- Be able to translate any chord symbol into a series of notes. One method is to learn and use chord spellings for different types of chords and relate them to the appropriate key of the Major Scale.
for example: using the chord spelling 1 3 5 7, the notes in a C Maj7th chord are:
key of C Major: C D E F G A B C
Therefore, the CMaj7th chord consists of the notes: C E G B
exercise: Go through a series of chords in a chord progression and work out what notes are in each chord using your knowledge of chord spellings. You may refer to a song's chord chart or a lead sheet to do this exercise...
2. Understand the relationship between a given melody note and the primary harmony that underscores it at that point in time. Fundamentally, recognise whether the melody note is a target note for said harmony (a chord tone or tension) or just a passing/approach note which bears no musical relationship to said harmony. You will find that said passing notes have a very short duration as they move on to a target note; which is indeed their purpose. So...be able to recognise the distinction and furthermore, be able to define said note in terms of a chord/scale spelling reference. For example, the melody note D against a C Major chord is a tension note and is defined as the '9' (2nd note of the scale but considered an octave higher (at least in theory) if the 3rd of the chord is present. And so on...
exercise: Study a lead sheet for its melody and chords and try to define each note as target or approach and with reference to spellings.