Great question my friend!
You are right when you say that the notes are the same. However, in that particular lesson, we are in E dorian.
The reason is found in the bass of the track.
When I prepare a "modal" lesson, I usually keep the bass on the same note throughout the track and only add chords on top.
The bass staying on the same note makes all the notes youy play have a different feel. In other words, all the notes of your solo are "measured" to that bass tone.
That is what makes that particular lesson Dorian..
If I changed the bass line to D, all the notes of the solo, even though played the same way would sound Major (Ionian) because each notes would be "attracted" to that D note on the bass...
Does that make sense?
Now the reason why I think it's important to understand modes and see them as individual scales. Not only positions. Check out the lesson called "Learning the Modes ", it should help you hear them as individual scales. Check it out and pay attention to the bass.. Always the same riff. Chords on top change. That's all..
A good way to do that is to memorize the "paterns, but play them starting on the same root. Modes are extremely useful and knowing them and most importantly understanding them will increase your ability to come up with interesting ideas.
Let me know if that answers your question...
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