Learning Songs in the First and Second Strumming Patterns

In our first strumming pattern we do only a single downward stroke by the thumb. Now we are going to learn how to apply this on songs. In this lesson we use the 4/4 time signature wherein our counting is: "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and". The following song below requires you to maintain your timing while playing the song. You will only touch the strings on the numbered parts of the beat, 1,2,3,4 but be sure you maintain your counting. Practice your strumming pattern 1 in this song Love Me Tender. The moment the first chord applies that's when you will begin to count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" all in an eighth note count continuously. At the end of the song you will only strum a single downward stroke in a whole note time duration.

For our strumming pattern 2, we do a alternating downward and upward strokes. This means that in every part of the beat, your will touch the strings beginning with a downward stroke like this:
        1  and  2  and  3  and  4  and  -  (all in eighth note duration)
        D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U        D- downward (by thumb), U - upward ( by forefinger)
For our strumming lesson 2 here is the song: You Are My Sunshine