Learning to play the guitar can be a very confusing and frustrating process if you don't know where to begin. It seems that there are just so many resources out there pulling you all over the place and really just not leaving you with a good place to start.

Let's take a look at the different options you have available:

Private Guitar Instruction

This can be a great place for you from start to finish for beginner guitar lessons. You will definitely have all of your questions answered if you pick up a good instructor. The instructor will take you through your goals and he/she will ask you a few questions. What type of music are you interested in playing? Do you want to learn how to read music, tabs or just play a few songs? All of these can be accomplished finding a good private instructor. However, this method can be quite expensive over time, you may have to wait a week or so to get the answers you need now and the instructor you pick may not be an expert in the genre of music you're interested in. All in all it's a great place to start though.

Group Guitar Instruction

This is basically for the guitarist who just wants to get started with something cheap and learn a few chords and rhythm. The instructor will start the whole class out with the basic chords and hopefully they will get around to you if you have any specific questions. You will also learn a few songs and basically learn how to read chord charts and basic music notation. I would get a hold of your local community college for lessons. They can be the cheapest and easiest place to start for your beginner guitar lessons.

Online Guitar Instruction

This is where all the "buzz" has been lately. People are so used to using the internet now that it has just become second nature. Plus, you will be able to take the beginner guitar lessons whenever you want from the comfort of your own home. Also, you may have a faster or slower learning curve. With online guitar lessons you get to take your time and watch the available HD quality videos over and over again until you get it right. This is definitely the place to start and take more specific advanced guitar styles. Many of the lessons available today are top notch. However, there are quite a few out there that just don't make the cut. I'd look into some reviews to see which ones best fit.

DVD's & Guide Books Instruction

You better be self motivated for this one. Most people start by purchasing a guide book or DVD to learn how to play the guitar. I'm not talking about a DVD series. I'm talking about the single learning DVD. This will work for the self motivated individual. However, you may not get your questions answered, become frustrated and just plain give up. I would recommend picking up a book though. They're cheap and you will be able pick up a few things to help you get started when you pick up more advanced instruction rather than beginner guitar lessons.