Declan Zapala

Declan Zapala

Described by BBC Radio 3's Max Reinhardt as “virtuosic and committed, with stunning sonic awareness”, Declan Zapala is a British classical and percussive fingerstyle guitarist specialising in composition, arranging, audio production, and education. A Masters graduate of London's Royal College of Music, Declan is a classical guitarist by training but has spent a fruitful career defying genre and pushing the boundaries of what is possible on the instrument. As a solo artist, his shows have received no less than seven 5* reviews in recent years, and his solo show 'Fusion Guitar’ won Best Music Show at the Adelaide Fringe in 2015.

Latest articles by Declan Zapala

Spanish musician Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, 1947 - 2014) plays guitar during the World Music Institute 'Flamenco Festival New York 2004' concert at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, February 27, 2004

Rasgueado is a game-changing flamenco strumming technique – and it will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost

By Declan Zapala published

Learn the strumming style that will give your playing bravado, fire and passion

Techniques
Matteo Mancuso plays his Yamaha Revstar, with a Marshall Jubilee combo in the background

Matteo Mancuso video masterclass: The maestro shares the secrets to his awesome fingerstyle approach

By Declan Zapala published

Mancuso has lit up guitar since his arrival on the scene, with his debut album, The Journey, a modern classic. And he has nothing to hide; here he is showing us exactly how he does it

Musical Tips & Advice
Matteo Mancuso

Matteo Mancuso's mind-bending technique has taken the guitar world by storm – learn how to increase your fingerpicking speed to nail his extraordinary licks

By Declan Zapala published

It's time to build speed without the pick, with a little help from the hottest guitar player in the world right now – and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Techniques
Declan Zapala

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas… so here's a lesson on how to play Deck the Halls, arranged for classical guitar

By Declan Zapala published

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to play guitar loudly for all to hear, and this lesson will turn you into Andrés Segovia after three glasses of mulled wine

Lessons
Paco de Lucia

Known for his superhuman technique, Paco de Lucía is one of the all-time guitar greats – learn how to add his Nuevo flamenco flavor to your playing

By Declan Zapala published

Uncover the explosive possibilities in your fingers with this crash course in flamenco guitar playing

Musical Tips & Advice
The Muppets and Delibes

You've heard it in The Muppets and Ren and Stimpy – now learn Delibes' quirky masterpiece Pizzicato

By Declan Zapala published

We reduce an orchestra to just six strings with this guitar arrangement of Delibes' iconic movement – the classical piece that will impress the cartoon superfan in your life

Lessons
Julian Bream

How to play Greensleeves on guitar

By Declan Zapala published

One of the most famous songs to have emerged from Renaissance England is melancholy and sublime, capable of melting hearts, and a real test of your classical chops

Guitars