In our introduction last week,
we spoke about the DJ that doesn’t really “DeeJay,” mixtapes, and
learning the fundamentals. This week will be dedicated to the beginner,
but if you’ve been spinnin’ for a while, you might learn a thing or
two as well. Here are some of the basics that I mentioned last week:
1. Scratchin’ / Cuttin’–
These days even the “corporate suit” knows what this is or has
at least heard a DJ cut it up. Scratches have been used in everything
from mainstream commercials for fast food chains to major motion pictures. GrandMaster Flash originally made this technique famous back
in the late 70s in the South Bronx. (Check out his scene in the classic
movie Wild Style as Fab 5 Freddie watches him wreck the
turntables) I was inspired to become a DJ and MC as a teenager when
I saw Run D.M.C. and their DJ, Jam Master Jay (RIP), cut up the group’s name on the 1st Fresh Fest tour
at the Washington D.C. Coliseum. You can also peep some elements of the Run D.M.C. routine that
I mentioned in the movie Krush Groove.
Some DJs prefer scratching
as a method of going from one record to the next because it adds an element of surprise. The crowd doesn’t know what record
is going to follow unless a familiar word or sound from the song being
mixed-in is incorporated. This tactic is a quick teaser that gets the
crowd excited as they anticipate the next record. It also allows you
to go from one record to another while jumping up or down to a totally
different tempo. Many styles of scratches and turntable tricks have
been incorporated throughout the years. Check out the examples below for the beginning and the more experienced DJs.
Basic Scratches:
a. The Stab – This scratch involves all forward movements
on the record while bringing the cross fader to the center simultaneously.
b. The Chirp – This is when you move the record
back and forth and every time you move the record forward cut the volume
with the cross fader. DJ Jazzy Jeff did this first and cut up a whistle
sound so it sounded like a bird chirping
c. The Tear – To perform this scratch you must move the record
back and forth but, you pull it back twice quickly
Advanced Scratches:
a. Transformer Scratch – To execute this scratch you must move
the record slowly, but cut the cross fader on and off to chop up the sound
b. The Flair – This scratch involves moving the record
back and forth while cutting the sound off in between
c. The Crab – This is called “The Crab” because you use your fingers to move the fader in and use your
thumb as a spring to move it back
2. Blendin’ / Beat Matchin’
– I don’t party as much as I used to but some of the parties that
I’ve attended lately have consisted of the DJ stopping the music after
every song, yelling into the microphone to introduce the next joint, or just
suddenly slamming in the next record when they feel like it with no
regard to beats, bars or timing. This method is cool sometimes, depending
on how it’s done, but no one wants to hear that all night. In contrast,
blending or beat matching is the process of smoothly mixing 2 records
together, usually during the chorus of the song, to keep the music going
uninterrupted. The mission here is to almost make the transition from
one song to the next sound like a continuation of the same record.
Timing is paramount here because
you want the snares from both records to hit simultaneously, otherwise
you’ll get what we call a “Train Wreck.” Blending is most successfully
achieved by using two songs of the same or close BPMs (Beats per Minute)
or tempo and slightly adjusting the pitch of the record that you’re
blending in to match the tempo of the song that’s currently playing. A good blend these days lasts
between 4 to 8 bars or more, depending on the DJ’s personal
style. Most DJs with
a good ear know which records will blend well together just by listening
to a song for a few seconds.
Check out DJ Spinbad’s scratching tutorial:
GrandMaster Flash’s classic performance in Wild Style
The Legendary Jam Master Jay In Krush Groove
