Francisco Tárrega’s Gran Vals is a cornerstone piece in the classical guitar repertoire, known for its graceful melody with a Spanish flair. You might recognize it from the older, iconic Nokia cell phone ringtone!
Dive in to learn this piece filled with beautiful picking patterns and chord voicings. Get ready to add this gem to your playing!
Notation symbols explained
Here is some brief information on guitar notation symbols used in this piece. Feel free to skip this section if you’re already familiar.
The numbers next to some notes on the top staff indicate which fingers to use on the fretting hand.
You might see barre chords written as C.1, C.2, etc… to represent the Spanish word “cejilla” which means barre. I replace this with B.1, B.2, etc… to represent a barre on a certain fret.
Note that these symbols don’t always require barring all strings, so check the notation to see which string the barre starts on. The dashed lines indicate how long to hold each barre.
If needed, you can refer to this simple guide to understanding music symbols.
Gran Vals guitar tabs
By the way, you can get the PDF of this piece in the link below.


Get full access as a Pro Member!
Join now or
log in to unlock this lesson and more!
Start Playing Better, Faster
with Pro Membership! ✨
Take your skills beyond this lesson with Pro perks like:
• 🏁 Full Roadmap Content
Structured lessons in sequence so you always know what to practice next.
• 📙 Exclusive Lesson PDFs and Ebooks
Get access to a growing library of clear, downloadable resources—save time and skip the clutter.
• 🎼 Full Song Lessons
Break down your favorite songs step by step, and play them with confidence.
• 🚫 Ad-Free Learning
Focus better with a distraction-free environment.
• 🎁 Store Discounts
Save 50% off on all song PDFs, charts, audio tracks, bundles, and design printables.
• 💬 Member Support
Got questions? We’ve got your back, helping you stay on track!
Backing Track 🎶
🎶 Want to practice along with an audio track? Get the guitar track here!
To learn other songs by Francisco Tárrega, check out Adelita, Malagueña, Lágrima, Recuerdos de la Alhambra, or his arrangement of Moonlight Sonata.
📘 Get the free guitar practice guide here!
Want to learn more songs? Check out the sheet music with guitar tabs resource on this site.
All the best,
JG Music Lessons
Explore Songs with Guitar Tabs
Stop guessing and finally make real progress with the FREE Guitarist's Practice Blueprint! 🎸
Get it sent straight to your email!
Take your skills beyond this lesson with Pro perks like:🏁 Full Roadmap Content
Structured lessons in sequence so you always know what to practice next.
🎼 Full Song Lessons
Break down your favorite songs step by step, and play them with confidence.
📙 Exclusive Lesson PDFs and Ebooks
Get access to a growing library of clear, downloadable resources—save time and skip the clutter.
🎁 Store Discounts
Save 50% off on all song PDFs, charts, audio tracks, bundles, and design printables.
🚫 Ad-Free Learning
Focus better with a distraction-free environment.
💬 Member Support
Got questions? We’ve got your back, helping you stay on track!