Originally Posted by: Hambergso modes are just scales?

Yep- scales with different intervals- so it doesn't spell out the traditional western do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti- (leaving it unresolved like a dick) :D

modes are scales are derived from either different musical traditions (i.e., Asian, etc- but were given Greek names because um... well I think it has to do with Jedi, but that's classified).

Music's evolution from the (correct me here if I'm wrong) melismatic chants of church music shifted from the modal system and toward the tonal do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti- thang we all know and love occurs around the end of the middle ages... but um.. modes can still add a neat texture to any song.