Here are my shapes for learning the melodic minor scale modes.
Note that many of these scales have other names, this is due to usage by different musical schools of thought, and also by acousticians. The name 'overtone scale' is from acoustics.

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1 Ionian b3 or Aeolian #6 #7
"Melodic Minor" (mel m)
2nd mode of the Altered Scale

2 Dorian b2 or Locrian #5 #6
"Phrygian #6" (phry #6)
3rd mode Altered Scale

3 Phrygian b1 or Major #4 #5
"Lydian Augmented" (lyd +)
4th mode Altered Scale

4 Lydian b7 or Dorian #3 #4
The "Overtone Scale" (lyd b7)
5th mode Altered Scale

5 Mixolydian b6 or Phrygian #2 #3
(mix b6)
6th mode Altered Scale

6 Aeolian b5
"Locrian #2" (loc #2)
3rd mode of the Overtone Scale

7 Locrian b4 or Mixolydian #7 #1
the "Altered Scale" (Alt)
also known as "Super Locrian"

Terms
The names above the finger patterns on the top line are ways of conceiving or deriving these scales from modes of the major scale
The abbreviations in brackets are the most common jazz/rock names, you may notice that these names are not consistent
Each of these scales can be correctly considered as a mode of either the:
1) Jazz Melodic Minor Scale, 2) the Altered Scale,
3) the Overtone Scale, (its acoustics name) or
4) the Super Locrian (its classical theory name)

Technique
The finger patterns are modified 'E shape' movable scale fingering patterns (the root notes are on E, D and e strings) you should start ascending from your middle finger, stretching the index finger out of the 'one finger per fret' position when necessary (rather than changing your hand to a lower position)

Application
These finger patterns are useful for improvising in three broad settings. Firstly for playing at lower or higher register for a given harmony (diatonic scales over a diatonic chord progression). Secondly for playing through a modulating chord progression by changing mode around a set register (range of notes). Thirdly for creating a changing set of inside and outside notes (diatonic/chromatic) over a static harmony.

Click the link for a blues MIDI exercise, with backing track, for altered scale soloing.
> Ex. #6 >>>>> blues_6.html