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Before we move on to chord construction, here are some basic tips that will help you sound better.

1. Press firmly. Be sure you press each finger down so that it firmly presses the string against the fretboard. This will ensure the sound of the string is clean and does not buzz. If you don't push the string down hard enough you will hear a buzzing or a muffled sound.
2. Close to the fret. In general (this is not always the case), make sure that your finger is as close to the fret as possible without actually touching the fret. This will ensure that the string does not buzz or sound muffled when played.
3. One finger per string. Be sure that only one finger touches each string. Often times you will find one finger slightly touching a neighboring string. This is particularly common with the more difficult chords (like the G major chord). This is one other cause of muffled or buzzing strings. Take some time after constructing the chord to make sure that each finger is only touching the necessary strings and not resting on neighboring strings.
4. Relax. Relax your hand so that it is comfortable when constructing the chord. Re-position your wrist for each chord so that you are comfortable and so that your fingers can sustain their position (without cramping) while you strum.
5. Look at each chord diagram closely. Spend some time positioning your fingers to look like the images. Try constructing these chords yourself, strumming them, and listening to how they sound
   
   We number each finger when explaining how to construct chords.