyates236]

Brilliant!

[@mikhailasanovic]

OWNS those strings

[@a.abeyta6237]

Nice rag. I can see why nylon strings were the tool of choice.

[@officialfanofrichiebricker8324]

insane he is