I am really hoping some one out there can point me in the right direction. After going through the scale lessons on GT and other places, I have looked hours trying to figure it out on what the best approach is to learning scales. Maybe I am over doing it and need to just get started already.

What I am most wondering is what is the optimal way to learn scales, from everything I've read the CAGED system is not the best but not bad. Then I see 4 notes, with 3 notes per string, 5 pattern and so on. I am just so confused right now, I want to get started but don't want to learn it wrong or waste time with the wrong method. So I bought the Guitar Grimoire scale exercise book and was just going to go through that but again will I get the best out of my practice time. I will go through Major, minor, pentatonic and the popular modes during my practice time, so just knowing the "most bang for your buck" method would be what I am looking for. I see some start with key of G, C and F, so all and all this has to be the most confusing thing I have tried to learn to date. Thanks for any help or guidance.