You have to look at what chord the scale is outlining. All progressions are taken from the major and minor harmonies, but that doesn't mean we have to use those scales overtop of those chords. Here are some scales and the chords they outline.

Wholetone = Dom.7b5
Dominant Diminished = Dom.7
Diminished = this scale can be applied over top a major chord progression that moves in -3rds (C Eb Gb etc..)
The modes of MELODIC MINOR create altered scales that can be applied over chords

To tell what type of chord the scale outlines play every other note of the scale to see what type of arpeggio you come up with. Need more info let me know, I'll go into more detail