Hi,
My teacher has asked me to buy the music sheet for Scott Joplin Maple Leaf Rag in G major. I went to 2 shops at lunchtime but the only keys I found it in was in C major and Ab major.
I've also done a search on the web but could only find the piece in these 2 keys.
Has anybody ever played this piece in G major?
I'm starting to think my teacher might have made a mistake but because I'm not going to see her for 2 weeks thought I'd check here before I give up looking for it.

Mine is Ab and I've not seen it in any other key. I've just tried it in G and it doesn't seem as if it would be much easier???

Mine is also in Ab. Why does it matter what key it is in?

The version I have is in Ab Major too... in a proper book, it's not an arranged free internet version...

Thanks for your replies PianissiMole (also for trying it in G major! ) and Jennyanydots.


When she asked me to buy the piece I mentioned I did have the piece in the book of music that came free with the Clavinova I bought. She tried it (it is in C major in the book) and she said it didn't feel right and it would be better for me to get the version in G major. I trust her completely so I have no problem gettting what she is asking me to get, just in this case it doesn't seem to exist!!!! which leads me to think she might have made a mistake!!!!


Thanks Solari!!!

Mine's in a proper book too, and it's in A flat major (with a middle section in Db)

Similarly, and not surprisingly, mine copy too is in A flat. I should think G might not sit too well under the hands, but it might be that i'm just so used to it in A flat.

No, G doesn't - I 've just tried transposing the first page!

Yes, you're quite right, it's seems quite simple as well. The second page onwards similarly.
I still prefer the A flat though! There's something about where the black key octaves are that feel better, however this bias is probably due to personal preference and length of time playing it rather than anything particularly rational.

My version is in Ab major.

Never seen this in any other key than Ab major.

It has been arranged for a variety of other instruments in a variety of keys. For piano, though, Ab is the key.

Thanks Maggiemay and Tempus Incognitum for transposing it and trying it.
It seems really strange my teacher asked me to get it in G major when everybody here plays it in Ab Major and finds it falls better under the fingers. I might phone her and ask her if she really meant G major (she is always telling me off for not phoning her if I have a problem so might do so this time instead of waiting the 2 weeks till I see her again).
Also, thank you for your replies Sarah and PianoDoodler.

My version in Joplin Gold is in G major, and in Scott Joplin Piano Rags it's in A flat.

That's interesting - my copy is Joplin Gold too - and it's in A flat!

A Flat does seem to be the right key for piano. It is printed in that key in my books of Joplin Rags. I suspect Joplin himself played it in that key, but the pitch of his time was not standardised and thus it might well have sounded in a different key. In fact, on the recording I have of Joplin playing it, it does sound at G Major pitch(according to current standard pitch of A=440), so obviously the piano he was playing was a semitone flat of ours. Although it sounds different, it is equally acceptable in G as in A Flat.

That's weird! Mine's 2009 and it's the easy piano collection. I've probably missed something cringingly obvious ( ), but it's definitely only got an f sharp in the wotsit. I'll try and compare the two tomorrow, if I remember

No, I'm sure you are right about the key. Mine is a few years old, so no doubt an earlier edition of the same volume. Kind of interesting though ...

That's interesting. My piano teacher has got perfect pitch and I know it does bother her if something is out of pitch so that might be the reason if she has a recording by Joplin.


That's also really interesting!
I spoke to my teacher yesterday, she wasn't surprised I could only find the version in Ab major but she definitely wants me to learn it in G major. She told me that if I can't find it she'll transpose the Ab version to G using sibelius.
I'll go back to the shops beforehand though as if I can find the version in G major in Joplin Gold it will save her as lot of time transposing it.

Why on earth is she so insistent on you learning it in G major? If you're happy playing stuff like this then surely 4 flats isn't going to cause you too much grief?

She is an excellent teacher/pianist so she must have her reasons...not sure which ones yet though!!! Normally she will tell me while I'm learning a piece or after I've learned the piece what she was trying to teach me!!! She must have thought of something more beneficial to me if I was learning it in G major. Maybe in this case it will be transposition. Once I finish learning the piece she'll ask me to play it in Ab Major!!!
I'm sure the reason will be revealed at some point though!!!

That would drive me crazy!

I think if you met her you'd realise she never does anything to drive people mad, quite the contrary in fact she will do anything to help. In this case the easy solution for her would have been to tell me to learn the piece in Ab but she will go through all the trouble of transposing the piece probably to rectify a technical issue I have without me knowing what it is!!!! By her not telling me what she is trying to make me work on, I guess I just do it without realising there's an exercice in the piece! Probaly quite a good thing as it all ends up being fun (after lots of practice!!!! )!!

Have just seen this thread. Can maybe put you out of misery.

I have a published score in G major. "The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag". Music Sales Ltd. 78 Newman St london W1F 3LA. This arrangement copyright 1974 by Dorsey Bros. Music Ltd. 19-20 Poland St., London W1V 3DD

( Bought donkey's years ago; no ISDN number that I can see)

Thanks Dorfmouse! I've done a search on the web but unfortunately cannot find this version. It might be discontinued. But at least it's nice to know that it does exist somewhere in G major!!!


I found both books you've mentioned Crotchetymum and Maggiemay. Unfortunately the version in G major is a simplified version so I didn't get it. I also found another version in G major called "Maple Leaf Rag - the easiest rag"! Maybe I should have got this version You could easily play it with 2 fingers!!!!!
I've now decided to call off the search.

Thank you all for your help!

This epic search of yours reminds me of the guy looking for a copy of "Fly Fishing" by J.R.Hartley

Only difference he was calmly phoning every shop using the yellow pages and did find a copy of the book....I was racing round every shop I could find during my lunchbreaks and never got the version I wanted!!!!!

I have two versions, both just sheet music versions on their own, both in different keys.

The first version I bought I was told by a friend was in the wrong key, so I got the (I think) Ab version. I'll have a check when I get in as I think I know where both are. I didn't buy them too long ago so hopefully they might have ISDN numbers. I don't think either of them are simplified either.

That'd be brilliant!!! thanks!

It is this one. I got mine from www.musicroom.com. Not sure I can post links, so if you do a search for "joplin maple leaf rag" it should be the 3rd one down with the pink border. When you click on that the picture is different (don't know why) but I've checked the back of my copy and it does have the catalogue no. AM14127.

As this was the first copy I bought I actually found it easier to play than the one in Ab, but I'm still learning that one. The G major one was the one my friend looked at and said it was wrong! No idea why.

Fingers crossed for you that they haven't changed it since I bought it and it's still in G major! You'll have to let us know when you get it.

Fantastic!!! Thanks so much!!!
I've just ordered it so will hopefully receive it early next week!!!!

Come to think of it, was it not the habit in the first half of the last century to publish pieces in 'easy' keys? Schubert's Gb Impromptu in G - that sort of thing?