Not answering JJEC's question.....
I didn't start looking at tabs/charts until I was in my 2nd-3rd year of playing. I think not having those resources forced me to play all by ear which has served me very well. Now if I hear a song that I like, it's fairly easy for me to decipher. I would recommend learning by ear if you can.
So, Not the fastest/easiest way to learn, but very rewarding