for example: if you start Ionian (the major-scale) on C, the notes you will hear are: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C, that's because the Ionian-mode uses the following intervals: (W = whole note, H = half note) WWHWWWH
you can check it on your guitar: you got C-C#-D-D#-E-F-F#-G-G#-A-A#-B-C and if you count WWHWWWH you get the notes of the Ionian-mode (also called the major scale)
if you're gonna play Dorian on C you get different intervals: WHWWWHW, thus different notes, which makes the scale Dorian C sound the way it sounds
that's all to know about modes, each has it's own sound, the scales are just modes played on a certain note :)
to quote an email from The Ace:
When you are playing in E phrygian you are playing the notes from C Ionian...(just check it, you'll see) just make sure you know that these two scales have different qualities, primarily that Ionian is major and phrygian is minor. Always remember that a solo or melody will revolve around one mode, and although the notes in E phrygian and C Ionian are the same, the moods they create are different
= good music is good drinking =
