[gravitas]

I think I see what he means. Here is a link to a site that has some sheet music. Not piano music, not guitar music, just sheet music (10 lines, treble 'n bass).

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/...14 83&page=01

This being in standard notation, I'm not sure if this is the best place to be asking a question anyway, as even the intrepid Captain Kirk doesn't read standard notation. I might be able to help you out, but take it with a grain of salt, bud.

To adress your first question: when you say that your chord has "a note directly above it", I'm assuming that you mean that music you are reading has the chord and said note written as if they are stacked on top of one another. This can mean one of two things: either the chord has a different voicing (ie, one (or some) of the notes in the chord are written an octave up) OR (and this may not be the case) you are dealing with "stacked chords".

Do not let the name "stacked chords" confuse you. It doesn't refer to the way the notes appear on the staff, but by the way the chords themselves are arranged. All "stacked chord" means is that you're playing a normal chord (let's say, A Major) but you have a note "stacked" on top of it (the 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths seem to be the most popular). You can generally see this in standard notation just by looking at the note intervals. Does one on top seem to jump up with an odd space between it and its partners below? Well, chances are you're dealing with a stacked chord.

However, regardless of whether or not you're simply dealing with an odd chord voicing or a stacked chord, if the notes are written in unison they are to be played in unison.

If the notes seem to be floating away from the chords, then you're not dealing with chords anymore, bud. You're dealing with either the melody or the bass. Generally, the melody is restricted to the upper (treble) clef, and the bass to the lower (creatively enough, bass) clef, but there are instances where that will differ.

Just remember: if the note isn't written with the chord, don't play it at the same time. I hope this helps, if not, feel free to ask more.