Keys and modes?

Question

I've been playing guitar for about a year and have always heard of modes and keys, yet can't find a good explanation of what they are and where in rock they're used. Any one who know, feel free to answer. Thanks

Answer 1

A key, basically, is a set of notes. I'm sure you've noticed while improvising that some notes sound fine when you put them back to back or over a chord, but others sound like total dissonant garbage. The garbage notes aren't members of the key you're playing in. Let's say, for instance, you're playing in the key of C. There are certain chords that work in certain keys, but the theory behind this is a little complicated. A typical three-chord progression for C is C - F - G. Now over this, you can play any note from the Cmaj scale, and it'll sound like music. Maybe stupid music, but hey, at least it won't hurt your ears. That's more or less what a key is.
A mode is also a set of notes (though to be technical, it's more a series of intervals, since you can start at any note and as long as you move the correct number of intervals between notes, you'll be playing in that mode). There are eight of them, and they determine what sort of feeling the piece has. But my grasp on these is fragile at best, so I'll refer you to Wikipedia instead if you're still curious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_mode

Answer 2

Local libraries should have some good, old, books detailing the Cycle of Keys and the Modal System, along with exotic modes.
http://www.guitargrimoire.com/ has great books.
I answered a similar question with a bit of example here http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060823153936AAfjpwe&r=w&show_comments=true&pa=FZB6NWHjDG3N56z6v_2zW3g1dccPePTo_ima7lEVXMucEeq3Kjw3WTSfb8cmhYn3f4GsXSIp_tx5wPav2HoZ4w--#openions
As to where in rock... Grab a guitar magazine and check out the chords in the songs. Some follow the modal system others don't

Answer 3

There Interconected,
A Scale is Doh, re,me,fah,so,la,ti,do The Major scale, (Do'h Mode)
Anywhere You Start makes a new mode ie lah
Lah, Ti, Doh, Re,Me,Fa,So,la (Lah Mode)The Minor Scale they all have different sounds doh = happy, lah = sad, mixolydian= happy with a twist (cant remember the root) etc... mail me in a week i'll have them all