How to best learn the major scale

The answer to this depends on your current skill & knowledge level, as well as your musical goals.

From our previous conversations I'm assuming you have some basic playing skills but not too much theory knowledge. I strongly encourage you to watch through the basic theory sections of my old fundamentals course. Chapter 1 & 3 in particular are a great place to start with intervals, building into scales, building into chords.

https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals2(discontinued)

That will give you a solid foundation of knowledge to build on as you continue to expand your playing skills. All of the answers to your questions are in those lessons.

Originally Posted by: SRVFan2000I have however noticed that many people play shape 1 differently. They seem to hit the same note (tones) but use different frets.[/quote]
Yes, it's possible to play the same note in more than place on the guitar. So, there's a lot of potential for confusion. And that's exactly why it's important to get clear on the theory as soon as possible. Watch my course linked above.

Originally Posted by: SRVFan2000For easy learning purposes though, can anyone suggest which is the better shape to learn?
Start with the open position of the C major scale in the lesson linked above. Practice it in one octave. Get used to associating the shape on the fretboard with that specific sound.

Learn the next pattern in which you have the same notes but some of them are on different strings! Practice it in one octave getting used to associating the shape on the fretboard with that specific sound.

Learn the next pattern! :) At this point you've got the basics because there are essentially only 3 patterns with multiple ways to combine them. So, next you start to learn to connect & combine them.

I have a whole tutorial on how to practice scales later in that course in chapter 7. It's all in C major & C minor, but it's applicable to any & all scales.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=451

This is when it's important to consider what you are actually going to use them for.

Some guitarists only need one of the basic patterns because they are only going to use scales as bass lines or fills to connect chords. Some players will want to know more about them, so it's important to learn how to see, play & hear the various scale patterns across the fretboard to various degrees.

Usually you learn that stuff as it becomes practical or necessary to your musical goals. How you practice scales depends on where you are in your learning process.

Are you working through one of the GF courses? One of the Style courses? Are you learning songs?

[quote=SRVFan2000]I want to eventually be able to link all the shapes together like I do with the mPenta so having a consistent road map is very important.