[bodeadly]

The simplified method: Take a guitar and transpose each mode to E. So start with Phrygian since it's natrual key is E. But then transpose Dorian from D down to E. Forget the key. Just learn the modes but from E. THEN, make up chords for each note of each mode. For example, for Mixolydian you can make E, F#m, A, Bm, C#m and D (and a weird G# - there's always a weird chord). Once you memorize the 7 modes, you can deconstruct pretty much any song. Fool around playing chords of a mode and you'll start to hear familiar note patterns. Switch modes (especially for the "weird" chord) and things get very interesting. You don't even have to learn all of the modes. I used 4-5 almost exclusively. Of course it does create a communication problem if you normalize everything to 5 modes and de-emphasize the key.