What tuning did Elliot Smith use?
For most of the songs he would use standard D tuning (one tone down). For some other songs such as Ballad of Big Nothing or Independence Day he would use the open C tuning, where open chords sound as a C chord by default. Also he had some songs in standard E tuning.
How do you strum like Elliott Smith?
Use your thumb to hit the bass and your index finger to strum up and your thumb to strum down.