An Acoustic Guitar
Acoustic guitars are called "acoustic" because all their sound comes from the guitar itself, and not from an amplifier. That is, the sound you hear is produced acoustically instead of electronically. Acoustic guitars don't come in nearly as many shapes as electric guitars because their shape has an effect on how they sound. In general, you'll find this to be true about acoustic guitars: the bigger the body, the bigger the sound.
What's the difference between nylon-string and steel-string?
If you aren't sure whether to play a nylon-string acoustic or a
steel-string acoustic, then you might want to find a teacher before you
pick out a guitar. Nylon-string acoustic guitars are designed for
styles like classical, flamenco, and folk. These are styles that call
for a mellower sound from a guitar. Steel-string acoustic guitars tend
to be louder and are common in rock, country, and styles that require
the guitarist to be loud and clear. A steel-string acoustic guitar is
usually played with a pick (a hard piece of plastic), while a
nylon-string acoustic guitar is almost always played by fingerpicking.
Because the techniques are so different for the picking hand, a
teacher's approach is usually different for each type of guitar. Note,
though, that the technique you learn with your fretting hand, the one
that holds down the strings to select notes, will be the same from one
type of guitar to the other.
How big or small should a guitar be?
Most acoustic guitars you see today are large-bodied models (some are
called dreadnoughts, a name taken from a type of battleship!). There
are alternatives. Some manufacturers make small-bodied acoustic guitars
especially for beginners, and these not only sound good, but play
easily. These can start at less than $200, and if you are small or have
very small hands, these will make learning a lot more fun than
struggling with a big ol' full-sized acoustic guitar.
An alternative route to a strictly acoustic guitar is the acoustic/electric, which generally has a narrower neck like you'd find on an electric guitar, plus a body that's shallower than a typical acoustic's. They sound okay when you sit around and play without an amp, but they have a pickup in the bridge and electronics for making them sound good when plugged in, too. By choosing the features of this type of guitar, you may find something that's easier for you to play.
Do I need an expensive guitar?
Visit your local music store and check out the acoustic guitars. You'll
find them in price ranges all the way up to several thousand dollars.
When you go to check out an acoustic guitar, ask someone you know who
plays if they can help you to decide which guitar will work for you.
Your main concerns right now are whether you can hold it comfortably,
and whether it will stay in tune while you're playing and whether you
can afford it. The biggest concern after budget should be
playability--whether the strings are at the proper height, in relation
to the fingerboard. If the strings are too high off of the fingerboard,
the guitar will be too hard to play, resulting in sore fingers and
frustration. A reasonably good acoustic guitar--meaning one that's
durable, stays in tune, and has a decent sound--can cost less than $250.
Do I need a built-in pickup?
When you're starting out on acoustic guitar, you don't need a built-in
pickup in your instrument. However, if the model you like is available
only with a pickup, then it won't do any harm to have one. A pickup
will not help you to play better or sound better, and for a pickup to
be useful, you need to plug it into an amplifier, a P.A. or recording
mixer, or a recorder. Finally, a built-in pickup may raise the price of
a guitar, so all things being considered, you might be able to afford a
better-quality guitar without a pickup than one with a pickup.
Do I need a strap?
Unless a teacher says you need a strap, it's entirely up to you. You don't need one, since most of your learning time will find you sitting on a chair.
If you're dying to stand up and want to use a strap, take your guitar
to the music store and ask to have a couple of strap buttons installed.
Do I need picks?
Most guitar teachers will want you to learn with a pick. This is
because it makes strumming easier, teaches you to coordinate your left
and right hands together, and makes it easier to play individual
strings.
Picks come in an incredible number of sizes, thicknesses, and materials, and every one has a different feel and sound. Most are made of some sort of plastic. A medium-hard or hard pick will likely be your main pick for now, although as you develop as a player, you may want to experiment with different thicknesses (thinner picks for softer rhythm playing, harder picks for speed playing, etc.).
What about 12-string guitars?
Just about anyone who's ever heard a 12-string guitar likes its rich
sound that can seem almost like two guitars playing at once, and you
might think that it would be a good instrument to start playing. You
should forget about playing a 12-string guitar until you have six
strings under control, though. Playing a 12-string requires a lot more
finger strength than a 6-string because it has two strings for every
one on a 6-string. It also takes more time to tune a 12-string, and
requires more expensive sets of strings. The sound of a 12-string is
great. The good news is that you can bring all you know from your
6-string to a 12-string--once you're ready, of course.
Care and upkeep of your instrument
There isn't much to taking care of an acoustic guitar. On a day-to-day
basis, you should wipe the strings with a clean cloth after you play,
just to remove some of the sweat and acids your hands leave on them
(this will make them sound better for a longer time). Every so
often--depending on how much you play--you will have to change the
strings (usually $4.00 to $10.00). Some guitar companies recommend
cleaning and polishing the guitar with something that they make. This
is optional. However, never use furniture cleaner/polish, because this
can build up on the finish and look hazy. Never leave your guitar in an
extremely hot or cold place (garage in the winter, car's trunk in the
summer, etc.), because this can cause the guitar to undergo all sorts
of stress. Many manufacturers of acoustic guitars recommend that you
buy a humidifier to place in the guitar's soundhole when it's stored in
its case. A humidifier usually costs less than $20 and can keep the
wood from drying out in the winter, which prevents cracking and
loosening of internal parts of the guitar.
'Played until my fingers bled...'
You'll get more blisters and hand cramps from playing video games than from playing guitar. If you practice properly and not too long at a time, you will develop some calluses on your fingertips that will make it possible for you to play longer, and these will keep you from getting blisters. You'll be surprised how quickly you develop calluses, and you may actually never get blisters. Usually, you get blisters because you're overdoing it.