For those of us endowed with a reasonable but not extraordinary degree of musical interest, learning guitar chords in place of complicated riffs is sufficient for impressing our friends. Just learn G, C, and D and you can play almost any song, some will tell you. This is of course not entirely true, but its not completely without merit. While G, C, and D are extremely useful and commonly used chords, its not too much of a stretch to learn a few more (though it may be a stretch for your fingers) and expand your repertoire.
The goal of learning guitar chords can be accomplished in several different ways. Many people choose to teach themselves, learning the chord fingerings with the help of a guitar instruction book or an online reference. Others find it more helpful to learn with the guidance of an actual guitar player. Guitar lessons are offered widely but if you dont want to spend the money, someone within your social circle is likely to have picked up guitar playing at some point. Both choices of instructor have their advantages and downsides. You may feel more comfortable and familiar with a friend, but an instructor may have more expertise. Of course, talent and teaching ability is variable across different individuals and obviously the person and/or method that will best assist you in learning guitar chords is the best choice. However, those who have difficulty with spatial perception might find it best to learn on their own. Sometimes people get confused when directly watching someone else play a chord, because the fingering will be reversed when you play it on your own guitar. You can try to remedy this by watching people play while standing behind them, but it is often difficult to see because of the guitars anatomy.
After youve picked the method of learning guitar chords that you prefer, the next steps are to practice, practice, and practice. Dont expect to play it perfectly the first time you try it out. Prepare yourself for lots of buzzing strings and hand cramps. Training your hand to play chords is difficult in the beginning because it requires molding it into an otherwise unnatural position. Over time, your wrist will flex back more easily and your fingers will go where you tell them to. Those of you with shorter fingers may find it more difficult than others but like they say, a little practice goes a long way, longer than a long-fingered person who doesnt put in as much effort as you will.