Teaching copyrighted songs

@arc_of_descent 6307 wrote:

Hi,

I would like your opinion on what potential problems (legal) would one go through if they have to teach copyrighted songs to their audience? Simply put, can one release an instructional video titled “Better your playing by learning riffs of Metalica” ? This person has no links with Metallica or their recording label. Can she earn money out of it?

I can’t find much of this in the market, so I think this is not allowed. Wtf? 😡 I have learnt more from a single solo of Marty Friedman, than any number of scale and pattern exercises. To give an example, I’m currently studying his solo in Architecture of Aggression. There are two solos actually, I can play them both. Still practicing and much slower, of course. 😀 But my point is that I have dissected the solos into patterns (or licks) which I then practice all over the fretboard.

I’m wondering why we can’t have more of this. Telling an upcoming guitarist that “practice these licks taken from this solo” is a much better way of hooking them into guitar rather than giving them mindless exercises. Rote exercises are not bad, they are needed. But having the aura of Megadeth behind an exercise sounds better, right?

I’m sure guitar teachers reference famous guitar players while teaching their students. But can you do this on a mass scale? Can a third party with no affiliation to a band release teachings based on this band’s music? Ok, I’m repeating myself now. 🙂

Would like to know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Rohan

Hey Rohan, 🙂

I think you’re correct in your assumption that there are licensing issues and copyright infringement risks associated with “Exact” versions of songs. I don’t know this for sure. I can tell you that I absolutely use exact material from various artists in my teaching of students every day, BUT (and this part is important I think?) I am NOT re-recording that music AND I’m NOT violating “Print” Copyrights (Songbooks/Transcription Books.) In other words I’m NOT producing (either in audio recording or in print) any “mass-duplicated” media to be sold for profit. I guess the one gray area that I might be in violation is the notes that I write in my students’ notebooks? Not sure about that? (I hope I’m NOT breaking the law?!? – LOL!) 😉

BTW, I think this may explain Sean’s reluctance to allow a lot of “note-4-note” tutorials (here at IG) instead of the “In the style of…” that he seems to embrace. I’m figuring that Rick or Sean got a licensing “go-ahead” from Marco Sfogli recently, which allowed Rick’s “exact” tutorial. Not sure though? :confused:

Let me know what you find out Rohan. 😎

TTYS.

~Bill Meehan~ 😀