The fact that they all more or less relate to the G is the other story--I'll explain how that happens in a minute--

Before you play any scales, the basic idea is this--you play your scales from a fixed position(wqhich one depends on the key you want to be in)--you use one finger on each fret so that your hand covers a span of four frets. Each finger moves from on string to another, but stays only on the one fret--This way, you don't have to change the position of your hand, and you don't have your fingers confused about which one should play a specific note--

It takes a repeated practice to get this to work, because you have to build up strength in your ring and pinky fingers

Basically, the scales work like this--

G fingering scale:

Index finger(I)covers second fret
Middle finger (M)covers third fret
Ring finger(R) covers the fourth fret
Pinky (P) covers the fifth fret

G-Start scale with M on Low E string, 3rd Fret
A-P on Low E, 5th fret
B-I on A string, 2nd fret
C-M on A String,3rd fret
D-P on A String,5th fret
E-I on D string,2nd fret
F#-R on D string, 4th fret
G-P on D string, 5th fret


You should be able to figure out how to move it around for the keys of A,B, etc, etc.

Next is the A position scale--for this, you'll create an A chord by putting your index finger on the second fret (to cover the notes in an open A chord)If you haven't figured it out already, when you play an A chord, you are, in effect, barring that open string triad, DGB, that is in your G chord--


A-I on G string, 2nd fret
B-R on G, 4th fret
C#-I on B, 2nd fret
D-M on B, 3rd fret
E-P on B, 5th fret
F# I on HighE, 2nd fret
G# R on HighE, 4th fret
A -P on HighE, 5th fret


Got it?


Now, if you put that last pinky on the low E string, 5th fret, you can play your A scale in the bass--


A-P LowE 5th
B-I A 2nd
C#-M A 4th
D-P A 5th
E-I D 2nd
F#-R 4th
G#-(this is the one move--slide the I on the G string down to the 1st fret, then slide it back up to the 2nd for the A)


If you start this scale on the A string, 5th fret, it is a D scale, and you just stay put on the second fret for the Seventh step of the scale(which is C#)--I guess that means it should be in the D chord thread now, too, eh?

Anyway, now you've got it--oh, for fingerpicking, you should probably play the Bass strings with your thumb and the G with your index, the B with Middle, and the High E with Ring--or you can use only your index--

It should take only about ten minutes to master all of this, at which point, you'll be able to improvise jazz with any of these so-called hotshots from Berkelee or GIT:-)