I'm thinking about learning to play the guitar... just wondered how hard it will be to learn,, :p

How old are you? It's much harder to learn things like this if you are older. I started playing guitar when I was about 9. What kind of guitar did you have in mind?

It's never too late to do something you really want to do! But it does take effort and concentration. But if you have a little talent and really want to do this, you can. Like Capuchin asked, what kind of guitar-style would you like to play? I've been playing for a Very long time and have always had a great time with it. Feel free to check out my profile.
David

It really depends on your own personal aptitude for it, but age does play a very significant factor. Obviously, the earlier the better. I didn't start playing 'til the age of seventeen, fairly late. This can make it considerably more difficult. But then again, if I'm not mistaken, Jimi Hendrix didn't get his first guitar 'til the age of sixteen, and was playing for Chuck Berry within a matter of years; well before he became famously known as a solo artist.
Things I would recommend... If you are at all serious, definitely invest in a moderately decent instrument. Nothing will impede your progress more than a poor quality instrument. My first guitar had a warped neck, making it very difficult to play in many regards. It was many years before I knew what a really good instrument felt and played like.
Also, I would recommend starting on an acoustic, unless you plan to play exclusively electric. Playing an acoustic is generally a bit more challenging, and a good way to develop hand and finger strength. Better yet would be to undergo classical training (nylon string), as they really emphasize proper hand position and technique. Randy Rhoads is an excellent example of someone with a strong classical background, who not much later ventured into rock.
Most of all, just have fun with it. You don't have to compete with anyone, and everyone progresses at their own pace. Good luck. Enjoy it.

I've found guitar easy to learn but hard to master. I agree with thomas I started with an acoustic (1 yr) and it made it so much easier when I got my electric. As with anything you get out what you put in.

I love my acoustic :)

It is harder than a jaw harp and easier than a violin.

But it will take time, and I do advise taking lessons so you learn to read music and learn to do it properly

Why is it that a new member posts something and then rarely seems to return... which in turn becomes a discussion forum amongst an amazing group of 'regulars'? Just a rhetorical question from a semi-sarcastic philosopher.
Now back to this Topic: While I am able to read music and have training in a number of instruments, I really believe telling someone (at this early stage) to look into learning to read music is a little too much. How about learning a few chords and being able to play along with the easier songs of personal choice might be better. We don't know what style of music this person is interested in or more importantly, what direction they are headed - eg: playing for personal enjoyment or maybe for their family vs. going on stage.
Never intending to be confrontational here... just offering an opinion...
David

It's never too late to learn something! You just have to put in your time, effort and patence

Lessons to read music is best method.
I was lazy and learned Tablature. The 6 lines represents each string. And number on that line represents that fret. I went to Ebay and found someone who had about 40 Pink Floyd
Songs written in tablature, with a VCR tape of someone playing the songs or parts slowed
Down and at normal speed. Have Guitar in Tune, Better quality may keep you from giving up. Bridge or intonation problems can make a good guitarist sound bad. This could discourage new student. Also practice scales, pick up speed. Get a good chord book.
Maybe learn a song like "House of the rising Sun". It is very easy and basic. Yet with practice, you can change techniques and make it Very Good. Keep it fun.

As a music educator, I can tell you that it simply takes time and dedication. You need to make sure that you understand that learning to play any instrument will take about a year for you to become comfortable with yourself and the instrument. My suggestion is to learn the chords first and then work into the traditional notation. Tabs are okay (it is easier to get sheet music off the internet) but are IN SOME WAYS actually more difficult to learn. It just depends on what kind of learner you are. Tabs are a pain for me for some reason. I can do it, but it becomes annoying.

The best way to learn a new instrument is to set aside 15 minutes a day to practice at the same time of the day. Do that for 25 days and it will become routine. You will then have the dedication instilled and you can bump up the number of minutes. If you sit down the first couple of days and play for three hours, then you will get burnt out and quit.

Try really old country and folk songs first and work your way forward. Those tend to be in like G, D, or C and are EXTREMELY repetitive. Repetition is key to muscle memory.

I could go on and on, but I will stop because I don't think that he will ever come back to read this.

All in all... tabs vs. traditional is just a preference.

I was trained by ear and then by notation on fiddle. I went through school being forced to both and I can say that it makes you a much better player. You all know what you are talking about. I never really stuck with tabs too much on guitar, but it was just because I didn't like them.

Natural ability, time invested in practice, whether you have a competent teacher,
Your tenacity persistence or lack thereof, tolerance for pain, [fingers get sore before calluses develop] are all factors which will affect progress. The first guitar I had was a cheap acoustic and the action [distance between fingerboard and strings] was so high that the strings dug through the calluses and still hurt my fingers. I persisted, yet I met a fellow once who quit when he felt finger pain. That's why it's very important to get a good guitar. One that has a reasonable gap between strings and fingerboard. Also, buy a guitar which fits your hands. I once met a fellow who said he could never play a guitar because each one of his fingers pressed two strings instead of one. It was true with the electrics we were playing. But it wasn't necessarily true of other guitars, such as the classicals, which have a wider neck. There is also the matter of using a pick or learning to finger-pick. Finger-picking opens up a whole range of music which is impossible to duplicate with a pick. To get the most out of your instrument learn both.

Start with simple tunes in order to learn the chords and train the fingers. These have to learn to work as team and will refuse at first. But little by little if you persist they will
Give in. One problem at first is the some fingers reach their positions before the others.
But that's natural. Hover your hand over the chords and practice having all the fingers reach their position simultaneously. Also, if a finger doesn't have to come off the fingerboard in order to form another chord don't move it off the fingerboard. Sometimes sliding the finger up the neck or down is all that is required. Taking the finger off unnecessarily will slow you down.

Nope! We're never going to hear from the original person again! Oh well...
I've got to agree about the quality of instrument - of course you shouldn't spend a ton of money just for a beginner who may quit in a week or two (my niece! Geesh!) but at Least make sure the person learning doesn't need a pair of pliers to get the strings pushed down to the fretboard.
Great answers from everyone...
Signing off from this Thread - it's time to fire up those twin Marshall stacks and rock the house...