Modes are all well and good, but personally I feel they should come later, it's good that you've been learning your note names, I suggest learning how to make chords, as the rhythm can make your lead sound completely different.

In a C major scale, you have 7 different notes, C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Each of those serves a different purpose. The reason it's a major scale is because it follows the formula WWHWWWH, where W is a whole step (2 frets) and H is a half step (1 fret). Now, a triad, which is one of the most basic chords you can construct, is usually made by "stacking 3rds", meaning taking every other note and playing them. Cmaj triad, C, E ,G. When you play your scale, try stopping on different notes, they feel unfinished most of the time, unless you stop on a C. Since it's a C maj scale, the C is the most stable note, called the tonic. Since you started there, that's where your ear wants to return to, because the brain likes to hear things it's heard before. So, if you want to bring some resolution, you can end on a C chord if you're in C. It's the tonic. =D

Now, say you took those 7 notes in the C scale, but instead of playing them from C to C as we did before, we played from a different scale degree. Say we played from D to D? D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D. That's not a major scale, because your intervals are WHWWWHW. It's called the Dorian mode, and it's a minor mode, 'cause if you build a triad off of your tonic, it's D, F, A, which is a minor chord. So, if you wanted to play a piece in a minor key, but were tired of your minor scale, you could take your Dm chord progression, but play a D Dorian scale over it, which would create some tension on your 6th scale degree, (D minor has a Bb, but you're playing a B.)

So, that's my rant on modes, hopefully you understand them a bit more, good luck!