Thanks for all the input everyone
. I'll start with acoustic then buy an electric later on. Hows the transition from acoustic to electric and vise/versa?
Is learning electric guitar really that much harder for beginners than acoustic?
I don't think it's a case of being harder, however people have the mentality that electric guitars are "cooler" and they just want to start jamming straight away, which leads to bad habits, poor technique and so on. Buying an acoustic guitar is I would hypothesise a way of forcing yourself to actually learn properly.
Electric guitar technique is in some cases easier I believe, because as someone mentioned earlier the strings are easier to bend, the action (distance between strings and fretboard) is lower/closer, and you can make electrics sound like you want them to if you have the gear. The question you should be asking is not what is easier, but what is better.
In the case of nylon stringed classical acoustic guitars, the strings are nylon for treble and I think some kind of nickel plated for the bass strings. They're softer on your fingers and don't cut in as much, but on the other hand the action (again, distance from fretboard) is much higher so it can be harder to press down. This is actually a good thing because getting used to it makes your fingers stronger, which in turn helps you with accuracy, speed and so on. This is what I learned with and I don't regret it.
Steel-stringed acoustics sound a lot different and the action is a lot lower. They're maybe a little more expensive than cheap nylon-stringed ones. They're alright, but I honestly think a nylon-stringed acoustic is best for learning on for the aforementioned reasons and more.
If you can, try and learn to actually read music notation / sheet music. I regret not doing so. Guitarists have a habit of getting lazy and using what's called Tablature / Tabs, which are basically lines representing each string, and a number to represent which fret to press down. Again, this may be easier at first but it's not the best thing you can do for yourself. It's okay to start learning with but I'd recommend trying to make yourself read the actual music notation / notes as much as possible.
Get a teacher as well. You can get DVDs to learn with, you can get books to learn with, but ultimately the best way to learn is one on one with someone. Lessons shouldn't be more than $20 or so, and you only need to do them once or twice a week. Further, practicing for 20 minutes a day is better than practicing for an hour, all at once, per week. Set yourself a time to sit down with your guitar and just practice, first with a book and then maybe what you will be taught if you get a teacher.
Lastly, LEARN CLEANING HABITS. My first two guitars are in desperate need of refurbishment because I didn't know how to clean, maintain or just look after my guitars in general when I first started learning. The fretboards are ruined and ingrained with dirt/filth, the bridge on my old electric is quite rusted and in poor condition, and the notes are a little off from poor bridge adjustment and possibly even slight warping of the neck.
You can get cleaning supplies like cloths, oils etc. from any music store, however the best way to learn what to do is go in and ask them to explain or even show you. A teacher should be able to do this for you as well.
The actual transition from acoustic to electric takes some getting used to. As previously mentioned, the action on electrics is lower, i.e. the strings are closer to the fretboard, so you need to apply less strength. Second, the strings on an electric guitar are actually closer together, so at first you will probably hit the wrong frets or miss the string. Third, electric guitars are heavier, and it takes some time getting used to their design, not to mention the equipment (the most basic of which will be your amplifier). It doesn't take too long to get used to; I was playing my electric generally at the same level as acoustic within a week when I switched.
One problem is electrics require a different level of maintenance due to the amount of metal parts; the strings, and even the pickups, bridge, etc. can rust if you're not careful and particularly if they're cheap or poorly made. I live near the ocean where there's lots of salt and such in the air which accelerates rusting, so for me it's a real problem.
