I would argue that there is no one best way but there are certainly better ways. One of those ways is what we call a 'Skills first' approach. Most guitar teachers promote the idea of learning songs which makes sense. They know it's what students want to hear. After all, who doesn't want to learn songs. It's the whole reason we learn guitar in the first place. When I started learning guitar I wasn't interested in skills like scales, reading music etc. "Just give me the songs" I would declare. I knew many famous guitar players who didn't know how to read music. Unfortunately what I didn't take into account was the fact that these guitarists had struggled for years to reach a level of skill they could have achieved in a lot less time with a lot less effort. Today we are seeing young guitarists ( I am talking young teens) who can play Jimi Hendrix's most difficult solos with ease.  These young virtuosos are almost certainly making skills a priority.   

I spent several years as a frustrated teen trying to learn my favourite songs until I discovered a teacher who set me straight. My  teacher taught me that skills are the tools we use to play songs so we need to start with them. He taught me the importance of developing what I now call the essential skills. Ignoring these skills will result in slow progress at best and at worst, years of frustration. Don't make the mistake I and 95% of guitar students make. While I fully understand why most guitar teachers avoid mentioning skills (they don't want to scare you off)  at G4 we prefer to be up front with you. We understand that your goal is to play songs of course but without the necessary skills you will only be disappointed. We want you to succeed not just turn up. Playing songs is why we learn guitar but it's not how we learn guitar. At G4 we focus on the 'how' (skills) so you can the follow your own 'why' (songs).  Skills are the tools we musicians use to play songs.