What kind of guitar should I get if I have never played guitar?

Question:I want to learn how to play guitar

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I want to learn how to play guitar

First figure out what style or kind of music you want to play. That will determine what kind of guitar you'll need.

If you like rock, metal, blues, jazz -- you probably want an electric guitar. When shopping for a low-cost beginner electric guitar, look for one with good quality wood and at least reasonable workmanship. Guitar manufacturers tend to cut corners with cheaper guitars, by using cheaper pick-ups and hardware, but these are all upgradeable parts. Brands to look for: Squier, Epiphone, Ibanez. Keep in mind that if you decide to start with an electric guitar, you'll have to budget additional money for an amplifier and cables and such. You won't need a big amp to start with -- a 10-watt practice amp will be fine -- but you won't be able to play without one. Pick out a guitar you like and then try it with several different amps to find one that gives you the sound you like.

If you want to play folk, acoustic rock, bluegrass or country, you'll probably want a steel-string acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitars are a bit harder to play than electrics, but you won't need an amplifier, and you can take your acoustic guitar to the park, or camping, or the beach, or other places where you can't plug in an electric. A low quality acoustic guitar can make it virtually impossible for a beginner to make much progress, so STAY AWAY from cheap Ebay or Wal-Mart acoustics - a slightly more expensive guitar will pay off in the long run. Beginner level instruments to look for: Yamaha, Washburn, Takamine, Epiphone, Blueridge.

If you like classical music -- if Andres Segovia, Christopher Parkening, Sharon Isbin, or Julian Bream are your guitar heroes -- you want a nylon-string classical guitar. If you don't know who these people are, you probably don't want a nylon string guitar. Again, you want to avoid low-quality instruments from Ebay or Wal-Mart as they will be poorly constructed of cheap materials. LaPatrie, Yamaha, or Cordoba are some names to look for in beginner level classical guitars.

Don't let the store salespeople bully you into buying something on your first visit -- take your time and go to several different stores to compare guitars and prices. Quality can vary somewhat between individual guitars so you'll need to try out instruments before you buy. For this reason, I don't recommend buying online if you can possibly help it. If you can, bring a guitar playing friend with you to play the different instruments and get advice.

just get any regular looking acustic

A plain old, cheap, classical acoustic guitar. You don't know if you'll even like guitar, so don't buy anything expensive.

Besides, any good guitarist first learns to play acoustic guitar.

get a fender squire. that was my first guitar. Fender is a top brand, the squire is cheap but very good sounding. i still play mine today and it sounds the same

I always suggest a nylon string classical type because they're easier on the fingers. Countless people have been put off guitar because of sore fingers before callouses develop. From there you can go anywhere. Good luck!

I would suggest a fender telecaster or stratocaster because they have slightly wider, more comfortable necks than gibson or their copies. Also buy a cheap 10 watt amplifier with distortion, for added fun. Then get over to youtube.com, and search for Justin Sandercoe - best FREE lessons on the net. Just have fun.

Go on eBay. They have lots of good beginner guitars. I bought an acoustic one from eBay for $34.99. They work fine and the styles are pretty nice. They're pretty small (aobut 34"? or was it 38"?) but they're good for beginners!

First:

You might want to think about what you're getting in to, learning the guitar is a very hard process . . . for people who are not musically inclined. However if you just wanna learn how to play it because its cool or your mom told you then don't do it, it's a waste of time.

Depending on the genre of music you want to learn first.

If you're interested in rock and roll buy a used electric guitar
- For beginners I recommend Kramer Guitars

If you're interested in classical Spanish buy a cheap nylon stringed guitar.
- This is if you wanna be a classical guitarist
(learning all the notes etc.)

If you want to be an all-around guy buy a used steel-string
- This is if you wanna learn the average way.

I would get a Fender Squier, good starter, or an Epiphone Les Paul, a nicer guitar overall

acoutstic............those always sound nice

The reason most people give up on guitar is because they buy a cheap horrible instrument. Go to a big music store like guitar center and have them show you lots of instruments. If you spend a few $$$ on a decent guitar and then change your mind later, you can get at least half your money back selling it. If you buy junk, you will have to pay someone to take it away!

Buy a Gibson. David Johannsen says The New York Dolls were never a Fender guitar band in the DVD that comes with their latest CD.

If you get an electric, you'll need an amp. Find a guitar that has a thin neck, and the strings are close to the frets. Go to a guitar store, and try several. You'll see the difference. Before any note will sound decent, you will have to condition your fingers.