Beatles Chordbook Brings Fab Four to iTunes

Posted on Jan 22nd 2010 11:45AM by Matt Glazebrook
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The long stand-off between the two famous Apples -- Corps and Inc -- doesn't appear to be thawing any time soon, but at least the iTunes store is now no longer a completely Beatles free zone. For the first time, fans can use the digital music service to get their hands on some classic Fab Four tunes: The only catch being, if they want to hear the tracks, they're going to have to brush up on their guitar skills.

The Little Black Songbook of The Beatles is a new iPhone app that includes lyrics and chords to more than 160 Beatles numbers. Available now, the app is the first officially endorsed material from John, Paul, George and Ringo to be sold on iTunes.

Apple Corps, the media company founded by the Beatles in 1968, first clashed with Steve Jobs's computing giant over trademark infringement in 1978, eventually agreeing a settlement that prevented Apple Inc from dabbling in the music biz. However, the launch of iTunes reignited the feud before a final resolution was hashed out in early 2007.

Despite the ceasefire, however, the long awaited digital editions of the Beatles' 12-disc back catalogue remain a pipe dream. So, for the time being, we're off to dig out the old acoustic. 'Love Me Do' is only three chords, right?