Hi Matt,

While that sounds frustrating I will tell you it is not an unusual problem for people starting out - trying to coordinate the rhythm, chord changes, and the pace and design of the song. 

Your practice process sounds like a really good plan to me - practicing elements by themselves before trying to put them all together. 

The trick is getting it all to hold together when you play it up to speed. Is there any way of slowing down the play-along? 

i also like William’s suggestion of picking a particular small part of the song and focusing on that in isolation for a bit. 

You are doing all the right things - I’d say keep at it, and one day you will find it is all beginning to hold together.

Have fun - Lisa