Counting- musically speaking- is harder for some folks than others, for sure. You hear the term “natural rhythm” and what that really refers to is a person’s innate ability to count, if you get right down to it. Some people have more natural rhythmic ability that others but anybody can improve their ability to count a rhythm!
It amazes me how often students have to be reminded to tap their foot while playing. When you play guitar, you play with your whole body, right? Your hands, your head, your heart and your feet are- or should be- engaged. Tapping your foot while playing is a simple way to start thinking (and playing) more rhythmically.
Consider tapping and hand or foot to music any time you can! In the car (please be safe), while you’re watching Netflix (a great exercise, tapping to the rhythm of commercial music) and really, any time you hear any music. Try to find the beat!
There are there natural rhythms you can count to as well. This may seem a bit weird but for example, let’s say you are in the airport, strolling towards your gate. Your walking pace has a natural rhythm to it and you can start counting 1/2/3/4 in your head as you walk, or 1 & 2 & 2 & 4 & with each foot contact being a number and your stride as the “and”. Check out how that count changes when you realize you’re a quarter mile from your gate and your plane’s about to leave…
Or, another example- even something as mundane as putting away the silverware. A handful of unsorted cutlery is a counting opportunity so do it rhythmically! “knife, knife, fork fork spoon!”
Disclaimer: if you count out loud in public you may invite unwanted attention. Some people will think you are special because they realize you are working on thinking more rhythmically and some people, well, they will just think you are special. :-)
Being aware of the measured passage of time is necessary for good guitar playing.
It is something that we can improve with careful practice… and that will improve our guitar playing too!