Is using tab cheating?

[gordiji]

definately not, just another tool to make something hard easier. it can also open doors by showing you fingering
patterns you wouldn't have considered on your own which can be more effective.that said i rarely use it and then
find it must be used half and half with the' ear ' to get any sense out of it.

[Transcend]

Tabs are absolutely fantastic in the right application.

I did find myself getting reliant upon them so tried learning by ear.

But they are also incredibly useful if you dont have a full band on call and want to arrange and record your music using vstis.

Guitar pro has boosted my playing/writing and creativity ten fold i would say

[Ratrod]

Selling your soul to the devil is cheating. (But widely accepted.)

[andymac]

I find if the tab is good great you learn the song.  If the tab is poor it at least gives you a starting point, and makes working it out by ear a lot easier. For me anyway.

Andy