DearMegan,
cover your top 4 strings, at the second fret with index finger, then top two strings at fret 5, this is A modal, EAEAEA, MODAL CHORDS are made up of NOTES 1 AND 5 of the related major scale, so you are missing the third note of the scale, it is neither major onr minor but can be substitued for both.
E modal is 5 string second fret, 4 string second fret,3 string 4 fret. ebebbe.
D MODAL can be made by not playing 1 string or by fretting fifth fret,1 topstring giving you high A instead of 2 fret f sharp.Dick Miles.