How to Use a Turntable

A DJ's most recognizable tool is the turntable, the instrument he uses to play and manipulate music. It may seem as simple as putting on a record, but to become a DJ you must be a turntable master. Once you understand the anatomy of the turntable, you can get people on the dance floor. Read on to learn how to use a turntable.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Connect the turntable to a phono input on the mixer. Be sure to attach the ground wire to the mixer as well, or else you will have too much distortion to hear the music.

2. Turn the power knob to the on position.

3. Place the needle on the record and press the "Start/Stop" button.

4. Press the "33" or "45" button to set the turntable speed. Often, the label on a record will indicate whether it is to be played at 33 or 45 RPM.

5. Adjust the pitch and tempo with the pitch slider. Adjusting the pitch allows you to better blend songs when playing them together or switching between them with the mixer.

6. Press lightly on a record to stop it without stopping the turntable. The slip mat allows a DJ to let the platter continue spinning while he holds the record still and start it at any time without waiting for the platter to start up again. This is especially helpful if you have a belt-drive turntable, which has less torque.

7. Check the record speed by looking at the dots on the side, or the platter, under the red light. If the large dots appear to be standing still, position the pitch slider at +/- 0 percent. The bottom row of dots indicate -3 percent, and they increase by 3 percent from bottom to top.

8. Set the weight of the tonearm by using the know at the end opposite the needle. Selecting the right the tonearm weight helps prevent the record from skipping.