I'm learning Tears in Heaven right now. I don't have a teacher. I can't read notes and play it on guitar, but I can read tabs, though. It's hard. Opinions?
I play guitar! Is this the first song you're learning? I've played for about a year and a half and I'm completely self-taught as well (from tabs, like you). Tears in Heaven is not that hard, but if it is the first song... I would learn something like Good Riddence first (by Green Day) because it has fingerpicking in it.
Of course, you could just stick at it. Learn the first 8 bars and practice them over and over and over again until you get it perfect, then move on to the next 8 bars, etc.
Nah, I've learned Stairway to Heaven. But it's easy as heck. I play more piano, that's why.