I have been practicing with a guitar book ever since I bought my guitar on saturday. It was a struggle just to tune it, and more of a struggle to pick up the really basic concepts of reading the music. I wanted to know if anyone knew a good instructional book for the fundamentals, my book is good, but it assumes you know a little, and where I am, I know nothing.

Also, my roommate brought home some cords to play a few songs, and many of the cords it felt I physically COULD NOT do, let alone do in the middle of a song. Are there any tips for holding the guitar or anything? I'm using my finger tips to try these cords, and there's always one string being pressed wrong.