[Daddy]

Getting pro help is generally recommended for the first few months, depending on how much you care/money you have.

Seriously, keep at it. Don't think it's ever too late to start playing guitar - despite what naysayers call. But, I'm going to have to be honest. I didn't go around saying I played guitar for quite awhile. The social view on guitarists is "If you aren't ****ing amazing, you shouldn't hold a guitar" - sad but mostly true.

I'm going to have to disagree with Chez, though. Trying work out songs by listening to them just as you start out is a bad idea. You learn nothing from it.

Sure, you will eventually develop your own method of playing that way. Let me emphasize eventually for you - it'd take you well over 4 years to get to the level of playing I do compared to simply getting someone to show you the ropes.

If you're looking to compose stuff - really get stuck into theory. Start out on a piano like I did, then eventually everything will just 'click' with guitar theory.

As for songs to start with...Well, I went through 'stretch' kinds of exercises to begin with (yeah...running 'finger gauntlets' up and down the fretboard with the metronome set to 234095603460bpm got my fingers going real fast. Not that speed is incredibly important, but it sure is handy for stamina)..But, I'm guessing you wouldn't have the same mindset I have (I play for 6-7 hours on week-days, 8-9 on weekends) so..Simple songs...If you can bare it, do REM's "Everybody Hurts". Real simple - just an open D chord, open G and open A (probably an open E there too) arrpeggiated (where each note in a chord is individually picked rather than strummed).

Once you've been playing awhile and are curious about things on the guitar (hardware, specifically), check out the Guitar FAQ in this forum. Its not quite complete yet, but it should pique your interest somewhat.