Strumming is all about feel. As soon as you lock yourself into a down up down up "pattern" you become mechanical and the song draws cold. I'm assuming you're playing acoustic, so listen to Bobby D play knockin on heavens door, and try to strum along so it sounds the same. Feel it out. Both of those songs (assuming again you're playing an acoustic) have short G chords to start the progression. Use a click or tap your foot as your starting out to keep time, but realize that the strum IS NOT a beat. Don't think about strumming like down 1 up 2 down 3 up 4.... Every song is going to be different. A lot of songs have a (or work with) the "pattern" of ddu udu udu udu.
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