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Originally Posted by strings  My first goal is to learn how to play chords and then probably move on from there. |
Good idea.
Practise chords to the left of E3, but also try to play some simple melodies with your right hand.
Stay in C Major/A Minor the first year (white keys only, though A Minor in particular may take you abroad for a few trips); do at least a few scales every day (doesn't have to take long, but get the fingering right), and learn to read music from the start.
Find a teacher, or get a bunch of books and pick what seems to be the best exercises.
May sound like a lot of work, but one well structured hour a day will get you a long way.