Ruediger received his first guitar at the age of 14 and took classical guitar lessons. At the same time, he discovered country music and bluegrass through the American Forces Network (AFN) radio station, which captivated him and they have remained his favorite musical styles to this day.
He initially taught himself to play the mandolin, and later the 5-string banjo.
He began performing with various groups. In the late 1980s, he expanded his stage experience with the country band Canada Country Cowboys, where he made his mark for several years with his bluegrass instruments and lead guitar.
The resonator guitar (dobro) fascinated him later, inspired byJerry Douglas.
For several decades, Rüdiger has been a member of the bluegrass band Grass Unlimited, and since 2005, he has also been a member of the folk band Stringdance.
The group Main Grass was formed in 2022 through public and private jam sessions, and he has been a member ever since.