The opening A strain immediately displays the key stylistic quality of ragtime piano performances: the contrast between the regular left hand “keeping time” and syncopated right hand “ragging” the melody. Try to hear the difference between the hands. In the B strain (at 0:45), the left hand becomes even more regular, usually alternating a bass note with a chord. In addition, the right-hand part is more active in this section than in the previous section and is played in a higher register on the piano.