[AX7221]

The strumming pattern strickly refers to your right hand (strumming hand for any lefties out there). You can do whatever you want with your fretting hand. I made an mp3 where I did the full pattern twice with C then did it two more times, once with Am and Dm, and the second with Am and F. But first I wanna talk about the notation, you have:
D___D__u_ud__udu

In 4/4 time that might mean:

1_-_2_-_3_-_4_-_1_-_2_-_3_-_4_-_1_-_2_-_3_-_4_-_
D___D__u_ud__uduD___D__u_ud__uduD___D__u_ud__udu


But when I played it repeatly, the second D sounded strong to me, so I notated it this way (with respect to when I change chords).


____1_-_2_-_3_-_4_-_1_-_2_-_3_-_4_-_1_-_2_-_3_-_
D___D__u_ud__uduD___D__u_ud__uduD___D__u_ud__udu



So now the 1 of each measure is the strongest note of the measure, and I was able to play it much more easily.

To show you what I mean I made an mp3 of just a C chord and faded it in to make the beginning of the pattern impossible to hear.

What I did here is i put in a pickup note before it starts, I have 1 beat for pickup notes, and a measure at the end with 3 beats, so 1+3=4 so that checks out. I played it twice through on C, then Am and I switched midway through and played Dm, but I didn't swich on a beat, I switched after the second beat of the measure, why? for entirely unacademic reasons, taste. Same switch for the other one, meaning its just a matter of preference.

Also, I stuck to the be strumming pattern, but I don't like to do that, I do that when I learn a new one, but once I start using it I like to mix it up and try out different variations and play how I feel, like I'll varry the strumming to create more tension, to accentuate certain stuff, and practice playing with feeling.