1. Choose the right guitar: Before starting, it’s essential to choose the right guitar for you. Acoustic or electric? Consider your musical interests and budget when making this decision.

2. Learn the parts of the guitar: Familiarize yourself with the different parts of the guitar, such as the body, neck, head, strings, and frets.

3. Hold the guitar correctly: Sit comfortably with your back straight. Place your guitar on your thigh, and make sure its neck is parallel to the floor.

4. Fretting hand position: Place your fretting hand (left hand for right-handed players) on the neck to press down notes. Keep your fingers close to the frets for better sound quality.

5. Strumming hand position: To play chords or strum, hold a pick or a plectrum between your thumb and index finger in your strumming hand (right hand for right-handed players).

6. Learn some basic chords: Start by learning open chords such as G major, C major, D major, A major, E major, A minor, E minor, and B minor.

7. Develop good finger strength and muscle memory: To be able to switch between chords quickly and smoothly, practice transitioning between different chord positions regularly.

8. Master basic strumming patterns: Experiment with various strumming patterns like downstrokes (hitting all strings in a downward motion) or alternating downstrokes and upstrokes (moving your hand up after a downstroke and hitting strings again).

9. Begin learning some scales: Scales are sequences of notes that provide a structure for playing melodies and solos. The most common scale in western music is the major scale, followed by the natural minor scale.

10. Practice playing songs: Choose some simple songs you enjoy and learn their chords and transitions. Playing along with backing tracks or other musicians can improve your skills.

11. Learn basic music theory: Understanding the foundations of music theory can help with chord progressions, song composition, and improvisation. Some important concepts include key signatures, time signatures, and different musical intervals.

12. Develop proper technique: Focus on improving your technique while playing scales, chords, and exercises. This will lead to more consistent and smoother playing.

13. Challenge yourself with new techniques: Once comfortable with the basics, try and learn advanced techniques such as barre chords, fingerstyle guitar, alternate picking, and slide guitar.

14. Practice regularly: There’s no substitute for practice. Consistent practice will help you become a better guitar player over time. Set realistic goals, invest some dedicated time daily or weekly, and enjoy the learning process.