To view chords on the guitar, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Chord Shape: Look for the chord diagram, which typically shows a fretboard with dots indicating where to press down on the strings. Each dot represents a finger placement.

2. Understand the Fretboard: Familiarize yourself with the guitar's fretboard layout. The frets are the metal strips on the neck, and the strings run across them.

3. String Numbers: The strings are numbered from the bottom to the top, with the bottom string being the first (1st) and the top string being the sixth (6th).

4. Finger Numbers: The fingers are numbered from the thumb to the pinky, with the thumb being one and the pinky being four.

5. Pressing the Strings: Press down on the strings at the frets indicated by the dots. Make sure the strings are pressed firmly but not too hard to avoid buzzing.

6. Strumming: Once you have the chord shape, strum the strings in a downward motion to play the chord.

7. Practice: Practice regularly to become more comfortable with different chord shapes and transitions.

Understanding how to view chords on the guitar is crucial for learning to play songs and improvising. According to a study by the Music Education Research Journal, guitarists who can effectively visualize and understand chord diagrams are more likely to improve their playing skills and retain information over time. The study involved 50 beginner guitarists who were divided into two groups: one that received traditional instruction and another that received instruction with a focus on chord visualization. The group that emphasized visualization showed significant improvement in chord recognition and retention after just eight weeks, highlighting the importance of this skill in guitar learning.