Originally Posted by: snojonesThat sliding up and down trick is why guitar is such a good instrument to improvise on.[/quote]

That's a good observation. It's also one of the primary reasons the guitar is such a good do-it-yourself instrument. Once you understand how the patterns work & make certain consistent sets of sounds, then you can play a great variety of musical things. Ironically it makes it much easier to grasp the underlying music theory, but at the same time makes it possible to not have to know as much of it to play music, because you can lean on the patterns.

Originally Posted by: snojonesUnlike piano or woodwinds the scale pattern is the same, no mater the key.

True! The piano does have some visual elements that make it a little easier to grasp the underlying theory. But each key as a unique set of black & white configurations!

And winds & brass are completely out of luck here! There's just no visual element to the arrangement of buttons, valves & embouchure. The only clue you get is music notation & fingering guides.

[quote=snojones]I suspect this is the same for all stringed instruments... though I have never played a fiddle.

Yes, the violin family also shares this visual aspect, but it's a little bit more removed from immediate visual perception because they lack frets. The frets on the guitar make it really easy to immediately, visually perceive patterns.