The theoretical analysis of the direct absorption spectroscopy, the continuous modulation spectroscopy and the quasi-continuous modulation spectroscopy was shown and the corresponding experiments were carried out in order to choose the adequate scheme of the laser modulation spectroscopy to satisfy different requirements of the detection. CO2 gas with different concentrations was detected under the same experimental conditions by using the three different modulation techniques with the same laser. Technical characteristics, signal features and detection limits were compared respectively. Results showed that the detection limit of the quasi-continuous modulation spectroscopy was approaching to that of the continuous modulation spectroscopy. However the linear distortion of the detection signal was obvious, because of the effects of laser energy intermittent and parasitic amplitude modulation on the line shape. Therefore the quasi-continuous modulation spectroscopy is not suitable for the pressure and flow measurements, which closely depend on the line shape. This work has provided reference for selections of the laser modulation spectroscopy.