How to Play a Record

Vinyl lives! Whether it's for old recordings or DJ mixing, here's how to set those platters up.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Turntables
• Vinyl Records

1. Place a record on the turntable with the side you want to listen to facing up. If you're playing a 45 single, first insert the spacer, a round piece of plastic that fits the larger hole in the center of a single, in the center of the turntable.

2. Turn on your turntable and receiver. If the receiver has a Selector button, press Phono.

3. Select the revolution speed. For large records, use 33. For singles, use 45.

4. Lift the phonograph arm and move it to the edge of the record.

5. If the turntable doesn't start spinning automatically, look for the On switch and press it.

6. With the record spinning, lower the needle very gently onto the dark-colored section at the edge of the record. The groove in the record will be wider there.

7. Let go of the arm. The record should begin playing within a few seconds.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure both the record and needle (stylus) are clean before you play the record (see "How to Clean a Vinyl Record" and "How to Clean a Turntable Stylus," under Related eHows).
• If the needle slips off the edge of the record, pick it back up and place it further from the record's edge.
• If you don't hear anything, check that you have selected Phono on the receiver and that the speakers are connected correctly.

on 11/22/2005 Many "large records" are pressed at 45 rpm, or 78 rpm. Many 5 inch, 7 inch, or 10 inch (or the rarer 6 inch, 8 inch, or 9 inch) records are pressed at 33 rpm. You should check the label of the record to see what speed it is.

on 11/22/2005 Make sure the 2 wires near the needle are connected properly.