If the topic is just chords I figured out early on as a young player (sax) that 3 chromatic steps (or 1/2 steps) is minor and 4 is major and that by combining them you can create maj. minor, aug. dim. chords. Then by adding a 7th 1 half step or 2 half steps below the octave gave me a pretty basic way to understand chords as a 10 yr. old.
Although I am a very good sight reader, I can play an entire gig playing by ear most likely from learning to improvise by intervals.
I guess there is no one "best" way to learn.