Hey, Mike. Welcome to the site.

Originally Posted by: Mike PiersimoniIs it more advantagous to learn the pattern of each mode separately conpared to all strung together?[/quote]
Do both. :) I think learning them one at a time is a good start, but ultimately you need to see how they form an integrated fretboard pattern. Make sense?
[QUOTE=Mike Piersimoni]
When looking at the 7 modes strung together I notice the same patterns I have been useing playing the pentatonic scale but missing the 4th and 7th notes.

Good observation. You are exactly right. However, there are only 5 pentatonic shapes and 7 modes. I've seen this cause confusion for some students. All of these fretboard patterns ultimately work together; they do not contradict one another. So, the problem is keeping them straight in your mind and being able to visualize them as necessary (depending on what you are playing or trying to do).

You have to figure out what approach to breaking down the patterns works for you. You need to break them down to the point where you can see them individually and then start to see how those parts hook together into larger shapes.

Have a look at these tutorials:
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=296
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=419