Blue Goose Rag

Charles Leslie Johnson

ModernObscuretoccataC majorAllegretto2/4~3 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 3ABRSM 3

About this piece

Blue Goose Rag is a classic ragtime piece by C.L. Johnson written during the peak of the genre's popularity. It is notable for its bouncy rhythmic vitality and characteristic stride piano architecture.

Teacher notes

The left hand requires consistent accuracy in jumping between bass notes and chords.

Technical focus

alberti-bassleft-hand-independencearticulation

Mood

energeticplayful

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Blue Goose Rag

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

Browse all Henle level 3 pieces (Late beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Blue Goose Rag by Charles Leslie Johnson?

Blue Goose Rag is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 3.

What level do I need to play Blue Goose Rag?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 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 Blue Goose Rag?

A typical performance of Blue Goose Rag lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Blue Goose Rag?

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

What pieces are similar to Blue Goose Rag?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Butterflies Caprice by Charles Leslie Johnson, Belle of Havana Waltzes by Charles Leslie Johnson, Butterflies by Charles Leslie Johnson — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.