The strumming rhythm was my biggest question and bugbear when I first started, at first I started trying to emulate perfectly any song I was learning by following a DDUDU pattern etc. I soon found that I was making a mess of things trying to concentrate to much on nailing the rhythm and lost the chords or the tempo.
After that frustration I then adapted a strumming pattern that I already knew to the song I was learning. I found that helped me loads and kept me interested, the only downside that it was not as perfect like the orginal but it was good enough for my ear.
Now I do not even concider the strum pattern when I look at a new song, I dont know why but within a minute or two of messing around I usually nail the pattern. I guess it is one of those things that happen with practice, it might not emulate the song perfectly but it works.
I think I now have between 5 and 8 4/4 time paterns and 3 or 4 3/4 time and even a 2/4 pattern that with a little adjustment fit most things I want to play.
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