1. Determine your budget. As a beginner, try to keep your budget low. Around $200-$300 for any guitar. Used guitars are great as well, so check your local pawn shops and used dealers. Just because the guitar is expensive does not mean it is a good guitar, but also beware of guitars that are under $150, as some may be cheaply made.
  2. Research. Find someone close to you that has played guitar for a while. Ask them what brands and types of guitars to look for and which to avoid. For example, Fender, Taylor, Martin, and Gibson are very well-known high quality brands.
  3. Decide if you are going to play an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. It depends on the style you play.
  4. Shop. Have your guitar-playing friend go with you to several shops and stores to help you. As a beginner, your ear may not recognize subtle tone qualities that your friend will pick up and help you. This is probably one of the most important things you can do.
  5. Ask the clerk. Get a pick and a strap from the sales representative and ask him to show you guitars at the higher end of your price range.
  6. Have the clerk verify that the guitar is tuned to concert pitch or standard tuning. This will allow you to better compare this guitar with others.
  7. Feel. Try several guitars sitting and standing. If they don't seem natural to you, even slightly, they might be wrong for you. Try several guitars until you find one that feels good in your hands and on your body.
  8. Place your index finger directly behind the first fret on the fattest string (E6). The fret is the raised metal "line". Pluck the string with a decent amount of force. Listen for buzzes, pops, or odd noises. Check behind each fret on each string using a hard pressure. If you notice even the slightest bit of "non musical" noise, ask the salesman to adjust and re-tune the guitar. Check the guitar again, if the problem persists, don't get that guitar.
  9. Judge each guitar by feel, sound, and appeal.
  10. When purchasing: ask for a warranty, a new set of strings, a gig bag, and a tuner. As a new guitarist, you WILL need a gig bag and tuner, so it is wise to buy one. Most dealers leave the factory strings on the guitars for years, robbing them of bright tone, new strings resolve the problem nicely.
  11. If possible, try to get private guitar lessons. While books are great, they cannot teach you correct technique (the precise way to position fingers, hands, arms, back, and playing), only theory. If private lessons are not available, or are out of your price range, books can suffice. 
  12. Check these signature guitars at Guitar Emporium Online