Drew, I will be starting to work on your version of Cannon in D (C) soon. I will have a low G so it should sound good.
I have a question or observation or suggestion: when strumming down on the string you use the back of your fingers in a strum. I do that a lot, too, on different songs (eg latin rhythms). On this one, in the recording there is a lot of percussion happening when you do that. Did you consider just plucking p-i-m-a instead of strumming?
I may try that and let you know how it goes. I probably won’t get started for another month, though, but I am curious now.