((((SCRATCHING D.J'S))))

When I scratch it seems to sound real sloppy, I was wondering if any D.Js had any advice on scratching? Could it be my needles? I really don't think that's it. Does anyone have any techniques for scratching? Thanks!!

when you watch djs scratch it looks like they're more focused on moving the fader, but dont let it fool you, learn different ways to move the record first, then incorporate fader scratching.
also watch dj qbert's do it yourself video, it's abut the best instructional video for scratching.

i hope this can help. find a beat that is kinda fast. there are tons of battle weapons or just a fast rap track inst. will do. it seems easier to learn to scratch to faster tracks. just make it a routine to use the same track and samples at least once a day. at the very least it will give you an easy way to gauge your progress. if you go jumping from track to track w/ all different samples you might find some creative shiz but your not helping the learning process much. if your mixer has curve control sharpen that ish up. drop the wieghts on the tone arms, find a long sample, turn off the phone, and get after it. try to minimize the distance the fader moves, it will make the cuts more crisp. it will sound sloppy or whatever and then suddenly a week later you will be learning the crab scratch. there is a strange learning curve w/ scratching. if you practice hard you will find that the basics are pretty simple to master. now beat juggling is another story, practice for weeks and you will not be dj craze jr. in my opinion basic juggling routines are much harder than basic scratch routines. but learn to walk before you run....i am not an expert but i hope this helps a bit. oh yeah tanamo is onto something w/ his suggestions too.
peace.

I think on of the most important things I try to do when I scratch is to get my timing right. Hip hop is written in 4/4 time. That means 4 beats to four bars. Count 1-2-3-4-2-2-3-4-3-2-3-4-4-2-3-4 to a beat when you scratch. You need to think of scratchin as a percussiony sound. You should try to start a scrach on a one and end on a four. Either for 1 bar or 8. Try to keep a rhythm. It helps in the begining to slow the pitch of a beat down so you can keep with it. Faster beats require stronger fader movements like crabs and two-click flares and transform. The best advice is to scratch daily and practice a new scratch only when you master one. Then try to incorparate them together to the beat. Also you should learn about syncopation, playin on the off beat. Scratchin is an instrument that takes years to master. If you keep drilling yourself you'll get better. It took me about a year just to play decent now like 2 years into it, I can do flares and crab mad easy. When you scratch try to do like the rub your head and your belly ish. Your record hand should be doing not be with the fader hand. It should kinda be doin its own thing. That is the most important thing in scratchin. Record movement. Fader comes after you can rock babys and rubs. Then cuttin and tears, then transforms to crabs to triple click flares and orbits. Just takes time. this might help
http://www.pssl.com/bitemdetail.tpl?eqi ... 1418425707
Good video. It has multiple cam angles so you can see whats up

http://www.music44.com/Merchant2/mercha ... e=08BERKGD
This is phat because it shows you how to scratch with a music staff
You can learn timing from this.

Hope this helps

dj forums, either post or check the tutorials www.djforums.com

Now I havent had my DJ mixer setup in forever (the room simply does not have space) but I want to eventually setup a little scratching/mixing area when I can clear some space in the basement. Have all my production goods up here and get at least one nice torquey table for the basement setup, record mixes and scratches over beats I've done and ship it all around on a lan here. (which I of course dont have the cash for as of yet haha)

Question is, back when I was scratching, I could never pull off crabs. I couldn't get that "bounce between the thumb and other fingers" to work ever. I can do just about any other basic scratch but that crazy fader movement.

Anyone in the N VA/MD/DC Metro area messes with turntablism and production get at me, I could use you on some tracks even if your not up for edumicating me.

Peace,
-tank.

The way I learned how to crab is just slowy get the movement done.
Like start with your pinkie and hit the fader open then move to ring .. etc...
when you get to the index send the fader to the middle.
Just go through the movements slowy and make sure your cuttin off the sound, speed will come later. And I mean slowy go through it. Do it till your hand cramps. Also when your not scratchin pratice the movements with your fingers touching your thumb. Try to get the even slide movement and pretend your thumbs on the fader. This thing here is a good way to practice and build strengh
http://www.zzounds.com/item--PTWGMM
also you should cop
Contact/Control Cleaner & Lubricant from Radio Shack and give a squirt into all your faders
It makes your fader move and stops em from bleeding sound
And one last thing go buy new slipmats and some wax paper. Cut a slipmat out of wax paper than put it under your new slipmat.

binger0 wrote:The way I learned how to crab is just slowy get the movement done.
Like start with your pinkie and hit the fader open then move to ring .. etc...
when you get to the index send the fader to the middle.
Just go through the movements slowy and make sure your cuttin off the sound, speed will come later. And I mean slowy go through it. Do it till your hand cramps. Also when your not scratchin pratice the movements with your fingers touching your thumb. Try to get the even slide movement and pretend your thumbs on the fader. This thing here is a good way to practice and build strengh
http://www.zzounds.com/item--PTWGMM
also you should cop
Contact/Control Cleaner & Lubricant from Radio Shack and give a squirt into all your faders
It makes your fader move and stops em from bleeding sound
And one last thing go buy new slipmats and some wax paper. Cut a slipmat out of wax paper than put it under your new slipmat.

thats the best way anybody has ever put it
instead of buying wax paper u can just use the clear inserts some records have in em

I like butterrugs alot. You can get them at Fatbeats if your by the Manhattan, also turntablelab.com. One side is felt the other is like wax paper.
http://www.turntablelab.com/index1.html

How high or low are you tables? If they are too low then this can cause skipping if you do not have a good technique yet. Also don't pay attention to needless scratch jargon- i.e does it really matter if its a 1or 2 click flare- if it sounds good and you can work it in do it. Practice daily if possible, once you stop it takes a few hours of solid scratching to return to you r previous level (for me anyway). Figure out what to set your tower/weights @. I set my towers to 3 and turn the weight around and pull it back slightly (so it doesn't completely burn out the vinyl- just some suggestions hope it helps- peace

scratch jargon is confusing