I differ to some degree on the accuracy of tabs found on the 'net. It depends on who tabbed the song, and whether the song has been around enough to have the early-on errors fixed by other players.
Pink Floyd's Wish You Were here is an example of a song that has been tabbed accurately. The Goo Goo Doll's Iris is an example of one that hasn't, yet. But sooner or later, someone will get it right.
I've played The Crow's She Talks to Angels, The Stones' Angie, and quite a few other tunes very well using tabs from the 'net.
Conversely, I bought an Eagles music book, and basically tossed it. I can play a rendition of Hotel California that sounds almost identical to the recording, using none of the music sheeted and tabbed in the book. My version is much easier to play, too.
I also bought a classic rock/pop book, which included James Taylor's Fire and Rain. I can't play the version in that book--I just don't have the chops. However, I can play a rendition of my own, that everyone recognizes as that song and sings along with it. The same book has David Bowie's Space Oddity, which I've also adapted a bit to my tastes and abilities.
In fact, I was just playing around one day, and rather than strumming the chords of that tune, I finger picked (clawhammer style) the tune and a friend of mine said that it was the most poignant version of the tune she'd ever heard.
The thing about music is that it's an art form. Any expression of that art necessarily includes the artist's own intepretations of the music. Just because it doesn't sound identical to the recording doesn't mean the music you're playing isn't good.
