another basic css question

You're almost there. I added this to your theme's stylesheet:

[css]
body .gform_wrapper form select {
    background-color:#252C3F;
    color: #FFFFFF;
    font-size:13px;
    line-height:20px;
}

body .gform_wrapper form textarea {
    background-color:#252C3F;
    color: #FFFFFF;
    font-size:13px;
    line-height:20px;
}

And those two fields went from black to blue. I added the font color to ensure we're not relying on a default color somewhere.

There are a couple ways to ensure your CSS rules win:

1. make your rule more specific than any other rule. Here is a good article on CSS specificity (albeit a little old now): http://css-tricks.com/specifics-on-css-specificity/

2. go nuclear with the !iimportant declaration. Adding that ensures that this rule is applied after all other CSS rules. Reference http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/2010/11/02/the-important-css-declaration-how-and-when-to-use-it/

As always, we're happy to help you make it work if you post a link to your form, as you've done here. Thank you.

[edit] - I added my response before you changed the question. Here is the text of the original question for reference:

I have read through numerous posts and most of the css answers are very specific to the persons website and I have added the suggested css I can find that is relevant, but still can't change several input boxes. Yes, I am very disappointed there isn't a global control for color changes, etc., but I, like many, are not very good with being able to figure out what to put where. Everyone says to use firebug to target the css...

ok...peachy... that's of no help to me. I can put the little pointer in firebug on what I want to target, but then what. Actually I often figure it out with extensive trial and error - but can't with gforms.

I currently have this in my css (stolen from somebody else's post):

[css]
.gform_wrapper input[type="text"],.gform_wrapper input[type="url"],.gform_wrapper input[type="email"],.gform_wrapper input[type="tel"],.gform_wrapper input[type="number"],.gform_wrapper input[type="password"],.gform_wrapper input[type="select"],.gform_wrapper input[type="logo"] {
	background-color:#252C3F;
	font-size:13px;
	height:20px;
}

But his has no effect on the state drop down menu and the paragraph text boxes. I have tried everything I can find with firebug, including the "input_1_2_6" but am now at a loss.

Any suggestions?

http://pipronet.com/contact/registration-form/