Q: how does one achieve impeccable rhythm on an instrument? i notice that i sway either side of ahead or behind frequently
A: this may not be the answer you're expecting, and it certainly wasn't an answer that i ever expected, but i think it gets better with age. as you get older, you instinctively understand time better and better because you've experienced more of it. but if you don't feel like doing that then try playing with metronomes, and also listen to a lot of songs that were recorded on the grid, which is most songs after about 2000