I can't seem to select faces and edges? I'm following this tutorial to get started with blender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp1sH6Cm1ww

When I try selecting an edge or a face, the program does not let me. However, I can select vertices, and I can, by result, select edges and face by Ctrl+clicking other vertices, but this is very inefficient and annoying. 

Does anyone know a solution?
In edit mode you can change selection modes by pressing ctrl tab. Or just clicking this button in the 3D view header.

To select edges you want edge select mode.

To use more then one selection mode at a time, shift LMB  on ether the buttons in the 3D header or the ctrl tab menu.