After reading through this thread I am wondering maybe there should be a Beginners and an Advanced Help for Pickers Tips.
I went back to an old thread of Rick's 'Music Teaching Tips....again'. And there is some really important information in there that I feel would be helpful for beginner. Maybe 'Picker Tips' does not encompass teaching tips, but for a novice, I think it would essential.
Here is an example:
Rick's first posting on Music Teaching Tips........
If you're a rank beginner and learning on your own, grab a clock with a second hand, and time yourself while running through your chords. (this works best if your "game oriented". For example: If you're learning C,F, and G7 see how long it takes you to strum once per chord. If it takes, oh say, 15 seconds to complete the three, try for 14 next time, then 13 etc. If self-competition is not your thing, don't mess with this, but I've seen it work very well with some."

I know Peter T. mentioned in one of his earlier postings on this thread how he wished he had learned about keys and how most songs have a I-IV-V7 format (or the equivalent) and that there are natural minors.
Maybe it would helpful if there was a Permathread for beginners where some basic teaching tips are given.
Then again, maybe I am talking about Utopia.

Bonnie