The most significant thing in my guitar style is the intensive use of exotic scales like the Algerian or Yona Nuki scale. Playing in this scales, every simple melody is more interesting than played in a "normal" scale like Aeolian or Phrygian. It takes a long time, until you're able to really think (improvise, write music and so on) in these - for our ears - new and unusual scales.

See also my Columns about "Exotic Scales" at Guitar9.

Algerian Scale

Solo using an ascending Algerian fingering, taken from the song "Slaves Of Pyramid"

This is one of my absolutely favorite scales. Similar to the Aeolian mode (natural Minor), but with raised 4th and raised 7th, or Harmonic Minor with raised 4th. So the formula is 1-2-b3-#4-5-b6-7. Because this scale has many halftone steps - but still 7 notes -, it has some big intervals, so be prepared for stretching your fingers. (but don't overdo!)

Ok, here's a basic fingering. I name (number) it the "6th", because I can derive it from the Aeolian scale, which the 6th degree in the Ionian system.

Do you know the 3-notes-per-string fingering for the Ionian scale? Fine! Here's the "1st" position of the Algerian scale. Lock how it's similar to the Ionian scale, played with a 3-notes-per-string fingering! 

The next fingering is used to play the Theme of the song "Guardians Of The Throne".
Check it out and play it yourself!

Click here to see my handwritten sheet with all basic fingerings of the Algerian scale.

Theme using the Algerian scale, taken from the song "Guardians Of The Throne"

Yona Nuki scale

One of the most popular scales is the Yona Nuki scale. "Yona Nuki" means "omit the 4th & 7th note of the scale". Basically, there are two versions:

Yona Nuki Minor	Yona Nuki Major
1        2        b3       5        b6	1         2        3         5        6
and one basic fingering...

As you may remark, the Yona Nuki Major scale is a standard Major pentatonic. I guess that for that scale different fingerings are known.

Find here an interesting 2-notes-per-string fingering for the the Yona Nuki Minor scale.

Break using this fingering of the Yona Nuki Minor scale, taken from the song "Uzume"

And a longform-fingering:

In scale

Another very interesting scale is the In scale.

To reinforce the effect of that scale, play a b7 for an base pitches melody, and a b6 for a descending melody.

In scale (ascending)                                     (descending)

Try out this fingering:

...and discover other handy fingerings allover the fretboard!

What about degrees of such scales?

Yes, you can play using a similar concept of degrees as with other scales (like Ionian, Dorian,...). As an example, try the 5th degree of the ascending In scale!

How to do that? It's simple: Play the 5th note of the In scale (encircled in yellow) in a bass tone and then improvise with the In scale. Now you're playing in the 5th degree of In!

Riff using the 5. degree of the In scale, taken from the song "Electric Storm"

Chinese

I use the Major pentatonic scale (1-2-3-5-6) as a Chinese scale, because it sounds really like that. Try it out! Just play (as an example) the C-Major pentatonic scale over C Major chord (1-3-5).

Do you remember the intervallic structure of the Yona Nuki Major scale? Yes, these are the same notes!

To really make the listener feeling like in China, use suitable style elements like bendings, whammy bar tricks,  slides and vibrato.

Major

The Major scale (or the Ionian scale / system) is the basis and the frame for most of the scales I use. Try to map the scales which you play with the corresponding scale from the Ionian system (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Lokrian).
This way you can (mentally) connect this scales - it's easier to learn it!

HOW TO PRACTICE
these scales?

Take your exercises (e.g. 1-2-3-4 - 2-3-4-5 - 3-4-5-6 - ...) and play them in another scale (e.g. Algerian). This way you can pep up your exercises, melodies, licks,... your music!
Example: descending seconds with the Algerian scale

Listen to traditional Asian and Oriental music: Indian ragas, Chinese pipa music (e.g. form Ling Ling YU), Oriental singers (e.g. Nusrath Fateh Ali Khan), just to name a few resources of inspiration.