A good beginner approach is a mix of guided learning and experimentation.

Start by learning the basics behind the tools: white balance, exposure, contrast/tonality, and sharpening. Once you understand what those concepts do to an image, the sliders in Lightroom or similar software will make much more sense.

Then use tutorials or books to give structure to your learning. Free videos on YouTube can help, and more formal courses can be useful if you prefer step-by-step instruction. This is often easier than trying to guess what every slider does.

That said, don’t avoid “playing.” Experimenting with adjustments is a great way to build intuition, especially if you make one change at a time and watch the result.

Also consider whether Lightroom-style software fits your needs. Programs like Lightroom and Aperture are designed for efficient workflow and organizing/editing lots of images. If you already know Photoshop well and don’t need that workflow, you may not gain as much from them.

So: learn core photo concepts first, use tutorials for direction, and experiment to reinforce what you learn.