Re: Never have a limit on your income | Derek Sivers

ninestring — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:54:51 -0000

I have been a full time AFM union musician for nearly 40 years. Although I am a composer/recording artist, I have done all the traditional types of gigs including conventions, concerts, showrooms, cruise ships, sidelines, hotels etc.. Recently I had 10 seconds in the number 2 film at the box office, doing a sideline as a bassist in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". My music is played on Muzak, about 200 broadcast stations internationally, and I do production music for radio and jingles, produce albums etc. etc.

My passion is being a bassist. In the late 1970's-early 1980's, I developed the first 7-string bass guitar. I created a new technique to play this bass.I introduced the 11-string bass with a low C#0 string. This developed into my last "invention", a single course 12-string bass spanning 8 octaves.(http://www.youtube.com/watc...

In order for this instrument to exist, I had to develop new strings.
Out of the process,I developed the first functional open A440 string for the 25.5" to 30" scale guitars.(http://octave4plus.com)
This launched a new musical instrument string business, which forced me to design and patent a new ball ending system for the strings. Now 7,8.9 string guitars can have a high A,Bb,B and even C5 string. 12-string guitars can have all octave tuning. The list goes on.

Had someone told me years ago I'd invent new guitar strings and start a company, I would have laughed. On my next CD,I will use some instruments with these new strings.
My 4x3 octave 12-string bass now has a 3 octave tuning, which is an amazing new sound (http://video.google.com/vid.... Having an open G4 string at 34" is incredible.
Now, so this doesn't stay a "hands on" business, I have designed and am building a winding machine because no one will sell me one. I am not a mechanical engineer. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make an idea into a physical reality.

All of this was born out of adversity. I just wanted the same range as the 97 note grand piano on a guitar. This is so I can play and sight read piano music where it is written. It took about 7 years to find a luthier willing to build a 7-string bass guitar. The idea was laughed at back in the day. Thirty years later, they are everywhere. I found that a number of musicians could use what I developed.
The music on "Tap Dance On A Cloud" is made of a fabric woven from these concepts. A very unique sound. I still perform and do live engagements, produce music in the recording studio, and now create new kinds of strings.

Persistence is essential. Never give up on your dreams. I think if one leans into their craft, they will find numerous ways to make a living.

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Re: Never have a limit on your income | Derek Sivers