https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/old-joe-clark-basic-melody-guitar-beginner
This is a great intro to flatpicking, the shuffle pick pattern, and the use of a capo!
Discuss the Guitar lesson: Old Joe Clark- Basic Melody
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Old Ben Clark, Old Ben Clark, He had a log cabin. Two stories high. Every story was filled with chicken pie.
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Hey Ben, great class, I am just a newbie here but on the TEF file for Old Joe Clark, why is there an E note on measures 5 and 13 rather than a D? (on the rhythm part) everything else makes sense to me and I am working on it trying to build my speed at this point, your G chord is new to me also but it’s starting to feel natural. Thanks
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Great question! The E note is not technically in a G chord and the D note would be fine, but that’s a rhythm variation I often play when I’m going to a D chord in the next measure. It helps lead the ear there and creates some diversity in the bass notes. Thanks!
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This lesson was perfect for me to teach my younger brother (13). We’re going to Galax this August and he wants to compete in the youth guitar contest, and he asked me to find him some basic tab to start working on a song. I couldn’t find anything simple enough for him untiI I found this. He is really excited about it!
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He is 13?? Will the lessons be challenging enough for him in another 2 years?? I doubt! 
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Hey all! New gold pick member. Very excited. Been a part of yall for less than a week. New to all of this for sure and fairly new to guitar. Just started my second year. I love it to say the least! My question is this. I feel like a can play this song without having to look at fretboard or strings at a fair tempo (100bpm) but I a staring down my tab sheet. When I try to play without tab sheet, it’s like I have never heard this song. Will this come with time, or am I doing something wrong? I don’t mind putting in the hard work and that goes with learning, but want to make sure I am going about it the right way! Any suggestions would be appreciated!
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Hello @jaeamythomas, welcome to the forum!
Since you are fairly new to guitar, I’d suggest the first approach first.
Beginner approach:
Use the tab sheet to play the song until you can play by heart. The way to memorize would be by phrases, that is, keep repeating a phrase until you know by heart to some degree, and then move on to the next phrase, and so on till the end.
Intermediate level approach:
Once you improve your guitar playing skills and become familiar with the techniques, learn the scale of the key the song is in. Listen to the song as much to get the tune. Then try playing using sheet music and slowly switching to play by ear using the scale notes you have learnt.
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Hi @jaeamythomas Jae 
to @BanjoBen 's Forum. There are many good Guitar students here to help and support you with any queries you have when Ben is not around all you have to do is holler. If you haven’t already I’d encourage you to get yourself a copy of TEFView. It’s an app that plays the TAB TEF files.
Check out this link for more info
Ben also has lessons on using this software.
Hey, @jaeamythomas, welcome to the forum! Glad to have you! I’ve experienced this before, and, for me anyway, I found that I used the tabs as a sort of security blanket. Seeing what I had memorized and my mind was telling my hands to do felt like it would somewhat eliminate errors. Personally, I’ve just kind of had to power through that wall. Forcing myself to make errors, it also helped me to realize some of the basic principles of improv that I mentally knew but had not yet clicked with me. I hope this may help you!
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This is so great! Thanks for all the help! Sounds like I just have to keep picking and earn my keep! Haha!
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Definitely keep picking! Don’t stop!
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Welcome, @jae!
Yes, we need to get you broke free from the tab as soon as we can. This is a pretty easy song to memorize and that’s what I want you to do.
Can you try singing/humming it? Watch along with my performance video without playing and see if you can hum along. This connects the tune with your brain.
Then, play the jamtrack mp3 that doesn’t have guitar on it and see if you can hum along by yourself. See if you’re able to remember and produce (with your voice) what the melody is.
Then, start working on memorizing the song a couple measures at a time…it’ll connect!
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I can sing and hum it. I can definitely hear what it sounds like, but finding it on the guitar is where it seems to stop me. Does this come by learning more scales? If so, I get confused with this. It’s in E but capo on 2nd fret, so play in g. But it seems like it’s a C scale? Is this correct? Sorry, hopefully I will catch on soon and will not have so many questions. I am taking it slow and trying to learn the correct way! Haha.
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Hi @Jae You have to first find the key you are singing/ hum in. That might not be the key you are playing in.
This explains things better than I can.
Good questions! The song is actually in A, but you’re playing it in G with the capo on 2nd fret.
The reason it’s using what seems to be a C scale is because the melody has that flat 7th in it, which is common in fiddle tunes. Very similar to a C scale, and essentially is. I could go into the modes but that’s a bit confusing right now. You’re very astute!
Don’t worry about learning the scales right now. Just memorize the tab and play it a lot without looking at the tab.
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