Guitar Tips

This manual is not meant as an exhaustive study on the subjects presented, but rather tips that have worked for me over years of performing on guitar as a sideman, recording session guitarist, and as a performing artist in and out of churches.

Having also spent many years as a composer-arranger-orchestrator and producer has served me well as a guitarist. Because I see myself as a “writer” first, I have used many techniques learned from writing and producing in my guitar performing work. Know this: Playing an instrument is as much mental as it is physical. We performers (especially us guitarists) tend to forget this. We usually are impressed by the physical aspects of playing guitar. I have taught guitar for many years and have frequently seen what I call a theory phobia. It is vital to know that your hands work about as good as what your head knows. What I mean is how music works, which is basically what Theory is. How much you need to know will depend on your goals and is in relation to the styles you want to master. Mastering harmonic techniques for Folk or Popular music (i.e. most contemporary worship styles) will not, in most cases be as complicated as if you wanted to master Jazz, or 20th Century Classical harmonic techniques.

With a performance career that began at age 11, Ric Flauding's music has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, Billboard Magazine and with The London Symphony Orchestra. As a high school senior in southern California, Ric's guitar prowess helped open the doors to LA's competitive recording industry and through study with Barney Kessel, Horace Hatchett and classical master Ted McKown, Ric was soon on the road as a touring musician. Ric is a sought after guitarist and composer who has created music for national commercials and network television, with projects being featured on Oprah's show. He has been showcased on recordings with David Benoit, John Patitucci, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Kashiwa and Russell Ferrante (Yellowjackets). Ric has opened for Bob James, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun and Michel Camilo and despite his skill with classical and flamenco, Ric is so versatile that he even worked with Dave Mustaine of Metallica/Megadeath. Voted Best Online Jazz Artist by CMAP Music International, Ric is the "consummate musician's musician...Filled with passionate emotion this artist will carry you on musical journey after journey on the wings of some of the most beautiful guitar melodies you will ever hear." - CMAP Music International. Ric is also an educator having taught composition, theory and related subjects at a number of universities and internationally online. In the church world Ric has worked for many churches. Some well-known.