Songwriting: Ramblings from the Ramp

by Eddie Minyard on September 24, 2014

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I’ve always loved Physics – not just a good idea, it’s the law!

For example, a “RAMP” is defined as an inclined plane: a supporting surface tilted at an angle, with one end higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. Ramps are widely used to move heavy loads over vertical obstacles; in our case, The Ramp is designed to help you move your songwriting skills from one level to a higher level.

Scientifically speaking, moving an object up a Ramp requires less force than lifting it straight up, at a cost of an increase in the distance moved. The mechanical advantage of a Ramp, the factor by which the force is reduced, is equal to the ratio of the length of the sloped surface to the height it spans. Due to conservation of energy, the same amount of mechanical energy (work) is required to lift a given object by a given vertical distance, disregarding losses from friction, but the Ramp allows the same work to be done with a smaller force exerted over a greater distance.

I bet you never knew just how scientific all this is, did you?

So, what the heck is this all about? Well, the concept is simple: SongRamp is a place where you can grow your songwriting skills, at your own pace, to whatever heights you choose for yourself. Sort of like the ability to control the incline on a treadmill – the steeper you set the ramp, the harder you work to reach your goal. Same with your songwriting. You can take your time, learning and evolving at your own pace. Or, you can take advantage of our relationships with pro writers and our association with Nashville Songwriters Association International, to make the Ramp steeper and go for the stars!

It’s all up to you.

So, next time you sit down, sign in to SongRamp and post a song, feel free to wear your lab coat – you are, after all, practicing Physics!

Posted in: SongRamp Stuff

Topics: songwriting, music, creativity

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Kip Marchetti and Randy Showalter liked this

Eddie Minyard

Everyday, tens of thousands of songs are written, all over the world. Most will never be heard. Many more will only be sung by the songwriter, either in small circles of friends, or on a small stage somewhere. Very, very few will ever make the mainstream of radio. But, that doesn’t stop the song...View MoreEveryday, tens of thousands of songs are written, all over the world. Most will never be heard. Many more will only be sung by the songwriter, either in small circles of friends, or on a small stage somewhere. Very, very few will ever make the mainstream of radio. But, that doesn’t stop the songwriters of the world from turning out new creations. From baring their souls, from sending their messages, from answering the call of the elusive Muse. Why? For the Sake of the Song.“Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the songWho do I think that I am to decide that she’s wrong?”- Townes Van Zandt, For the Sake of the SongIntroductionIt seems to me that I’ve been writing songs for most of my life. Or at least trying to write songs. Everything is relative, so they say. Nevertheless, I’ve written hundreds of songs. I am a hack, don’t get me wrong, but I’m comforted in the knowledge that I am not alone in being a hack. Nor in being brave (or foolish) enough to put my feelings and beliefs “out there,” for the world to love - or not – in the form of songs. It’s an act of passion, for those who write, as Townes Van Zandt said, “For the Sake of the Song.” It’s a good business for those who do it well enough. I fall into the first category.For the past ten years, I have been deeply involved in the business side of songwriting, but not in the traditional sense. I am an owner of a social networking site that serves songwriters from all over the world, www.SongRamp.com. Through this venture, I have met or spoken with or read the lyrics of, or listened to the musical works of literally thousands of aspiring and accomplished songwriters from every corner of this wide world. I have become close to hundreds of those songwriters, including some very successful ones. When it comes to what drives these crazy people to write, I have observed some interesting commonalities amongst the best of the best and the not-so-best. Amazon lists almost 2,300 books when the word “songwriter” is entered. Hundreds of “instructional” or “how to” books on the topic. That’s not what this book is about. It’s about people. The goal of this book is to explore the minds and souls of the songwriters out there. Not the ones you hear on the radio, though. The songwriters who live next door to you, or even in your own house. Folks like you. And folks like me.Chapter 1 – Who are these people?Running a website like SongRamp has provided a unique insight into the world of the songwriter, as has my involvement with the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International (NSAI). We share many members, but the mix could be well-represented by a ven diagram – not every member of either is a member of both. Because of the nature of the internet, SongRamp’s geographic spread is broader, but the demographic mix of our members is very similar. While our experience at SongRamp gives us a very good database of information about songwriters, we are only a small part of a massive machine. Reverbnation advertises: “Artists - We help over 2.61 million manage and promote their business online.” Not all of those are songwriters, but you can bet that many are. At least songwriters that are also performers can likely be found there. SoundClick, another music website, claims 3.4 million members, with over 60,000 new songs approved every month. But these great sites are song venues, not songwriter communities. That’s the difference, and why the SongRamp data matters for this book.So, what do we know? Over the past twelve years, SongRamp has enrolled over 28,000 members. Of those, approximately 16,500 have self-identified as either Artists, Songwriters or Musicians (since SongRamp only allows original songs to be posted, we can safely say that ALL of these folks are songwriters.) Interestingly, almost 30% of the members identify themselves as “Fans.” The rest of the members fall in to categories such as Producer, Publisher, Radio, etc. The membership is approximately 60% male and 40% female (once we normalize for members who chose not to identify). Most are between the ages of 21 and 50, with significant numbers over the age of 60. The members have posted thousands of original songs, across every imaginable genre. We have members from seventy-eight countries.Some of our members are retirees. Others have “day jobs.” We have current or former: electricians, famers, ranchers, cab drivers, truck drivers, consultants, realtors, cops, firefighters, air traffic controllers, accountants, entrepreneurs, doctors and yes, even working musicians. We have high school drop-outs and university professors. We have veterans and those who’ve never served. We have liberals, libertarians, independents and conservatives. We have Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Atheists. We are from every race, creed and color and speak countless languages.We are a cross-section of the world and we share a common affliction – we write for the Sake of the Song!

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