Also, A Ionian (major) mode and a Dorian mode serve different purposes in music itself. SO it is best not to have those two confused in any way. They are 2 completely different scales. When playing a song in G major, then play the mode A dorian over it is still playing the G major scale. The dorian's mode most common purpose is jazz music, when you use alot of minor chords. It's harmonizes well over any minor chords, like m7, m11, and m13th's. The G major scale is for, well, major chords based in G.

Also, when learning modes the way I propose. Keep the root the same note going through all the modes. So if you start on C, play all the modes in C. You are learning that modes pattern and sound uniquely. NOT how it relates with the other scales.

[Edited by noticingthemistake on 01-13-2003 at 11:21 PM]