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The melodic minor scale is made up of seven notes. In the key of C the notes are:

C D Eb F G A B (and C again)

Jazz Minor Scale: Use this to play over C minor sounds or Cm(maj7) sounds.

If we take the second note in the scale D, and play the exact same scale but end on the same starting note of D we have a new mode. In this case it is the second mode called Dorian flat 2.

Dorian b2 Scale: Use this to play over D 7(b9)sus4 sounds.

If we take the 3rd note in the scale E and play the same scale, again ending on the same note E, we have our third mode called Lydian augmented. Like this:

Lydian Augmented: use this to play over Ebmaj7(#5) sounds

The fourth mode is the Lydian b7 mode and starts and ends on the note F.

Lydian b7 Scale: use this to play over F7(#11) or F7(b5) sounds

The fifth mode is called the Mixolydian b6 mode and starts and ends on the note G.

Mixolydian b6 scale: use this to play over G7(#5) sounds

The sixth mode is the Aeolian b5 mode and starts and ends on the note A. It is also known as the Locrian #2 mode.

Aeolian b5 Scale: use this to play over Am7(b5) sounds

The last mode is called the Altered scale and starts and ends on the note B. It is also known as the diminished whole tone scale.

Altered Scale: use this to play over B7alt sounds such as B7(#5#9) or B7(b5b9) or any combination of these.