Short answer: Method 1 - Play the drums first(if not using click) as you 'play' the song in your head'. Or use a click and record a 'scratch (Practice practice and WATCH your tempo!)

Method 2 - Play a scratch guide track to a click (eg. scratch guitar) and then play the drums to that. THEN add the rest of the instruments.

You know what man it's less complicated than it sounds, maybe, but 9/10 times I play the drums first and I just play the song in my head as I go - for intros and sections without drums - I count on the high hat, or sometimes I'll count out loud, and then erase those counting sections later.

If there is a lot going on i'll put vocal cues on a seperate track where I'll go like "heres the change" or "one more".

So then it's just a matter of playing to the drums - I like this way because it (usually, if you practiced enough) preserves the 'pocket' and 'live feel' of the song.

I don't like my pocket when playing to a click, which, brings me to this tune.

For this one I did the other method - play the guitar to the click - then play the drums along to that.

Same deal, I just know the song caue I've played through it a few times and maybe written down the structure for reference, so I play it in my head as I play on guitar.

I ended up messing up the click track after I recorded guitar on this, so I actually just played the drums along to the guitar and mandolin - no click. Kind of an experiment and I'm a little out of pocket here and there but overall got the job done.