The Old Time Saloon

“The Old Time Saloon” Description:

• Level: Late Intermediate
• Mood: Cheerful, Upbeat
• Pages: 5 pages, 3 pages of music, cover included
• Format: Instant PDF download
• Studio Licence Bonus: Cover art, composer notes with mastery tips and “make it your own” suggestions
• Collections: Ragtimes

“The Old Time Saloon” is a bright, high-spirited late intermediate ragtime solo.  The rich harmonic colour and a signature pickup measure make every playthrough feel like a celebration. 

“The Old Time Saloon” Level:

Embrace the jubilant, rollicking character of “The Old Time Saloon”.  This makes it a natural favourite for late intermediate piano players who enjoy music that feels as good to perform as it sounds. This piece puts syncopation and chromatic movement front and centre.  At the same time, it lays richer harmonic textures that add real depth to the playing experience. 

• Mode: E Major, C# minor (key signature)
• Time Signature: 4/4
• Concepts: Ragtime accompaniment, syncopation, pickup measure, sixteenth notes, chromatic scales, basic polyphony (melody over held note), 3 ledger lines (one 6 ledger line note as part of an octave), accented staccato, 4-note chords, 7th chords, diminished chord

The pickup measure in “The Old Time Saloon” gives this piece an immediate lift and brightness that sets the energy for everything that follows. The key signature carries four sharps, with accidentals woven throughout, keeping the ear engaged. 

Syncopation is built into the music through tied notes.  The smallest rhythmic values are sixteenth notes, adding crispness and momentum. 

The harmony grows richer as the piece unfolds, with four-note chords, seventh chords, and a diminished chord adding genuine colour. Moments of basic polyphony, where the melody moves over held notes, bring a lovely contrast. 

Hand positions leap and shift frequently as you move through the ragtime accompaniment patterns.  And the right hand uses chord inversions and short chromatic runs to travel across the keyboard with flair.

“The Old Time Saloon” Bonus:

All sheet music has original cover art.  “The Old Time Saloon” includes composer notes that include mastery tips and “make it your own” suggestions to develop an individual interpretation.

More About “Ragtimes”:

“Ragtimes” is perfect for late intermediate piano players who love upbeat, character-driven music and are ready to explore the full range of the keyboard through three distinctive ragtime solos.

• “A Little Rag“: Playful with a surprising modern harmonic twist.
• “The Old Time Saloon“: Cheerful, high-energy ragtime with rich chord colour.
• “Gathering of the Gnomes“: Quirky, adventurous ragtime with three shifting keys.