The music industry has set a new low for itself, by issuing 'cease and desist' letters to the online tablature/chord sites (see www.olga.net). Apparently, my being able to freely download the chords and lyrics to "hey jude" and "enter sandman" is why Paul McCartney and Lars Ulrich live in abject squalor. Or maybe it's playing songs on the guitar, alone in my apartment, that's forced them into homelessness? And what if I transcribe the tab myself, listening to the music? that must also be a crime. Or if I listen to music, and say to myself 'Oh, it goes A E Dm'?
The argument made is that musicians derive income from sales of sheet music. There is certainly some merit to that, but the vast majority of music released is not available on sheet music. It would make much more sense to say that tabs are legal, unless expressly prohibited by the artist. I would like to see a handwritten letter: "yes, you are a fan: you've bought the albums; you've bought the concert tickets; you've bought our overpriced merchandise; but you're not allowed to play the songs until you purchase this crappy book of sheet music, that very few guitarists can read anyway."
Playing a song yourself is just another way to experience it, to make it a part of you -- does that really need to be litigated to death?
And if the whole world's singing your song,
and all of your paintings have been hung
Just remember, what was yours, is everyone's from now on
-- Jeff Tweedy
