Bugle call rag – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Eb Major – Jack Pettis, Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel 1923
Bugle Call Rag (1922) is a lively early jazz instrumental. View this free online lead sheet in Eb major, including melody and chords for jazz performance.
About this song:
Bugle Call Rag (1922) is a fast-paced early jazz instrumental known for its energetic riffs and lively ensemble interplay. It became a staple of Dixieland and early swing bands, valued for its driving rhythm and strong melodic hooks. The tune remains popular in traditional jazz revival settings.
This free online lead sheet presents the melody and chord structure in Eb major, making it ideal for traditional jazz bands, swing orchestras, and improvisational study.
About the Composer: Jack Pettis, Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel
Jack Pettis, Billy Meyers, and Elmer Schoebel were American jazz musicians and composers active during the early 1920s. Their collaboration on "Bugle Call Rag" produced one of the most enduring instrumental pieces of the early jazz era. The composition reflects the shift from ragtime-influenced ensemble music to more rhythm-driven jazz performance styles that influenced later swing developments.
Musical Structure and Form
Typically performed in multi-strain 32-bar form in Eb major, featuring riff-based sections, ensemble call-and-response passages, and extended improvisational choruses.
