Wow, my first post made it nearly an entire page before it went completely off topic. That was fast. Hilarious, but fast. Thanks for the warm welcome! I look forward to learning allot and asking a ton of questions.

Here's my first one. Do you guys recommend me getting some formal instruction at least for the first month or two? I'm not opposed to it, however, I have read the Hal Leonard 1 and 2 and my fundamentals (posture, fingering, and picking seem to be correct), according to those books.

Man, I tell ya, I am not doing this Alvarez any justice. It's 'a whole bunch of guitar' for my meager skills. hahahahaha