docash, I have one suggestion for you regarding the picking. Try making sure that your pick is not hitting the strings at a 90 degree angle, but turn it and see if it helps if you have your pick at 45 degrees to the strings. I hold my pick with my thumb and the side of my first finger. Give it a shot. By the way, I don't understand that picking pattern either, and I actually dont use it. I simplify it by using DD U D U and thats all. Also something similar is D U D U D change chord D U D U D. As long as you have the tempo of the song correct, it works. Thanks. Hope this helps.