When learning how to play guitar, chord fingering can be a difficult skill to master.
Finding ways to quickly get your fingers into position over the correct strings and simultaneously avoiding other strings can be a difficult skill to master.
However, with a simple technique, you can turn this difficult task into an automatic reflex.
The first step is to choose one chord and then to memorize the finger positions.
The best way to do this is to find a diagram of the chord.
There is usually a chart included with any book or tutorial.
The diagram will show you exactly which finger to place where.
The trick is in learning how to get your fingers into position without muting or buzzing against any of the other strings.
Once you have a basic, if not quite perfect sense of the chord, the next step is to practice releasing the chord and then finding it again.
This may take several attempts before your fingers start to learn where to go and how to efficiently get into position.
Usually it will help to find one finger to anchor first and then use that to get your other fingers into place.
When you are ready to really solidify your learning, the final step is to practice the first two steps with your eyes closed.
Find a comfortable position.
Close your eyes.
Then practice playing the chord, then releasing, then finding it again.
Strum the chord each time to make sure you are getting a clear and crisp sound.
Practice this over and over again, faster and faster, until your fingers learn where to go automatically.
As you master one chord, add another in the same way.
Then practice switching between these chords with your eyes closed.
Practicing this way, you will quickly develop muscle memory and your fingers will develop the dexterity to quickly and efficiently get into position.
As you continue to practice, you'll learn how to play guitar chord progressions smoothly, and be able to switch effortlessly between chords during your songs.