As a beginner I'd recommend rotating the compound and turn it down a few inches at a time then smooth the transitions with a file. It's a handle taper not a tapered fit.
For longer tapers offsetting the tailstock is easy but can take so patience to setup. Maybe this animation will help. You'll need to learn how to dial in your tail stock when finished... of course you'll need to learn that as I doubt the tail stock was dead on from the factory.
Alternatively you could buy or build and offset tailstock center. Google "royal offset live center" for the money is no object version.
[video=youtube;z3iYhKFPHKc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3iYhKFPHKc[/video]
