Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"

Editorially verified for the Oct 15, 2026

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Sheet music for Scott Joplin’s ragtime composition “Maple Leaf Rag.”

Clue explainedFact checked

Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” is in A-flat major, so its tonic—the note that feels like the musical home base—is A-flat. The rag’s syncopated rhythms helped make ragtime a national craze around the turn of the 20th century. Joplin was so closely associated with the style that he became known as the “King of Ragtime.”

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Thursday, October 15, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"” in the New York Times crossword is AFLAT — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 15, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 4-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"” answer

AFLAT (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is AFLAT.

When else has “Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 15, 2026 (most recent) → AFLAT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"”?

The answer is AFLAT, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 15, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"”?

5 letters: AFLAT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 15, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 4-Across.

Can “Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for October 15, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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