Guitar Artistry of David Laibman showcases Laibman as he plays 14 tunes, including the classic rags of the three “Great Fathers of Ragtime,” James Scott, Joseph Lamb and Scott Joplin. Along the way, Laibman, who teaches economics at the City University of New York, sprinkles many anecdotes about ragtime music into the mix and offers an insightful sociological perspective on the origins and evolution of the ragtime form. Other enticing anecdotes include his account of re-discovering composer Joseph Lamb, after 40 years of obscurity, living in New York, as well as Laibman’s own entertaining (and clearly tall) tale of stowing away on a ship, being captured by pirates, and learning to play ragtime to entertain their women on an island while they returned to the high sea for more pillaging.

Bracketing these verbal interludes are masterful performances of songs that are more widely known in the collective American consciousness than many might suspect. Among the 14 selections are “Red Carpet Rag,” “Nola,” and “Maple Leaf Rag”. Seven of these tunes have been transcribed in tab/music notation and are available on the DVD as PDF files.

After a lifetime of playing and transcribing rags for the guitar, Laibman has become a composer, as well, demonstrating his inventiveness in the form with “Shelter in a Storm,” “Pandora’s Rag,” “Love in the Afternoon,” “A Ragtime Poem,” and “Courtship of the Squirrels.” (Running time: 90 minutes.)

Classic Ragtime Guitar is a section-by-section lesson for learning two classic ragtime compositions, “Red Carpet Rag” and Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag.” Laibman has developed a style based on practical physical considerations: His teaching encourages the viewer to try different methods of playing to determine what works best for the individual. His message is to respect the rules of musicianship, but to keep oneself open to alternative methods and use what works.

Laibman offers very detailed information on fingering. Each section shows the right and left hand in a split-screen format, and he often demonstrates two ways to fret a chord or passage using different fingering. He also covers dropped D tuning and discusses fingerboard positions at length, describing muting, use of the thumb, and fretting with the flat part of the left index finger instead of the fingertip. The DVD includes a booklet with musical notation and tablature for each song, as well as PDF files on the DVD.

This is an entertaining video even for non-musicians. Watching a musical master divulge his technique is fascinating, and the tunes are a classically familiar treat. (Running time: 100 minutes.)