Many people dream of playing the guitar, and the first step is to buy a guitar to learn on. Here are the steps to picking a great guitar:

Choose the Type of Guitar You Want to Buy

There are many types of guitars; if you aren't already a guitar player, you can find out which type you'd enjoy in a few ways. Demoing a few guitars at a local shop is one way. You might also look up music by each type of guitar player to see which sound appeals to you. Or, you might choose based on the style of music you want to play. Electric guitars are great for rock or jazz, while a classical guitar is great for more mellow music. Acoustic guitars are a nice choice because of their versatility; they are somewhat in the middle of many types of guitars in terms of their volume and timbre. If you aren't sure what type of guitar you would like, you might want to start with an acoustic guitar as you learn. 

Look at Sources of Guitars for Sale

Find a selection of guitars for sale online or in your area. Many online retailers offer new and used guitars, and you can generally tell how trustworthy the retailer is by the quality of their website and their online reviews. It's a good source to cast your net further than what your local selection would get you. Locally, try music stores and pawn shops. If you opt to buy in person, you have the benefit of playing a test song on the guitar first to make sure that you like its sound and its features. 

Read Up on Features

When you notice a guitar for sale that interests you, the first thing to do is read about the brand. Is it a high quality brand? How much maintenance is generally needed on those branded guitars? What type of strings does the guitar come with? Does it have any maintenance issues already if it's a used guitar?

Factor In Additional Costs

Before you make your choice, factor in the additional costs. Shops will have a sales tax; online sellers or private sellers often won't. Some may come with extra items such as a gear bag or an extra set of strings that you can deduct from the purchase price. Shipping can be a major cost, with a hard case costing $70 or more to ship in some cases. Know how much the total to get up-and-running will set you back before committing to buy.