As someone who has been playing for over 30 years, let me give you some advice. Listen to as many guitarists as possible, and really know which ones inspire you. When you think you know who inspires you, talk to an experienced teacher about the best way to meet your goals. Ask the teacher about which guitars are best to start out with. Buying a bad instrument can sometimes be very discouraging for new guitarists. There are a lot of instruments that are quality in an affordable price range.
Experienced and talented music teachers are the greatest resources for learning music. In the Philadelphia Metro Area, where I'm from, there are a ton of music schools and colleges with excellent music programs. Some of the best players in the world come from here, and most give private lessons.
I’ve had the pleasure of studying with many of them, namely Joe Federico and the late Tom Giacabetti - two proteges of the maestro Dennis Sandole. I also studied Classical guitar with Joe Mayse - who studied in Spain with Segovia.
The lessons that teachers continue to pass down is invaluable to musician's all over the world. I encourage you to get in touch with a local instructor and take advantage of the wealth of musical knowledge that has been passed down through the generations.
There are also a great number of music stores in the South Jersey / Philadelphia area, where you can get guidance on the best teachers, the best method books, who does the best instrument repairs, etc...
No matter what area you are from, go check out your local music shops and talk to the people that work there. They are no doubt experienced musicians themselves, and will be able to impart some amount of knowledge to you just by having a conversation. It’s free to talk to these folks, and while you’re there, you can experiment on some new instruments.
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