Adelita

Francisco Tárrega

RomanticWell-knownarabesqueA minorAndante3/4~3.5 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7

About this piece

This charming piece by Tárrega is known for its delicate melodic line and subtly melancholic atmosphere. It's a quintessential example of his lyrical guitar writing, adapted for piano.

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Teacher notes

Achieving a truly cantabile (singing) tone and using rubato expressively are key to capturing the piece's wistful mood.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatopedalingflowing-sixteenths

Mood

nostalgiclyricalcontemplative

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Adelita by Francisco Tárrega?

Adelita is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play Adelita?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Adelita?

A typical performance of Adelita lasts about 3.5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Adelita?

Adelita is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.