How to Scratch Records

Scratching (also known as turntablism) is a process that DJ’s use to create new sounds from records. By manoeuvring vinyl, turntables and mixers in certain ways, the decks become instruments in their own right. There is no way to “learn” how to scratch per se as it is a very personal and subjective process that many classical musicians would argue isn’t even music at all. Use these tips to get an idea about scratching, but remember that the best forms of turntablism are usually the most original. The best advice, is to have a go, and see what you can come up with!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Powerful decks (such as Technics or Vestax) which reduce needle jump.
• Mixer
• Wide selection of vinyl
• Speakers

1. Decide which hand to use, and for what! One hand needs to move the record whilst the other moves the cross-fader. There are no rules on this, so do what feels natural. Your style (the amount you use the fader compared to manoeuvring the vinyl) will almost certainly affect your decision.
2. Touching your records in the middle with dirty hands is a bad idea. Clean your hands, and manipulate them by pushing the centre of the record (which gives you more power) or holding the edge (which gives increased sensitivity).
3. Practice using special Scratch records. Of course, you can scratch using any kind of records you like, but most DJs usually end up incorporating a few scratch records to use in practice and battles. Scratch records usually have a series of samples and a beat, followed by more samples and a different beat, etc.
4. Scratch fast and scratch slow. Notice how this changes the note of the scratch.
5. Start without using the fader at all; just your hands on the record.
6. Try not to run before you can walk! Try scratching to slower beats first, then get faster and faster as you practice. When you are able to do them at high speed, try and vary the rythyms of your scracth by throwing in rests to the beats you develop.
7. Tighten or loosen your holes! A vinyl centre hole that is too big can cause excessive side-to-side wobble but a hole too small wont allow the record to turn freely! Enlarge holes by using a touch of sandpaper. Reduce holes by adding a lyaer or two of sticky tape.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear in your new records, by playing them a few times, before using them for scratching. Doing this will mean they’ll skip a lot less.
• CD DJ’s needn’t feel left out! Scratching CD’s is now possible with decent equipment. Visit www.digitalscratch.com for more information!
• Use very slippery slipmats! Soft felt ones with no printing on them are the slipperiest.
• Make sure you don’t use warped records! These are useless, for scratching.