Guitar Tab site closures.

[themd21]

I think the Music Publishers have got this profoundly wrong and the musical witch hunt is now becoming ridiculous.
Everything with a musical staff incorporated is now coming under increased copyright scrutiny.
More profit for the suits.
I'm a keyboard player now,but I started a long time ago with an old Rapier 33. Learning chords was the apprenticeship and groundwork to a profession. I couldn't afford all the fancy chord books and sheet music that the music stores sold. So it was either browse through the sheet music and have a good memory or make a quick trip to the library. We have always had a great music score library in Belfast Central. I suppose they'll close the library's next.

Shame.

[moonie]

I agree 100%, as a guitarist (interested in lead guitar and fills) I found the old music books a complete waste of money. In the end of the day there are only 12 notes (in western music) so which ones were copywritten again? Get on with life and be inventive and find a new way to make your money I say...

[midimart]

In some respects, I agree that all things should be copyright. But music is for the ears of the listener. All bands like to have their music remembered, and one way is to make a catchy tune or a memorable chorus.

The catchy tune is mimicked by 1000's, whistling, humming, playing and singing..... Does this mean we are breaking the copyright law by whistling our way through work. Or have we got to pay royalties, while singing in the bath or do we have to give up humming a happy tune and what about singing to the radio.... Is this classed as performing?

Well d**ned if I will pay anyone, just for me to whistle away....

You would think an artiste or band would be happy for someone to remember their tune. Weather musically or printed lyrics.

Looks like we will have to play by ear soon, can they put a levy on listening.....?

[ironbaden]

They won't stop it it'll just go underground. The torrent sites will blossom with guitar Tabs. No worries.... It'll be tricky for a bit but in the end they really can't stop us trading information. ;D

[nevnbron]

I don't really think that it's the artist to blame, who as you say are happy just for folks to remember their tune enough to ask for it at a dinner dance or whatever (I went to a wedding once, where the bride was so late the organist was doing requests - I don't wish to know that sir), but fothering in the underbrush are the publishers, the money men of this business, who have no musical talent of their own, and seek to take revenge on the talented, by ripping away their profits, and denying the more liberal minded amongst us the opportunity to do what we have always done and plaigerize to our hearts content. These blighters don't see the lighter side of anything much, so to teach them a sorely needed lesson, I am right now, on your screen, going to place what has here-to-fore been a very closely guarded secret indeed. The Russians went nuts trying to crack the Coca Cola recipe and the eleven secret herbs and spices, but the musical equivolent is now going to be divulged for all the world to see, and hear for that matter, and even though I face gaol and a thousand torments I can no longer deny my fellow travellers on this planet, that which the music publishing heavies have sought to conceal from the greater populace - and here it is - G Em C D - you can do G Em7 Am D7 if you wish, and, amazingly you can even transpose it up - A F#m D E - or down - F Dm Bb C - with or without the suggested variants, to cope with vocal ability and even just for fun. Fun. Imagine that - fun. There, I've done it. Let them try to get me now, I know that millions will storm the offices of EMI - Warner Bros (what were their names again?) - and all of the other blood sucking scumbags, who seek to impose a charge on the simple joys of life, and rescue me from their despicable subclauses and fine print. Some of us may die but we will be honoured as martyrs in the great halls of history, and we can die knowing that, at the pearly gates, we will probably hear a variation of the turn-around in C - Nev

[gibbo]

Very well put, Nev.
As Bernie Taupin and Elton John once said, so eloquently, about the dastardly music publisher...
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

[jmagick]

*Steps up to the speaker's podium*

There was a time when the owners of the publishing companies actually loved the music they where publishing. Now most of the larger corporations have CEOs, CFOs, COOs, SOBs, and so many other anagrams types to numerous to name here, whose primary interest is in the bottom line. They have long since gone deaf to the artists, songwriters, and the listening publics needs.

Then along came the Internet. Now a person with a connection to it has the ability to learn on such a grand scale, all of the diverse musical types and histories.

Then came p2p filesharing. One of the first of a long line of Internet venues that offered to extend the musician's catalog to a larger and worldwide listening audience. They were one of the first to start breaking some of the old rules.

Now to my point. There has been an incredible revival in what some would call grassroots music. Using an alternative way of reaching the listening audiences, the Internet, they gladly share their music with any who would listen, thus creating a worldwide group of independents musicians and publishers. Who given time, I'm sure will most likely rewrite todays rules with those that are much friendlier to the artist and listener alike.

Websites that close today, will reopen with the independents setting the rules tomorrow.

Now you say to yourself, good ole Jerry's just living in a fantasy world.

No I'm not! Just take a look at the member's stage in this forum. So much talent!

Ask any one of them for a tab of their original music, most will likely have it sitting in your email box 5 minutes after receiving your request. You could even find the midi and mp3 file there too!

Musicians and songwriters have to be the most passionate group of individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

And most... would never deny a fellow musician, songwriter, and even the casual listener help in understanding their music.

If you're reading this consider for a moment, that you, yourself, could be that impassioned individual who helps to reinvent and re energize the music industry.


*Now removing myself from the speakers podium before somebody calls security*

I'm just so tired from all the greed and corruption I've witnessed at the expense of musicians, songwriters, and the listening public at large.

So excuse my rant if I have offended. After all... it is only about the money... right?

Best wishes for all your musical endeavors,
Jerry

[nevnbron]

I take it then that in the opinion of the forum, that - "bloodsucking scumbags" wasn't too over the top. Un-fortunately for you and I, they have the law on their side. This was made so, so that an even greater gravy train could pull into another station, this one called, "Intelectual property mamagement and contractual law". It's a very pretty station indeed, with designer pot-plants and Armani wallpaper in the ticket office, but the place is full of pick-pockets. Out on track 29 these days, they'll give you a shiner. Keep your garlic handy - Nev

[rockabilly]

It is a pity that the TAB sites are being forced down through copywright issues etc as has been said. For me it has been a great resource using programs such as Guitar Pro which can translate a straight TAB in to a MIDI file so that it is both visual and audible.
As a learning tool, TABS are great - however, like everything else, resource equals potential profit......... but the Internet is full of resourceful people who share their knowledge - take a look on YouTube for some of the musos that share etc.
The reality is, that it is the corporations that look to profit, even to the point of ripping off the original artists. The number of stories of shared royalties and shonky contracts and deals that have been made from individuals is endless (Would Buddy Holly be alive if Norman Petty paid him his rightful share??).
Ooops - just fell off of me soapbox - nuff said!!
Rockabilly

[nevnbron]

Stupid part about the whole thing is that it really is the guys doing solo jobs in bars that actually keep the material alive and generate income upstream from them. It's the "bloodsuckers" who should be paying us. They have, and continue using payola in a variety of unsubtle ways with evey new artist that crops up, but its really us that keep the faith, and who keep the goodies alive well past the initial feeding frenzy. Great party tunes are exactly that, great at parties. When did Mick and the lads turn up at your 21st or what-ever and trott out "Satisfaction", never, but we do, so who is ripping off who? - Nev

[lfc1892]

Nowadays when an album is released by a major act, there's usually an associated guitar tablature book which typically retails for around twice the price of the actual album.

With the removal of free tabs from the web, there's more of an incentive by musicians to purchase these books...