Confidence votes 361. The main instrument used in Ragtime was the piano,. The most well known Ragtime pianist, and composer for the piano, was Scott Joplin. However, the music was and could be played by a wide variety of ensembles and solo instruments.lthough one would think the air guitar, it is not so :) The piano is the most played instrument. approx. 21 million Americans play the piano (about 1in every 12 people) In m … y school class of 16, 7 students play the piano.