There has been a lot of chat about modal playing. I figured I would address this in its own post. I'm going to start with the basics and we can go as deep as we want to in this subject (or, at least until I'm out of knowledge--shouldn't take too long! 8O )
When playing modal stuff, remember this: The root chord/key is what changes. The scale stays the same. For instance, using the C major scale, you will get seven different modes. They are: C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G Mixolydian, A Aeolian, B Locrian.
That order will not change--ever. Notice that all those modes follow the notes in the C major scale? It's the same way for any other scale. Say you want to play something in B Phrygian--now what? You take the pattern from above and figure out what scale you would use to make that mode. Guess it yet? It's G. Why? Because G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F#
So... your modes out of your G major scale are G Ionian, A Dorian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, E Aeolian, and F# Locrian.
Is that making more sense? For practice, anyone who's interested in getting this down, write out your seven major scales (A B C D E F G), and tell me the modes associated with each scale. Two of them are already done for you above. Remember your scale theory: if you do not know the notes in a scale, the pattern is, Root-whole step-whole step-half step-whole step-whole step-whole step-half step (W W H W W W H). That last half step should bring you back to your root note.
Write all of these out and post what you come up with, please. I want to make sure it's clear to you.
Have fun, this drove me nuts for a while while learning it.
Once I get some hits back on the above, I will get into what style of music these best apply to.
Uriah, jump in whenever you feel to, brother. I have a feeling you got this more than I do, anyway.