Rhythm Training Starts Today

That's a tough one, bud. I don't have the best rhythm myself.  I tend to speed up and slow down all in the same song.  I think for the most part, I have gotten much better than I used to be.  I do know that it is just a matter of getting the strumming hand used to strumming without thinking.  If you think of the words to the song and think of strumming correctly at the same time, you will tend to get off beat much of the time. This is another matter of strumming until you are sick of it, then strum some more.  I also know that for some, to keep a beat is next to impossible.  I am one of those that can't hold a beat very well, but I have noticed with time and lots of practice, I have gotten a little better.  I also know that if you constantly think of strumming while you are doing it, you either mess up the strum or you screw up the singing.  It has to become a non thinking experience for you to do it consistently.  Maybe you should practice strumming while you are doing something else and always try not to think of the strumming.  I think the key here is to make strumming a reflex action, the same as fingering chords has become. I know I'm not much help, but I'm trying to get inside your head and look at it differently.

It might be easier to practice with a song you already know. You know what strum has to fit between chord changes and corresponding words, so start slow with the clicker and try to work it out. Hope that makes sense. I myself don't use a metronome so I could just be blowing hot air.

Nao

As close as we live to each other we should try to get together and play. I don't have the best rhythm either but I can usually work out a simple strumming pattern that makes the song recognizable. I can now sing (I use the word sing very loosely here) and play at the same time and I have even sung in front of people other than my family. I may be able to help you out with some of the things you are wanting to learn. I am kind of at a stand still where I continue to do the same things and I have been looking to work on fingerpicking and scales in order to progress in my playing.

The metronome is your best friend and your worst enemy at the same time and for the same reasons. 

Use it.  Learn to appreciate it.  It will make you a better player. 

- Zurf

Yes, by our calculations we live about twenty minutes apart which, in Atlanta, means an hour or so.

I have heard of alot of ballplayers that use them in sports practice.

Everytime I clap my lights turn off and on!