Hi Laine, modes are pretty much essential to any style. However there are different ways to approaching them. Some guys go the scale shapes route and learn all the positions up and down the fretboard, others learn about modes from a purely theoretical point of view and others (like me) get there by using their ear. Once you understand that there is no mystery behind them and you actually 'get' the concept (it actually took me about 5 years to really get it) then you will improve significantly no matter what style you play.