I am just starting to learn modes and I'm not too sure where to use them.

I realise if i play like

C Ionian then D Dorian then E Phrygian it progresses uses all the notes in the major scale I started with.

Or if I am soloing over a Chord progrssion, say C, Em, Dm, Am - Since I have learnt these modes I can find the root note of the current chord easy ect.

But can you use them for example, if i was playing over a C maj chord, could I play C Locrian over it?

I cant really explain because I dont know what im talking about enough...

Really could someone show me maybe some excercises where I can realise the use of modes?

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