What should I do if I want to learn how to play guitar?

Question:i was raised around old school rock like van halen and have wanted and still do want to play guitar. the only thing is that i dont know how to get started. I know its cheaper to teach yourself but honestly i dont think i would keep on track of it by myself...i think its best if i had lessons with a teacher. SO, my questions is should i get a guitar first, learn a few chords, and then get a teacher, or just get a teacher and see what they tell me, where do i get a good teacher, and alot more lol so please just tell me anything u know. thanks so much for anything.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: i was raised around old school rock like van halen and have wanted and still do want to play guitar. the only thing is that i dont know how to get started. I know its cheaper to teach yourself but honestly i dont think i would keep on track of it by myself...i think its best if i had lessons with a teacher. SO, my questions is should i get a guitar first, learn a few chords, and then get a teacher, or just get a teacher and see what they tell me, where do i get a good teacher, and alot more lol so please just tell me anything u know. thanks so much for anything.

Do what I did, I play classical guitar and have taught it for years. First get the best teacher in your area.....call your local music stores and see what you think....maybe even interview them....then find out the cost. Places like Sam Ash and the Guitar Center have lessons and look in your phone book for music stores, most give lessons. Go on youtube and look at the free lessons, see if guitar playing is for you.....I'm not crazy about the free sites, they are not complete.....but just to see what it's all about check out these free sites......and if you think that it's for you get a teacher. Not everyone who wants to play guitar can, especially girls, they don't want to cut their nails on the left hand as short that is necessary for playing, and you do have a lot of pain in the beginning while your getting your callouses, so keep your playing in the beginning to a half an hour !!!!!!!! Good luck.....
http://www.jamplay.com/
http://www.guitar.about.com/
http://www.freebasicguitar.com/
http://www.abclearnguitar.com/
http://www.learnhowtoplayguitar.com/
http://www.dirk.meineke.free.fr/
And then don't forget, try youtube
If you don't find anything that you like on these sites google this ; free guitar lessons, and I'm sure that there will be lots of sites to check out !!!!!!

get some lessons

I ended up getting my own guitar, some guitar books and going to my high school music teacher for help. It was also nice to have friends who were interested in guitar and sat me down to go over chords and eventually start to play songs.

get the guitar first i'm just learning myself but through books and the internet. at least you can get the feel for it before you start so its not completly foreign

First You should borrow a friends guitar and take lessons from the friend if he or she is good at it. If they are not good at it take a trial guitar lesson to see if you like it. If you like it then pay for a normal class from an expert, but make sure the price is reasonable. If you really like playing buy your own guitar. Remember to practice at least 20 minutes a day. To find a good teacher look in a local phone book like yellow pages and search for a reasonably priced guitar teacher and then try them. That is the best way.