I'm really glad that helped Ken! I know what you mean about "mistakes" and then it being a mode... sometimes you get those happy accidents that actually sound really good. Knowing how to employ modes "on demand" seems to me a pretty advanced goal for any guitar player. Like you, I don't know how proficient I'll get with it. For now though, what I do find useful is to figure out what mode I'm using when I come up with a riff that I like. I think the more you use it, the easier it gets... or at least I hope so!

Cal