It’s not that I’m finally gifted enough to play anything I hear.
I simply dropped Windows & took the leap to Linux (Zorin 18).
All the Windows files I backed up to an external hard drive seem to be unavailable to me. So I’m staring at a learning curve instead of a pdf.
Sure am glad I learned Cripple Creek!
No More Tabs For Me!
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Congratulations on breaking free from the bondage of tab. I still struggle with this, but I am making daily progress. Last year, despite years of playing, I discovered that I could only play a few songs from memory. Only because I had played them so many times they were muscle memory. Yep, Cripple Creek was one of the few song I could play tab-less. I started concentrating on learning by ear and not looking at tab. Now after just a few months, I’m playing more songs and more spontaneous. This site has definitely helped me make progress. The tab is a valuable tool in the beginning, but it is an addictive crutch that constantly tempts you back. Good luck staying free from the chains!
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@BanJoe you are doing a great thing! I made the decision to quit TAB several years ago and it has helped me tremendously. You should be prepared for your solos to be more simple to begin with, but remember that doesn’t mean your playing is worse. The solos you create will never be like Ben’s, but they will be yours and there is a lot of satisfaction in that.
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I dropped windows in 2017. I’m on fruit 
and Linux. A much better diet. 
It was a learning curve but I’m better off. As for tab, I seldom learn a whole song by memorizing tab. Peaches and Cream was an exception. I find some of Ben’s tab to be finger twisters so I play something I’m comfortable with. But then there’s the tasty licks from Lonesome Road Blues and I have to commit a few measures to memory. Find the balance. Add a lick or two every once in a while and roll with it.
Last week I had the opportunity to play BlackBerry Blossom, a tune I learned in the 70’s. I had to noodle around a few minutes but got it on the banjo and guitar. So much for instant recall.
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