I have to stick my neck out and put in my $.02. I have absolutely no guitar knowledge ( except you need to know 3 chords

) I have a friend who is a classically trianed pianist with her degree. She is now taking jazz and feels totally inept. What is holding her back is her classical training, I'm sure. Having to compose on the spot is like walking on a bridge...blind-folded. What she doesn't realize that walking across the bridge blindfolded is okay, as long as you know there is a bridge. In music, of all sorts, where improvisation is the norm you gotta have a bridge> not just scales ( which is very important ) but you should have a working knowledge of familiar tunes to use as quotes (

what ) and develop your ear. For example, throw in a phrase from Purple Haze, or the Flintstones. My classical friend has this bridge, now if she would only put on that blindfold and take that step. In all actuality, what we are learning in improv has been done by people who do not know what they were playing. That work was written down on paper which is good but the paper isn't the music.Step out on that bridge and don't be afraid of tripping...you mighy discoer something.