Ragtime is a genre of music that originated in the United States around the 1890s. It is characterized by its syncopated rhythms and use of the "ragged time" technique, in which the melody is played against the regular beat of the accompaniment. Ragtime was initially written for the piano, and many early ragtime compositions are considered to be piano solos. However, over time, ragtime was also arranged for other instruments, including the banjo, guitar, and mandolin.