I used to play, too. I had a few lessons, but never was that good. When I was waiting for the callouses to form I switched to nylon strings (folk music was my genre) and switched back and forth beween a guitar with steel and the nylon until I could play without pain. When you learn five or six chords, get a capo and you can play (basic strum or pick) and then go from there. Lessons are a good idea, though, or maybe a knowledgable friend who can teach you how to switch chords and strumming techniques. Even if you can't read music you can probably figure out chording (left hand) although it takes time to get the fingers to stretch to some unusual positions while holding the strings tight enough to get sound out of them. Practice, practice, practice.
Yup ... practice is the key ... I also taught myself to read as well ... out of necessity. I was always the one in the band responsible for learning the songs, so I would buy the record, take it home, and plug away. I slowly learned not only the chords, but how to build the chords, and what scales to play over them. Now I can tell what type of chord there is just by listening, all from being forced to write out charts for the bands all those years. It's obviously much more productive if you take lessons, but it's not impossible to become good by being self-taught, especially if you have the desire. The only time it became a problem was when I got to Berklee, because my proficiency was very high and was what got me accepted there, but as far as
note reading, (not chord charts), I had to start at the beginning. It was like starting over on one side, and yet I could go to jazz ensemble in the evening and play my butt off improvising. It was humbling to be able to play so well but yet have to start at the beginning with note-reading. That was the time I regretted not having taken lessons ... so if you can take lessons, I'd recommend it, just so your that much further ahead later on. It was embarrasing to have people hear how well I could play, then have them put a note chart in front of me and have to tell them I couldn't read it.
