Make's inimitable Collin Cunningham made this video to show how to use a digital multimeter.
The ability to test resistance, voltage, current & continuity are vital to any electronics maker – even the freshest of newbies. In fact, having a reliable multimeter on hand is a huge help when learning the basics. Even before understanding what each value means, you'll be able to establish reference points for applying each new concepts and troubleshooting experiments.