What should I first start with when learning visual basic as a beginner? What are the basics?

- Learn the controls and their properties.

- Learn their functionality

- Implement them and see how they work

- Do a small project.

Search the web for "visual basic basics"

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa263524(v=vs.60).aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/xk24xdbe(v=vs.90).aspx

Regardless of the language i suggest you bickup  some book about programming with that language , one that is for beginners and requires no prior experience

Now Iam not a Visual basic programmer , but i think this book will be good enough for you Beginning Visual Basic2012 , by Bryan Newsome , I've read thier similar book on C# and also the reviews on amazon looks good

Hint : To choose some book regarding some subject or language i advice you to go to amazon.com , search for the subject , find books with high ratings , read the reviews on it to decide is it good for you or not

Good luck & Best regards :)