The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the VITA Classical shade guide arranged according to lightness allows clinicians to more often obtain a shade match than with an arrangement based on hue groups. A panel of 50 students determined the shade of the maxillary right central incisors of three patients with two differently arranged and blinded shade guides under standardized conditions. The L*a*b* values of the tabs were compared with those of the teeth spectrophotometrically. There were no statistically significant differences between the two arrangements. Using the arrangement according to lightness did not result in improved correct shade selection.