First Steps
One of the questions that comes up the most often with beginners is "What kind of Guitar should I (or my son/daughter) get?"
The truth is, there is no right answer that works for everyone. If the goal of the student in question is to play songs by his/her favorite bands, an electric is a good bet. If the goal is quieter or more introspective, an acoustic might be best. If one wishes to learn classical guitar, go with a nylon string acoustic. If bluegrass, folk, or blues, perhaps a steel string.
All that really changes from one style of guitar to the next is timbre (tone color), and it's usually best to go with a guitar that will match ones timbral needs!