Obviously, there are many methods for this. But here is one simple method of minimalistic distances among the notes and of not more notes than chords (simplicial counter melody).
We partiction the chord progressin in to pairs , so each pair will be a chromatic, melodic, or harmonic transition
1) If we have a harmonic chord transition e.g. G7->C, then we correspond to notes, the 3rd of the G, which is d, and the 1st of the C which is c. This G7->C will project to d->c . This is a 1 tone distance of notes or a chromatic pair of notes (distance of 2nds)
2) If we have a chromatic chord transition, e.g. C->Dm, then simply we project to the roots c->d. An even more minimal pait would be e->f which is a minor 2nd or 1 semitone!
3) If we have a melodic transition e.g. G-> Em, then we simply project to the roots again g->e, which is a 3r distance, thus a melodic pair of notes.
