4.7Common tones are your friends

Compare C and Am:

C:

C E G

Am:

A C E

Shared notes:

C, E

Compare C and F:

C:

C E G

F:

F A C

Shared note:

C

Compare F and Dm:

F:

F A C

Dm:

D F A

Shared notes:

F, A

This gives you a practical rule:

When moving to the next chord, keep common tones where they are whenever practical.

Then move the other notes by the smallest possible distance.