The tab - just think of it like this:
------ high E
------
------
------
------
====== low E
the top is the bottom, the bottom is the top. screwy. i spent my first 5 months or so all screwed up, didn't know that tab was 'upside down'.
Smoke on the Water is the classic first song. I guess I should learn it someday too.
Anyway, good luck to you.
-Daniel