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Guitar tab sites to return, with a catch

Posted by aubin on Monday, April 2, 2007 at 10:00 PM (EDT)

A little over a year ago, Punknews.org reported on a crackdown on guitar tablature sites that resulted in many popular, volunteer-built tablature sites being shut down by the Music Publisher's Association. Among the casualties of that legal strike were sites like Power Tabs and Mx Tabs.

Today, according to a report on Ars Technica, free guitar tablature sites will be returning, but will now be sharing their revenue with the MPA. MusicNotes, the largest publisher of sheet music, will be running their legally sanctioned music site through MXTabs.net.

The catch however, is that now, each artist will individually need to give permission for their songs to be hosted by the service, and users will still need to submit their own interpretations of the guitar parts.

Games and Technology (61 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

Someone (April 2, 2007)

Lame, but at least they're coming back.

3+ Replies

Someone (April 3, 2007)

Christ - how many bands are really going to care if tabs of their songs are published? It will be more of a headache for them then anything - maybe they'll be allowed to give a blanket permission for all songs or something.

Someone (April 3, 2007)

can't we just have a "tabster" or something. Do you think they will go into that much effort to shut that down? so lame

Someone (April 3, 2007)

Oasis used to throw a fit over this when I was a teenager in the mid-90s when tab sites started blowing up. This is the third or fourth wave of them being shut down, and I distinctly remember Oasis being behind every one of them.

Ironically, the world will be a better a place when fewer people play Oasis songs.

Adam_K (April 2, 2007)

Users submit AND it has to be approved?

That's such bullshit.

Shit like that made it less than easy to learn Helmet songs the other day.

1+ Reply

squirrelbait (April 3, 2007)

Dude, Helmet is extremely easy to play, you don't need tabs for that.. Drop D and GO!

Adam_K (April 2, 2007)

And finish that last sentence or change that comma to a period. It's driving me insane.

1+ Reply

Someone (April 2, 2007)

Why is that,

TrueBeliever (April 2, 2007)

This is really stupid, it's not like bands or record labels lose anything by fans knowing how to play their songs.

Someone (April 2, 2007)

Are they aware of how many artists are tabbed out? They're gonna ask everyone for permission?

I hope they have fun finding contact information for more of the more obscure bands out there.

Sapherlap (April 2, 2007)

Just go to Ultimate Guitar, am I right?

Anyways, I remember when these tablature websites were being shut down. It made no sense because they're weren't even the actual tabs; they were all fan made. Sure, many of the were very accurate, but still, it's not like learning how to play a song will cause the band to lose any money.

2+ Replies

kencollapse (April 3, 2007)

That's what I was wondering. Aren't tabs already easy enough to find on the internet? I just learned I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder the other day. No joke. I"m so punk rock. Eat it!

Someone (April 3, 2007)

very accurate? hah, i always have to add my own interpretation for them. they are a good basis for figuring out what notes are generally in a song and such. i don't know why people are having a piss fit. tabs in reality are really just a list of chords and notes, rhythm is almost impossible to write out unless you want to spend hours writing a tab.

kingofsuck (April 2, 2007)

Of course.

video_cognito (April 2, 2007)

Better than nothing, I guess. We don't have to pay, so that's all that matters to me.

Someone (April 2, 2007)

of course, WHAT? WHAT??!?!!??

OH MAN I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT EPISODE

Someone (April 2, 2007)

I just bought a used 2000 Fender Strat Standard for 279 dollars. Was this a good deal?

6+ Replies

Someone (April 2, 2007)

if it was made in the USA its a good deal.
if its made in japan its a decent deal.
if its made in mexico you didnt get a deal at all.

Someone (April 2, 2007)

standards are made in Mexico, and they are decent... they usually go go used for about that much.

Someone (April 3, 2007)

i bet in 2000 they cost about that much new, if you got hooked up.

elephantdwarf (April 2, 2007)

strats suck. but thats just my opinion, man.

Someone (April 3, 2007)

i'm trying to sell a standard tele if anyone's interested

Someone (April 3, 2007)

i may be if the price is right.

i have an american standard strat (lake placid blue, from like, 1998) - and i want to modify a strat but just cant take my baby apart.

so a standard strat that i have no emotional investment to would be the perfect guinea pig. How much are you looking for?

Someone (April 3, 2007)

In 97 or 98 I bought a brand new Mexican strat for about $290 from a major chain store. If it's Mexican that's not a good price unless it's a rare color or it's pimped out with humbuckers or has had some mods done to it or is in perfect condition.

Someone (April 2, 2007)

Ugh, sandwich time...

2+ Replies

Showtyme (April 2, 2007)

dont misuse the fuckin sandwich time like that...

Someone (April 2, 2007)

Yeah, this is more of a bunwich occasion than anything else.

el_matt (April 2, 2007)

The MPA must have a strong-ass lobby in congress or something.

1+ Reply

druhol (April 3, 2007)

You comment is funnier if you move the hyphen to after 'ass'.

clamum (April 2, 2007)

I've never heard a good logical reason why they were shut down in the first place.

1+ Reply

MrStylson (April 2, 2007)

The publishing companies thought they were losing money, but thought that people would be more inclined to listen to them if they said the artists' work was being misused.

mrposeur (April 2, 2007)

Every day, more and more, fuck the music industry.

2+ Replies

Someone (April 2, 2007)

BOMB the Music Industry!

Someone (April 3, 2007)

new cd, 7/31.

ChesterfieldKing (April 2, 2007)

God forbid fans would enjoy your music enough to figure out how to play it, tab it out, and upload it so other fans can spend time learning to play your songs too. It's a slap in the face to hard-working musicians - I mean, if it's not generating revenue for the band, who gives a fuck right?

1+ Reply

Someone (April 3, 2007)

well you know those metallica books sell like hotcakes.

Someone (April 2, 2007)

What's next, going after sites that post lyrics.

2+ Replies

ConsolationPrizefighter (April 2, 2007)

Don't give them any ideas, fucker.

duhpunk (April 2, 2007)

yes. a big chunk of them have already shut down

Someone (April 2, 2007)

But what prevents anyone from creating a similar site in russia or whatever?

2+ Replies

obscurebandreference (April 3, 2007)

english

red_eye_inc (April 3, 2007)

Ultimate Guitar is based in Russia, that's why it's still around

Someone (April 3, 2007)

Here is an idea, why don't you just try and figure out the song on your own? It will make you a much better musician.

1+ Reply

Someone (April 3, 2007)

What if you're learning how to play? I've played now for 12 years and consider myself a professional musician, but when I started I had nothing else to teach me but tabs, and for a lot of people that's the only resource they have. While I rarely look at tabs nowadays, I would spend hours every day as a 15 year old scanning tab sites.

CantSitStill (April 3, 2007)

my parents neighbor is the president of MusicNotes. small world.

1+ Reply

EyesLikeBombs (April 3, 2007)

Not really. This is the internet. Not quite the same as running into someone speaking about this subject.

Someone (April 3, 2007)

so if you wanna leanr a clash song or joy div song who the fuk will give permission? since both lead singers are dead?

1+ Reply

mnx12 (April 3, 2007)

Most likely whoever owns the rights to the songs, durr

Someone (April 3, 2007)

how much longer until it costs bands to do cover songs at shows

1+ Reply

Someone (April 3, 2007)

not longer at all. a local club just got sued for 15k because BMI got footage of a local band playing a cover of a song that was published by BMI. They say if you want to cover a BMI song or play one in between bands, you have to buy the rights to their catologue

Someone (April 3, 2007)

So, from what Ive found, the only thing tabs are good for is a launch point to figure the stuff out yourself. Most tabs are pretty bad, but you look at enough to figure out where to start out and do it yourself.

So I dont understand why the music industry should get money from someone poorly trying to explain to others how to play a song wrong. Fuckin weird.

Someone (April 3, 2007)

Its bull to see this go on.

Someone (April 3, 2007)

Its dumb this is just like a friend showing another friend how to play a song, ARE they going to find a way to stop that? We form websites and communities to help friends out and when all is harmless these shits come kill everyone and ruin it. They kill music.

Bakla (April 3, 2007)

I like George Tabb

duhpunk (April 3, 2007)

now the 14 year olds can learn Blink songs again, ultimately leading in terrible music in 5 years.

Someone (April 3, 2007)

CORRECTION: Each artist will NOT have to give permission individually, that's what publishers are for.

randomhero323 (April 3, 2007)

mxtabs sucked anyway

Someone (April 3, 2007)

Heil MPA!

This is appalling. It can't be possible that the MPA or any other shit will bring tab sites down. Listening to songs trying to figure out how they are played is HOW MUSIC IS DONE. Tab sites create music! This is how we share knowledge, inspire people. Labeling tab sites as illegal is labeling music as illegal.

"You'll never understand it. Try to buy and brand it.
I win, you lose, cause it's my job to keep punk rock elite.

This music ain't your fuckin' industry."

ashtraymonument (April 3, 2007)

thank god, ultimate guitar sucks. mxtabs is where its at

Adam_K (April 3, 2007)

I figured that out after looking at wrong stuff and deciding to just go for it.

1+ Reply

Adam_K (April 3, 2007)

Man, I'm stupid.

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