Re: modes
Practice makes perfect...but I read about an exercise Satch came up with...
You hit the low e string and let it ring throughout your little solo, playing in e (dorian, phrygian, lydian, whatever). Just go through all the modes. You can then do it on the A string as well, eventually you won't need to hit that first droning note.
A great way to describe modes is based on style, feel. Phrygian reminds me of Flamenco, Mixolydian of an even more majestic and broad-sounding Major scale (Ionian).