I consider myself a beginner too, started fishing bass with all kind of lures quite long ago but not so success. Until a recent year I just fish with one technique only "drop shot". Im getting a lot more success with this and gain more confident. I then learn more about other type like senko, texas and ned rig. Now I expand my technique to some hard bait like top water, crankbait and jerkbait.

t-rig ribbontail worm

spinnerbait

and frog

 

those 3 things can go a long way

 

One of the best bass lures to master first would be a Texas-rigged plastic worm.

 

Roger

Texas rigged (weighted and unweighted) senko and a wacky rigged senko, garrunteed to catch bass.  The Ned rig's a good choice as well.