Q: how do i clear music from my ipod shuffle 4th generation?

If you are loading the shuffle using the Manually manage music setting (you drag items to iPod in iTunes), this is how to delete songs manually.

First, if the iTunes sidebar (along left side of window) is not visible, from the iTunes sidebar, under View, select Show Sidebar.

Connect the shuffle and find the shuffle in the sidebar, under DEVICES.  Click the small triangle to the left of the shuffle's name in the sidebar, to drop down the content list indented below the shuffle.  Click on Music there.  To the right, there is a list of songs on the iPod.  Select the song you want to delete on the list, and press Delete on the keyboard.  You can select multiple songs at once.  If you want to delete all the songs, you can do a Select All from the Edit menu.

If you are using automatic syncing to load the shuffle, please post back.