It's fairly easy the way I teach people,if you've got the paitence,then you can play guitar. The first thing to do is to get a chord book,like Mel Bay or something famillar.Learn these four chords,G,C,D,and E minor.Now get a easy guitar book. Hal Leonard easy book for gospel is a exellent start. Start with the old style hymns,Amazing Grace,What a Freind we have in Jesus,I saw the Light and Power in the Blood and I'll fly away are good self teaching songs,if you know the old hymns! Make sure the guitar you choose is playable,this should be your first step. If you buy a new one,it should be ok,if it's used,let a tech or luithier check it out for you. Get a electronic tuner,these are worth the weight of gold when you first start out.Also get a capo,this is used to raise the pitch,or key of the song. I hoped this helped,you may not be a guitar slinger right off the bat,but it head you in the right dirrection. After you've got the chords and strumming part down,then you'll want to get into guitar theory,and a guitar teacher ! HAVE FUN!