Originally Posted By: Cyan
Just wondering about the legalities of chord sheets (lead sheets - and Fake Books, for that matter) and copyright infringement. Apparently, it's legal to create but not to share (at least not by posting on a public forum, I guess) BIAB-generated cover tunes.

Really? Even if they are only rhythm section backing tracks (bass & drums only) with no melody at all? Should they be shared instead by email with Tor? Or perhaps by regular mail in a plain manila envelope?

I'd love to be able to share (as in give away) my BIAB cover tunes with others who might find them useful. They might even improve them with more accurate or alternative chords/drums/bass lines/original MIDI solos - and pass them on. But I guess I/we can't do this. If so, it seems awfully strange to me (and dare I say, us?)


It's easy. Get the license and give it away to your heart's content. Otherwise, you are correct. You can't legally do that.

If the song is copyrighted by someone else, you MUST obtain the copyright holder's written permission to do anything with it publicly.

If you want to write down the chords and share that, you will need to get the copyright holders permission because you don't want to say "This is the chord chart to...such and such a song." and include the title. Chord progressions are not copyright-able nor are titles. However, reproducing a chord chart for a specific song that is copyrighted is crossing that thin line, melody and lyrics or not. It doesn't matter if you think what you did is an off the wall arrangement or a huge improvement to the original song.... you still have copyright infringement if you don't do it the right way. The legal way.

You can do what you want for yourself without worrying about the copyright. However, once you consider making that available to the public and friends, whether it's for financial gain or whether it's completely free, requires you to get the proper licenses.

Contact the Harry Fox Agency http://www.harryfox.com/ and they can help you figure out which way to go. And it will be legal.

Hope that helps.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 12/22/15 10:58 AM.
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