Rhythm isn’t one skill. It’s several skills stacked on top of each other, and most of us try to learn them all at once. That’s why timing can feel like a wall you keep hitting.

Break it into steps and it gets a lot more manageable. Here’s the order I’d work through.

Step 1: Find the pulse (can you clap or tap it?)

Put a metronome on at 60bpm and clap along. Once that feels solid, move the same clap onto a muted strum on your guitar, at the same speed.

That’s the pulse. Every song has one, and you need to feel it before anything else clicks into place. It should become a quiet, continuous presence at the back of your mind. Always.

Step 2: Build the rhythm

Pick one simple rhythm you’re working on and play it round in a cycle until it’s consistent, so you don’t need reminding of it.

Then play along with something that uses the same rhythm, so you can hear it and copy it. Think of it as stabilisers: you’re pattern-matching, not inventing anything yet.

If you need some inspiration here, this is a rhythm video I made a while back.

Step 3: Put the pulse and the rhythm together

Now bring the metronome back in, separately. Find the speed of the rhythm you’re playing (say 100bpm) and play your rhythm alongside the click.

You’re now holding two things in your head at once, the pulse and the rhythm, without losing either. This is what eventually lets you play with other people without getting left behind when the music starts.

Step 4: Add a drum groove

Swap the bare click for a drum groove. It’s richer and more textured, but it’s still keeping time underneath. Once you can hold your rhythm steady and start to feel the music, you’re properly on the road to flowing.

You can find drum tracks on YouTube. Type in the bpm (100bpm, say) and “drum track” and you’ll get a list of styles to try. Have fun with it.

Step 5: Play along with the song

If you’re learning a rhythm for a specific song, even better. This step has you playing along with the actual recording. If it’s too fast, an app like Moises will slow the music down for you. Don’t rush this step if you’re not ready.

When you are ready, it will help you develop feel, accents and dynamics. It also teaches you to stay rooted in your rhythm without being distracted by things like the lyrics.

Give each step its own practice time

Every one of these steps is worth its own practice time. Don’t rush them, and don’t assume it should be easy.

I’m building a short practice course, the first in a series, so you can just press play and practise. Launch: 2nd Jan 2027