when you get more comfortable with mel or python. start learning from reading other peoples code. thats how i started. Definitely study the mel/python command documentation.
Mel is a dead end, nobody serious uses it unless they absolutely have to. Start learning python and for the love of all that is good use pymel wherever possible. You can find simple examples for most common activities by simply googling - the hard bit is navigating maya's guts
Are there some good tutorials you know of for beginners of Maya and 3D software scripting (3ds Max for 3 years and Modo for 4). I just want to be able to create hotkeys for simple things like toggling between Marquee and Drag functions in the select tool or switching between Pinch/Slide/Segments in the connect tool.