The Harmonic Minor Scale Explored

Learning the fingering to the basic harmonic minor shape might be tricky at first, if you're used to the simpler shape of the blues scale. The key is to use your pinky finger extensively, and to handle the notes on the fourth string correctly. When playing the notes on the fourth string, start with your 2nd finger, followed by your 3rd, then stretch your pinky to play the last note on the string.

The notes in the above scale highlighted in red are the roots of the harmonic minor scale. If you play the above scale starting on the note A, on the fifth fret of the sixth string, you're playing an "A harmonic minor scale".