Black and White Rag

George Botsford

ModernKnownrondoF majorTempo di Rag2/4~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 5

About this piece

A classic of the ragtime era, George Botsford’s work is a tour de force of syncopated rhythms and agile right-hand passages. It remains one of the most recognizable piano rags in the standard repertoire.

Teacher notes

Practice the left-hand jumps separately to ensure precision and confidence before adding the syncopated right-hand patterns.

Technical focus

speed-agilityalberti-basswide-spanarticulation

Mood

energeticbrilliantplayful

Listen & watch

Your status

Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Black and White Rag

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Black and White Rag by George Botsford?

Black and White Rag is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.

What level do I need to play Black and White Rag?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Black and White Rag?

A typical performance of Black and White Rag lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Black and White Rag?

Black and White Rag is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Black and White Rag?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Boomerang Rag by George Botsford, Black and White by George Botsford, Alexander's Ragtime Band by Irving Berlin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.