Every time you sell a tab, a backing track or a sound pack, you are not really selling the file. You are selling permission to use it. That permission is the licence, and getting it right protects both you and the people who buy your work.
This guide explains the basics in plain language, so you can list your work with confidence. It is general information, not legal advice.
Two copyrights live inside every song
Most recorded music carries two separate rights:
- The composition — melody, chords, lyrics and structure. It belongs to the songwriter and, often, a music publisher.
- The sound recording (the “master”) — one specific recorded performance. It belongs to whoever paid for or made that recording: the artist, a label or you.
If you write a riff and record it yourself, you own both. If you record your own version of someone else’s song, you own the recording but not the composition. That difference decides what you are allowed to sell.
What a licence actually is
A licence is a written permission from the rights owner that says who may use the work, how, where and for how long. You keep ownership; the buyer gets a defined set of rights. Typical terms cover:
- Use — personal practice, teaching, streaming, YouTube, film, ads, games.
- Exclusivity — can you sell the same item to other buyers?
- Territory and term — worldwide or limited, forever or for a fixed period.
- Credit — whether the buyer must name you.
- Limits — for example, no reselling the files on their own.
Common licence types for guitar creators
You do not need a lawyer for every sale. Most creators work with a few standard licences:
- Personal / practice licence — for tabs, lessons and scores used to learn and play at home.
- Non-exclusive (royalty-free) licence — many buyers can use the same backing track or loop in their own projects for a one-time price.
- Exclusive licence — one buyer only; you stop selling that item to anyone else.
- Creative Commons — free licences (such as CC BY) that allow reuse under simple, public conditions.
Read more in Personal vs commercial licence and Royalty-free vs exclusive.
When you need permission from someone else
Original riffs, exercises and songs are yours to license. Work based on another person’s song is different. Transcribing and selling a tab of a famous track, or releasing a cover, uses their composition, so you need the publisher’s permission or a licensing service first. Public-domain songs (old enough that copyright has expired) are the exception.
The details are in Selling tabs and covers of songs you did not write.
A simple rule before you list
Before you upload anything, answer three questions: Did I write it? Did I record it? Does it contain anyone else’s audio or music? If all your answers point to you, you can license it freely. If not, sort out the permissions first. Our pre-listing checklist walks you through it step by step.