Quoting from the Arcadian Press notes:
"Dusty Rag" is an unadorned rag in a folk style, but with the emphasis on non-chord tones and melodic chromaticism which brings about a softer lyricism than older folk rags. This was the first hit rag of the Indianapolis - Ohio Valley ragtime group which surfaced at this time. The structure of "Dusty Rag" is: Introduction AA BB CC.