The major scale can be broken up into different modes (scales) beginning on each individual note of the scale. There are seven different notes in a major scale and each one can be used as the starting note for a different mode.
Using modes to play over chord progressions means finding the best group of notes to play over each particular chord. Modes will be explained in detail in Lesson 15.
For now, here is an exercise to help you become familiar with the positions of all of the notes within the open position fingering of the C major scale. These are the starting notes for the seven modes, so it is important to be able to find them instantly.
Once you are comfortable finding all the notes individually, practice playing the range of eight notes from each note to its next occurrence. This is known as an octave. Once you can play these modes ascending, practice them descending as well.