can someone explain modes to me?

[a1075dd63aa12]

I'm just getting into this stuff, but I was wondering how you go about building and naming chords? How do you know what the root is? And what makes a chord major or minor?

Do you understand which notes are in major and minor scales? Im definitely not an expert but i know very basic theory

Example

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[b][u]Major Scale:[/b]  W: Whole Step  H:Half Step[/u]
  W  W  H W  W  W H
C  D   E  F  G   A  B  C
[u][b]Minor Scale[/b][/u]
  W  H  W  W  H   W  W
A  B   C  D  E    F   G  A

**Those two are perfect no sharps or flats but that pattern exists for the others**

I don't understand which ones are major or minor. But I do understand the half step vs. whole step because theres no such thing as a E# and B# right?

im really not the best at explaining this at all, hopefully others can help

here is the thread that originally got me started and helped quite a bit

http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=18090

[Nuladion]

Thanks that helped. I was just playing those major chords and out came TSTJL.