Now that you've become comfortable with the basic shape and sound of the harmonic minor scale, you'll want to begin experimenting with it in your own solos. The trick is deciding when it's appropriate to use the scale. As the name of the scale suggests, the harmonic minor scale works best in minor keys... for example playing an E harmonic minor scale over a song in the key of E minor. In pop and rock music, the harmonic scale often gets played over minor chord vamps (one minor chord repeated for a long period of time).
It is important to recognize exactly which notes in the harmonic minor scale sound exotic, and which others are more "normal" sounding. Examine the diagram above - the notes highlighted in blue (the b6th and 7th degrees of the scale) are the notes which give the scale it's unusual sound. Be careful when you use these notes extensively - feel free to use them, but be aware that they will provide your solos with more tension than the other notes in the scale (especially when you hang on them!)
