So you've decided you want to learn to play the guitar – good choice! The guitar is a very popular instrument with musicians all over the world, and for good reason; it is very expressive and versatile, and is used in many different styles of music. However, to get started on the right footing, there are some things you should consider before you start to learn, as this article explains.

1. What Type Of Guitar

First of all, if you don't already have a guitar, you'll need to decide which type to start off with. Guitars fall into various categories, but the main ones are electric, steel string acoustic, classical and flamenco guitars. Your choice at this point will be mainly influenced by the type(s) of music that you want to learn to play. Obviously if you want to learn classical or flamenco music, you'll need a guitar of the appropriate type. If you're more interested in popular styles, then you'll probably opt for a steel string acoustic or an electric guitar. An electric guitar will also require an amp, and many models aimed at beginners are available in a package with a practice amp included.

2. Which Guitar To Start With

Having decided on the general type of guitar that you need, you'll probably be wondering which make and model is best. There is a bewildering array of guitars to choose from, and your choice will be partly dictated by your budget. However, even if money is tight, it's important not to just opt for the cheapest guitar available, as the real bargain basement models are often poorly constructed, and may have an unpleasant tone and be physically uncomfortable to play. Unfortunately many people who start to learn guitar give up within a few months, and in many cases this is probably due to their trying to learn on a shoddy instrument – which is no fun at all.

There's no need to spend a fortune to get started however; there are very satisfactory quality beginner guitars of all types available for around $200 or less, and the internet is the best place to start your research, as you can read reviews and find out what others are saying about just about every model that is available. So take some time to find a good quality guitar to start on – and remember that you don't have to find the 'perfect' guitar right away. If you keep it up, you'll be able to upgrade to a high quality model when you have more experience and a better idea of what will suit your playing style.

3. Which Types of Lessons Are Best?

So, you've found a guitar to learn on – but who's going to teach you? You have two general options here; get private lessons with a guitar teacher, or teach yourself. Many classical and flamenco guitarist opt for in-person lessons, and find that one to one instruction is valuable when it comes to learning these relatively formal and challenging musical styles. More people who play rock and other popular styles prefer to go down the teach yourself route. There are positive and negative aspects to both choices.

If you opt for private lessons, you'll gain from one-to-one attention from your teacher. On the downside, it might take time to find a teacher that you feel compatible with, and the cost can add up quite quickly.

If you teach yourself, you can learn at your own pace from home, and it will be relatively inexpensive. You can buy a tutor books or DVDs, or opt for online guitar lessons, which will often have a multi-media format which can make the learning process more interesting. On the other hand, you'll need to be very self-motivated to keep going, and you also need to ensure that you choose a high quality, professionally produced course of lessons, or you could end up with bad habits and limiting gaps in your skills and education.

4. Your Mental Attitude

The final factor to think about is your mental attitude to playing the guitar – are you really determined to succeed? This is especially important if you decide to teach yourself to play at home, as you won't have a teacher to encourage you.

When starting out with a new activity, most people feel excited and enthusiastic. Unfortunately this enthusiasm tends to wane when confronted with the reality – learning to play the guitar is hard. Even people who are naturally very talented do not have an easy ride, and those that aren't have to work even more to get good results.

You need to be aware of this in advance, and then it won't come as a surprise when you hit a rough patch. You can make it easier for yourself by setting goals, rewarding yourself for sticking to your practice plan and making progress, and remembering that if you really love the guitar, then the result – mastery of the instrument – is absolutely worth the time and effort you'll need to put in, as well as all the frustrations along the way.

So bear these four tips in mind while getting started, and have fun learning to play the guitar!