A great proggie to practice with.
I know a fair amount of theory, but I don't let it dominate.
I hear what I play in my head like when i whistle. I don't need to think scales or modes - i know where the notes are so I just play them.
I've yet to see any post in any forum that makes any sense when it comes to modes. If you don't play jazz fusion - you don't need any knowledge of modes.
All you need is the basic scale patterns all the way up the fretboard - then you hear in your head when you want to add any other notes.
Lee