Ah, I got it! Letting that chord ring out while I play these others licks actually helps to put them in perspective much more, if that makes sense. Or even playing them while their one root note rings out.

So, for further clarification, it's possible to pick out certain notes from this scale that are major, while another combination could be minor? Even though it's the harmonic minor scale (or any scale for that matter), it still includes enough major notes to put together a major sounding lick?