re: Guitarists of the OT

My first guitar that I learned to play on was a Martin Sigma. Then I purchased an Ibanez acoustic, which was ok for a little while. About 10 years ago I got a Martin D-35. That guitar is unbelievable. I've always heard Yamaha makes a great beginner acoustic but I've personally never played one.

I've been playing a Takimine at the local music store that sells for around $700, and it sounds and plays great.

Maybe try checking out some local guitar shops and see what they have. If you get something that's dirt cheap and hard to play it will make it harder to learn and less enjoyable to play.

"The Guitar Handbook" is an excellent book and has a great chord dictionary. It's just an enjoyable book to read too. It covers the history of the guitar and different manufacturers. Just a great book. Start by learning chords, especially G,C,D,E, and A. You would not believe how many popular songs use G,C,D.

Good luck on your journey!