What do you guys look for when going into record stores to s

I posted this in "Crate Diggers" but wasnt sure if anyone actually viewed those posts, so i'm gonna try here

I got my mpc about a month ago and I've gone to the record store a couple times since then. I'm very new to this and I'm 15 so honestly don't know much about the older stuff. I told the guy at the store I was trying to sample for hip hop beats and I explained to him like 6 times what I meant but he didnt seem to get it.

Last time I went I picked up a lot of old blues, folk, and some soul/motown stuff but have only sampled around 2 songs from the 15 records i bought. I'm just lookin for some cool sounds and don't really know how to look for them, any advice?

You can really sample anything! It all depends on preference.Try some jazz records.I don't sample a lot but if i do its usually something that grabs my attention like a jazz grove,piano lick,electronic sounds.

You can find alot of wax ripped to youtube vids..

try searching for classic breaks/breakbeats or whatever you like...

If you find some stuff that grabs your attention, go find the wax if you like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJlAop6S ... 3uUluocT4_

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbqG6h4J ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpWIggaX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND-iW51i ... re=related

One thing usually leads to the next... Possibilities are endless!

I did the same mistake when i started digging. I thought i would try and explain to the store clerk that i was looking for stuff to sample... didn't get any good answers out of him (and he's a well known producer himself here in switzerland... only works at the record store one day a week).

The thing is... i fully understand now after some time, that there is no good answer to such a question.

You gotta start somewhere and spend a lot of time listening to records. After some time, you will get a feeling for what you like. Don't try too hard to find good samples right away and rather focus on finding records you like to listen to. When you find songs that you really like, try and sample them. Get creative, try something new, etc.

When i look back, i'm glad nobody told me what i should look for. Instead of buying records that other people told me to buy, i built up a collection of records that i actually like, that fit my personal taste. Sampling from those results in samples that are according to my musical taste... so i feel like my beats are personal... a part of me... have my own style. If you know what i mean.

Nobody can tell you what samples you like, you have to find this out for yourself. So get busy listening to all kinds of records! And don't forget to have fun!

PS: Don't expect to get several beats / samples out of every record you buy instantly. Sometimes i buy a record and when i try to find a sample later on, there's nothing that grabs my attention. It can happen that i buy 10 records, and find one sample, or none. A year later i might go through the same records again... and find several dope samples that i didn't "hear" before.
I have about 1'000 records, and made maybe 100 beats from all of them. I still use them all when i'm looking for new samples... even the ones i put aside thinking "there's nothing i can use on this one". Finding samples is a result of hours and hours of listening to music, and it also depends on what mood you're in and other things... if you're ready, you'll hear it, sample it, chop it up and make a dope beat!

A rule in digging : Never tell the shopkeeper you're digging for Hip Hop.

Most of them hate the culture to begin with and think we defile THEIR classics. Also most don't know sh!t about Hip Hop and really can't help you. Plus if they see you new at digging they'll just milk your pockets for records you wouldn't even buy but you'll buy them because you don't know whats on them.

Buy records for the cover, if its really crazy and beyond sanity, chances are its got dope ish inside. Also check the year, most like the 70's, others the 80's, depends on what sound turns you on and at what era the sound reigned in. Like if you like the Hammond B3 sound then look for records made from 1965 to 1973 because thats when that sound was the sh!t.

Dig or Die B!tch.

that's real talk
for funk go with the 70's
also soundtrack got good isht to sample
and sample what you like to listen

jibber wrote:When i look back, i'm glad nobody told me what i should look for. Instead of buying records that other people told me to buy, i built up a collection of records that i actually like, that fit my personal taste. Sampling from those results in samples that are according to my musical taste... so i feel like my beats are personal... a part of me... have my own style. If you know what i mean.

i totally agree with this one, i only had my mpc for a few months now but what jibber said is usually right when it comes to music, not only mpc it`s the same when you look for sample to scratch n stuff

you could also listen to your fav producers for example, check out their samples, try finding the original songs, see how they sampled, what they did... but don`t copy :p

The fun part for me about going to a record store is finding stuff you don't expect. I try to not shop with a plan. It's kind of a random system. Sometimes I'll look for certain genres, how many/what kind of instruments are on a record, does it have breaks?, etc.

Irie-1 wrote:The fun part for me about going to a record store is finding stuff you don't expect. I try to not shop with a plan. It's kind of a random system. Sometimes I'll look for certain genres, how many/what kind of instruments are on a record, does it have breaks?, etc.

I agree with this! I go without any plan. I buy some off the wall stuff - at least two or three records, just to see what happens. And I search for classic stuff as well.

just go buy records and listen to them when you get home or use a portable tt and listen to them in the store if the owner will let you.

look for records from certain labels that you enjoy sampling from

and MAKE DOUBLE SURE, that what ever sleeve you pick up CHECK THE RECORD INSIDE, because sometimes they have the wrong records in them and check the record for ridiculous scratches and/or bends in the record

Old old old swing music, anything after the 1935 is a sell-out!! Gotta get the original 1925-1935 stuff. Its amazing.

Its the difference between rock music from the 60's and rock music from the 80's.

@DPM Good call. Those are excellent tips, even for someone who goes in all the time.

Felly wrote:I posted this in "Crate Diggers" but wasnt sure if anyone actually viewed those posts

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=141807

Yes, we do.