"Remember the iconic 'old Nokia ringtone'? That catchy, yet simple tune that brought a burst of excitement whenever your phone buzzed to life. This humble, yet legendary sound has been embedded in the memories of many. Share your favorite Nokia ringtone memories with us!"
Contrary to popular belief, the ringtone known as "Nokia Tune" was not originally composed for phones. It is a short excerpt from Gran Vals, a classical guitar piece written by the Spanish composer Francisco Tárrega in 1902.
For decades, the piece was a staple of classical guitar repertoire but remained relatively unknown to the general public. That changed in 1993, when Nokia’s then-vice president, Anssi Vanjoki, plucked a 13-second segment from the middle of Tárrega’s waltz. He felt the simple, elegant, and slightly melancholic progression perfectly embodied the brand’s new identity: technology that was both functional and human.
Nokia’s co-founder and executive Anssi Vanjoki reportedly chose the piece because it had a bright, memorable melody suitable for the limited polyphony of early mobile speakers. The company believed classical music conveyed sophistication, reliability, and global neutrality.
RTTTL string (Nokia 3310 format):
Nokia Tune: d=4,o=5,b=125: 8a6,8p,8f#6,8a6,8d6,8p,8d6,8e6,8f#6,8e6,8d6,8c#6,8a5
Use in older phones (or online RTTTL players).