The "scratch" (scratching) is one of the main weapons in the art of turntables. While DJs just drop the needle, turntables make art. Getting the right equipment with which to make DJ music can give you the opportunity to explore the wide world of creating beats. Learning the techniques and aesthetics of the genre will help you do your best!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Get the Right Gear
Step 1. Get some basic DJ equipment
For most DJs, this means you'll need to get a couple of direct drive turntables, a mixer, and a collection of vinyl records to practice sampling and scratching. However, the digital controller and CDJs (CD turntables) have become increasingly popular, with many offering features that allow you to use them to scratch, create loop beats on the fly, play tracks in reverse. or very fast or slow speeds, and other functions that make them good options for practicing turntables.
If you don't have a turntable, buying your first gear can be an intimidating plan, not to mention that to truly become a turntable player, you will need two. You can technically scratch with a single turntable, but you won't be making music. As long as you have a direct impulse model, you can use it to scratch. You don't have to spend a fortune
Step 2. Find a mixer that has a curve fit on the cross slider
Curve adjustment allows you to control the sound change back and forth between the turntables, more easily. A good scratch mixer includes a cross fader (or crossfader) that does not have to be exactly in the middle before the sound is crossed over to the new channel. You don't absolutely have to have one of these mixers, but they make mixing a lot easier later when you start to perform advanced techniques.
Step 3. Use a non-slip mat between the tray and the disc
Anti-static mats are essential for the DJ scratching. You will need to be able to put a finger or your hand on the record and prevent the record from moving, without preventing the entire platter from moving.
- If you have a cheaper set of turntables, you may need to cut additional pieces of plastic, wax, or parchment paper. Plastic bags from the grocery store work great.
- You can buy a product called a "magic carpet", which will help reduce friction. If you want to use your own non-slip mats or have a problem with stalling, or you can purchase a product called “butter rugs” and only use one of those as a permanent non-slip mat. These are the most ingenious non-slip mats available. You may need to reduce friction even more, but it will depend on your taste and gear.
Step 4. Assemble a collection of records to sample
A turntable player needs an eclectic variety of vinyl records from which to build music. A turntable player is an expert in mixing, using the rhythms of some records and sampled portions of other records to build sounds. It is a complicated form of assembly to make music, which can only be achieved with a lot of practice and a lot of records.
- Most scratch records have a series of samples, alternating the rhythms of instrumental parts and sound effects. Don't just buy any record you find online, it's best to listen to the records to make sure they have something usable during practice or a performance.
- For DJs, non-skippable records are designed to repeat samples in a way that if the needle jumps (just as it will) you'll keep playing whatever sounds you're trying to play. If you don't have regular records, then try to shape the record a bit by finding the samples you like, and then pushing the record back and forth to maneuver the needle and groove.
- You can use an acapella record (vocals only) or records you already have, and try to find a sample you want to use, although most DJs usually end up acquiring some scratch records to use in practice. and the battles.
Part 2 of 3: Mastering the technique
Step 1. Find a sample or sound on the disc to scratch on
Listen to the records with one ear for a few short moments around which you could build an entire song. The rhythms of the instrumental parts, that is the moments during which all the instruments are silent and the drums remain playing, are generally isolated to be used as rhythms in hip-hop tracks, while the instrumental tracks to They often produce some nice melody lines to pair with them.
Listen carefully to the records and stop the record when you hear something you would like to use. Go back and try to find the exact moment the sound starts
Step 2. Mark the groove for the groove
In the past, DJs would take little round stickers that teachers used on homework and put the sticker directly on the record, next to the slot, just beyond the sample. This provides both a visual cue as to where the sample begins, and will hit the needle back into the slot to play the sample again.
Some DJs prefer not to put stickers on the vinyl itself, although this is the classic way to do it. You can also try to mark the groove in the way that works best for you, in case you are going to record your beats or mix them on the spot
Step 3. Stop the puck with your fingertips
After the sound finishes playing and then slowly bring the record backwards, almost at the same speed as it was playing forward. It will sound like you've just pressed the reverse button on the turntable. The classic scratch sound comes from choosing an appropriate blank rhythm, such as a trumpet blast or some other long sound effect, and wagging the platter back and forth over that sound, producing the distinctive scratch sound..
Step 4. Play another song and do this to the beat
A scratch by itself would be like a movie made entirely of explosions. Entertaining at first? Sure. Bored after a couple of minutes? Definitely. In order to scratch properly, you have to match the samples and the manipulation of the record together with a rhythm. Find an appropriate rhythm around which to build the music. Find the rhythms of the instrumental parts of the songs that you like. Specifically, older “soul” songs and R&B samples have good rhythms of instrumental parts, from which you could create music.
Step 5. Push the record forward onto the sample, rather than allowing the sound to play at a regular speed or slower
You will get a sharp sound. Do the same when backing up, pull back at a similar speed. Then do this with the music. Sometimes this is known as the "scratch" baby.
Start at a slower pace and then go faster as you go. When you are able to do it at a good speed, try to vary the rhythms by introducing silences into the rhythms you develop
Part 3 of 3: Make a Good Scratch
Step 1. Listen carefully to some beat makers
Do some research on beat creation and explore the way your favorite DJs and producers make beats, adding sounds and textures from a variety of sources. If your end goal is to do battle or just make analog songs that sound good, you will need to learn from the greats.
- RZA pioneered the low-fidelity use of samples of classic soul songs and samurai movies, incorporating some elements into unforgettable rhythms for Wu-Tang's first album collection and some solo projects by the members separately. Take a look at Raekwon's "Ice Cream," which features an easy-to-hear, fast-paced guitar sample, a groove, and nothing else.
- Madlib's use of jazz records and '80s ephemeris make him one of the most sought-after modern producers, fusing old and new in surprisingly fresh ways. Take a look at Madvillainy, his project with MF Doom, and his background with Freddie Gibbs for great examples of turntable technique.
Step 2. Learn to match the beats in the moment
It's very important to match the rhythm of one sample to another, or your music is going to sound chaotic and, frankly, bad. Use a metronome as you experiment to get an idea about the beats per minute of the different samples you like to use and match each other. Build the music by matching the beats.
Many DJs mark the BPM (Beats Per Minute) on the record decks themselves, making it easy to quickly build beats and songs as you work
Step 3. Layer up different sounds to create music
Experiment and play with a variety of sounds and textures to make great-sounding music. For some DJs, the ultimate goal is to take small samples from the most unexpected sources: Latin jazz, recordings of spoken words, or easy-to-listen lounge music. Turn all of this into a danceable wonder.
Turntable's rule of thumb: Almost anything paired with a Meters drum track will sound great
Step 4. Play the discs at different speeds
Don't settle for playing a track at the same speed to match the timing. RZA tried out a cheesy Earl Klugh guitar track, sped it up, and turned it up, to create the signature sample that spans the entire song "Ice Cream." The only limit in musical creation is imagination.
Step 5. Do not abuse the "scratch"
Nobody wants to hear a DJ who spends his entire performance scratching at records. Think of it as a bit of seasoning for the song, not a main way of making music. Typically, there are only one or two guitar solos in a rock song, and there should only be one or two scratches in a DJ beat.
Step 6. Learn some basic music theory
A turntable player is a percussionist, which means that you will need to have a good understanding of rhythm. You will practice scratching on the music and then finally you will make music using records. When you are scratching a rhythm, you will be playing a cadence via scratch. If you have a complete understanding about cadences, you can develop your skills to recreate these cadences correctly.
- Most hip-hop and dance music is on 4/4. That means that in each measure of music there will be 4 beats. Each measure can be subdivided in no more than a finite number of ways. Count these numbers out loud while listening to music. Each measure will be placed between [brackets]:
- [1] [2] [3] [4]
- [1 and] [2 and] [3 and] [4 and]
- [1 e y a] [2 e y a] [3 e y a] [4 e y a]
- [1 triple] [2 triple] [3 triple] [4 triple]
- [1 tri-ple and tri-ple] [2 tri-ple and tri-ple] [3 tri-ple and tri-ple] [4 tri-ple and tri-ple]
Step 7. Learn to count these numbers along with the rhythms of the songs you like
A good way to get into rhythm is to play the drum kit. You can go to the Vic Firth website listed below to find out how tenses are subdivided, and what subdivisions that include rests sound like. Once you can sing these rhythms, or at least some of them, out loud, you can start using these as the basis for your scratch
Advice
- Rent or buy DJ 101 and DJ 102 from DJ Shortee.
- Protect your ears so you don't go deaf later.
- Go to the DMC website and search for past winners of the annual competition to meet the best DJs.
- Rent or buy “Do It Yourself Scratching” (Scratching by yourself) Volume 1 and 2 of Qbert.
- Look up DJ performances on the internet.