by 
davoomac
ANSWERS: 3
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Modes are the sets of tonal relationships which occur when the "basis" of a scale is shifted from the normal dominant. Since that sounds rather technical and heartless, here's a more English version: normally we play a C scale on the piano starting from C, but if you play the same notes -- but starting from D and ending on D, it sounds "odd". This "oddness" is called the Dorian mode. You'll get a different oddness if you start and end on E, that's called the Phyrigian mode. Of course, you can transpose this and play any of these modes in any key. Its good to be familiar with the modes -- even if you don't remember their names -- because it makes it easier to improvise and blend in during ensemble play if you don't have any sheet music. Its just a part of the whole theoretical understanding of music and learning different ways of expressing it. Here's a web link for more: http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/modes/modes.htm
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all of what stableboy said is indeed true and good. i just wanted to add a little help that i learned while at school limdap those stand for (in order and mostly spelled wrong) lochrian ionian mixolidyon dorian aeolian phrygean big whoop right? ok here's the deal. Ionian is fancy word for major. and aeolion is a fancy word for minor. so take any major scale say C now add one flat (beadgcf is the order of flats) and move one letter to the right in the limdap guy, and you've got mixo. add another flat and you've got dorian. add one more and you've got Cmin in all it's spooky beauty! so that's an easy way to remember how to play any modal scale. oh and if for instance you use F. add another flat to the pre-existing Bflat. or if you use say G you take away the sharp. make some sense? if it doesn't tell me and i'll try to re-state it better.
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I know what a mode is...but I'm not sure I could put it into words that you understand...so here is an excellent wikiepedia link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_modes
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