acoustic guitar or classical guitar?

I'm sure you know that classical guitars are acoustic as everyone keeps harping on, so I'll just try to answer your question:

I would suggest you begin learning to play on a nylon string classical guitar. This will require that you learn to read standard musical notation, learn the notes over the entire fretboard, and gain a solid understanding of music theory, chord theory, arpeggios, and so many other fundamental guitar skills that should apply to any style of music.

Unfortunately, a lot of the guitarists who answer questions on here are people who have gone out and bought a steel string acoustic guitar, learned a few chords and consider themselves masters at the guitar. Some guy actually said on here the other day that it takes about 6 months to master the guitar! I actually play classical guitar, country, rock, blues, and jazz and can tell you that a classically trained guitarist can generally transition to other styles much more easily than a self-taught metal shredder who never learned music theory or how to read music can go to playing classical guitar.

If you didn't like classical guitar and only wanted to play pop songs, my advice would be different and I'd advise you to get a steel string acoustic guitar, but based on what you said I think classical is the way to start out.

Bravo, to On The Rock.

I've been harping about (giving cause and reason) the classical guitar as you (Rock) have, since starting here just over a year ago. And I as well, started with a classical, learned by instructions for a time and went on to conquer all others over the decades and discovered the playing styles possible.

It isn't fair to push just one kind of guitar, or one style of playing, of such a versatile and expressive instrument(s) as we all can appreciate and have come to enjoy as players ourselves.

The guitars are as different as comparing sports cars to trucks to RVs. You come to have the ability to handle these vehicles and enjoy what each can do in where you plan to go, on a certain road, made for it and where you are going. And many, will settle for just a comfortable sedan.

And yes, the difference can mean that variety, but achieving the knowledge and abilities to perform most anything, on any guitar.

Classical guitars have nylon strings and any regular old acoustic could have either nylon or steel. Although classical guiatrs are mainly made for that fingerstyle picking it dosent necessaraly mean it must be played like that. Ive seen people playing pop tunes on a classical guitar(with pick in hand) or others playing that classical fingerstyle on a steel string acoustic. Really it all depends on the sound you want. I personally would go with a classical guitar becuase nylon is easy on the fingers and i love the sound it makes...but thats just me.

That's just a silly question: are you serious? A classical guitar IS acoustic!

definately acoustic. i started on acoustic and its easier to switch from there cuz the classical guitar has a fatter neck and ur fingers will already be stretched out enough

maybe you should have a go at both of them and after a while, see what one you prefer then go with that one.