Where Did Guitar Tabs Universe Go?

If you have been looking for Guitar Tabs Universe you have probably figured out that the site is no longer working. Many people looked to this website to learn how to play their favorite songs in a easy to understand and learn format, with guitar tabs. However, Rob Balch, the one time manager of Guitar Tab Universe decided that he must close the doors of his site in 2006.

Why did Balch close the website? Well, there were a variety of reasons combined, but they all culminated from the fact that MPA (Music Publishers' Association) and the NMPA (National Music Publishers' Association) decided that sharing guitar tabs was an infringement on the copyright owned by the writers, producers, and performers of the songs in question.

Two suits may be filed against GTU. Apparently, and much to the surprise of its owner, when you teach others to play instruments or songs online it goes againt the ethics of these companies. Who knew?

However, as Blach pointed out in his "Goodbye Letter", Guitar Tabs Universe was about sharing with others the art of learning how to play the guitar. It was not about stealing other people songs, it was not about infringing on the rights of others, it was simply about using various songs and their guitar tabs, showing others how they too can learn how to play.

Mr. Blach was certainly in the right when he inquired into why having guitar tabs on the internet is different at all from learning songs from music teachers or even helping someone to learn to play something that they heard on television or radio. What's the essential difference? What the NMPA and MPA apparently think is that the internet is an inappropriate means for sharing such information and is one step over the line.

Guitar Tabs Universe ceased to exist because the MPA and NMPA issued threats to the ISP and hosting server; Guitar Tabs Universe was requiired to close. However, as I'm sure you can see, this hasn't kept the general population from sharing its passion for the guitar and the will to learn to play it.

If you were to believe that guitar tabs were somehow an infringement, then you might as well say that millions of people across the world are committing the same crime. Think about all of the people who have sat and listened to their favorite songs, learning how to play by ear. Think of the millions of people who have helped their friends learn songs, and then for that matter, all of the cover bands and just starting out bands that play the songs written by others.

So, if you were looking for the late great Guitar Tabs Universe, like many others, this is the reason why it's not available anymore. Therefore, the concept continues on as seen in the numerous guitar tab websites on the internet.

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