Key of song and modes

[Guitar_guy]

Hi all,
As I learned if a song is in a specific key, let's say C, I shouldn't see other notes in the song than C-D-E-F-G-A-B. Ok, if I want to play a music in key of C and want to use phrygian mode to take its spanish flavor, I got two scales:
E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E
C-C#-D#-F-G-G#-A#-C
Which one to use?
If the last one, most of those notes are out of key of C. If the 1st one, those notes are in the key of C just in differnt order that gives other flavor. Ok, but, what the root note now? C or E. If E, as I have seen in some licks it doesn't start with the root note. So now, what the differnt between
C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C and
E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E if I didn't start with root note E . I think there is a thin line ther I don't see. Whould some body clear it for me Please? Specially for solo not for chords.
:confused:

[Andrew]

If you want to give the whole song a phrygian feel , you would use the second scale.This would put the song in the key of C phrygian. The chords would be the same as in the key of Ab major. To just give part of the song a phrygian flavour without changing key, you would have lots of Em chords and use E phrygian.

By the way, Guitar_Guy, a C phrygian scale is-

C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb

These are actually the same notes, but in seven note scales, a note is given to each of the letters A-G. This makes it easier to compare scales, and see at a glance what scale is what.

[cyberfret]

Check out this lesson on modes, it might help clear up some of your confusion.

http://www.cyberfret.com/theory/modes/101/index.htm

--Shawn