http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4508158.stm

 

For anyone that doesn't know what this is:

 

Tabs are basically a normal person's way of relaying the way a song is supposed to be played, by means of putting a number on the line where your finger is supposed to be. Many of these are made by amateurs that either learn the song by ear or are taught it. It is a way for people to learn many songs without having to read sheet music. These songs can be anything, from a garage band that wants people to play their music, all the way up to the biggest bands of all time.

 

The problem:

 

The sheet music corporation is trying to say that their product is being used illegally because these tab sites are telling people how to play the song without having to buy the sheet music. Arguments against this include how the unavailability of the songs people want to play.

 

This applies to lyrics' sites.

 

My thoughts:

 

This is a disgusting move by the corperations, where they have no right or proof to go to say "This person either: A)Bought the book and put it on the internet, or Is infringing laws because they didn't buy my product to learn a song."

 

If someone can figure out how a song goes by listening to it (and many, MANY people do this), and feels like sharing THEIR version of a certain song, I can't see how this is illegal in any way. Unless the publishing companies are willing to publish EVERY SONG EVER MADE to satisfy EVERYONE, and give this to the public at reasonable prices, I can't see how they will ever win any court cases. They will not have the people that they want to buy their item on their side, and it may ultimately force them out of business (worst/best case scenario, depending on how you look at it).

 

As you can see, this affects me greatly, and I am a little upset about it. I've tried to keep my bias out of everything except the "My thoughts" blurb, but I don't know how well I did that.

 

I want to see what you guys think about it, even if you don't play music. Everyone's comments are welcome.

 

-Sock

yeah, ive seen a couple REALLY good tab sites just dissapear in the last month or two. this makes me pretty mad because im trying to teach my self the guitar, by looking at tabs, listening to the songs and trying to figure everything out. So far its worked damn well. However, know im forced to a) copy the professionals exactly, or take lessions, which doesnt let me develop on my own.

 

It would be like a sports school (like a hockey school) being shut down by the NHL for teaching kids how to do certain things like shooting and passing, like the NHLers do.

I hope not. I play guitar and I look up tabs EVERY SINGLE DAY.

 

 

This will make me ubar sad inside