Thanks, John and jn. Your posts make a lot of sense. I was already able to read tabs a bit (just scales, and Happy Birthday), but this practice was definitely helpful. I also know some of the chords - I was using some free online video lessons but got to feel that I wasn't progressing as I would like to and I came across Guitar Tricks. It has a very different approach from the videos I was using - they really focussed on chords and using the chords to play songs. I think this approach, learning to play individual notes, is a good thing for, as jn said, getting one's fingers to work properly. On the other hand, on the other videos, the F chord is kind of put off for a long time. And I can see why!

I'm kind of an older learner too - just turned 60- and am loving it and wishing I'd started 45 years ago. I'm doing OK with most of it, but one skill that has really deteriorated is my ability to memorize things - if I had to wait for that I'd move VERY slowly LOL.