Would you love to learn to play the acoustic guitar but don't know where to begin? Playing the guitar can be a wonderful hobby, one that could even turn into a profession.

There are several good reasons to learn acoustic guitar rather than the electric guitar first. It is quieter so you can practice just about anywhere, any time. It requires less maintenance and is more portable. It won't overpower your voice if you are singing along. And an acoustic guitar is relatively inexpensive.

So if you want to learn acoustic guitar here are three things you should know before you even get started.

First, you will want to find a guitar that feels comfortable and fits your budget. Don't spend a lot of money at this point regardless of how appealing you find having a beautiful, expensive guitar. You need to find out what type of guitar will be suit you and what your preferences will be. You can find a used guitar on sites like eBay or Craigslist. And you can sell your starter guitar on these same sites later when you are ready to move up. Also, get a handful of medium gauged guitar picks. Find a quiet place to practice and a comfortable stool or chair without arms.

Second, learn the parts of the guitar and get familiar with some basic guitar playing terms. It will help any lessons you take if you know guitar lingo!

Third, consider taking some sort of acoustic guitar instruction. You could take private acoustic guitar lessons. This can become quite expensive. This way also requires the largest time commitment. You will probably want to take at least 1-2 lessons per week. One of the benefits of having a regular lesson with an instructor is accountability. You will be less likely to put off practicing when you have to face him and pay good money for each lesson.

If you search the internet, you might find some free guitar music lessons. Generally in life, you get what you pay for. I'd be leery of these. They are generally disjointed and ultimately being offered because there is something on their site they want you to buy, anyway.

You could teach yourself guitar. And you could develop some bad habits that would be hard to break if you do. Your progress will be slower and you will face more frustration.

An idea that is becoming more popular is to learn to play acoustic guitar through a home study course. There are many excellent ones available. The best ones would be an acoustic guitar instructional DVD series or an online video course. Some of these are taught by world renowned guitarists. Think how much it would cost to have private instruction from this level of player! Some of these courses not only have video tutorials and jam along tracks, but even offer online support through emails or forums.

Another great thing I love about this type of acoustic guitar instruction is that you can take the lessons at your own pace, as fast or as slow as you want to go. You get to take them in the comfort of your own home. And you save a lot of money over what private instruction costs.

No matter what level of lessons you decide on, you will need to practice! Set aside about a half hour each day. You will have to learn how to hold the guitar properly, the parts of the guitar, how to hold the pick, and how to tune the guitar before you even play your first note.

So be patient! There are a few things you will need to learn and soon you can start strumming out the songs you love.