7 Tips for Scratch DJ's to Sound Less Robotic - Turntablism Tips

7 Tips for Scratch DJ's to Sound Less Robotic - Turntablism Tips
For scratch DJ's there's a spectrum (think DJ Rafik) to more bugged out (Think Mix Master Mike). I've always erred on the cleaner side of scratching. Whilst there's nothing wrong with this, it can often lead to mechanical/robotic sounding scratching. In this video, I try to address this issue with 7 tips on how scratch DJs can sound less robotic.
I also share some info about Whip Tears at the end, as these were really the key to me getting out of a pretty long plateau.
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-- Related playlists --
- Scratching Playlist: tinyurl.com/4tpfaaye
- DJ Streaming Tutorials, Tips & Tricks: bit.ly/2X2VAgd
- DJ & Producer Tech Reviews & Tutorials: bit.ly/30TiHen
- Filming, Editing and Design Tutorials for DJs: bit.ly/304q2Za
#Scratching #ScratchDJ #Turntablism #Si_Hargreaves
Intro 0:00
Swing 0:56
Getting off the grid 2:31
Rhyming 4:01
Style out your 'Mistakes' 5:10
Practice with the Motor Off 6:10
Letting your Fingers bend 6:44
Whip Tears 7:51
-- Link ups --
/ si_hargreaves
/ hargreaves_si
twitch.com/Si_Hargreaves
kit.co/Si_Hargreaves

[@DOPEZ1200]

some of the best produced turntablist content I've ever seen ! love your videos, please keep them coming :-)

[@SiHargreaves]

Respecognise man! HMU if you need any help with getting the production of any of your vids up too. Your vids are always full of awesome nuggets

[@daveb8795]

Agree with both of you here. I've learned so much from both of your videos. Thank you!! I found the Dopez whip tear video a while back and almost skipped over it :)

[@SiHargreaves]

Big ups Dave. Don't skip anything by Dopez, he's the man!

[@indigodeville]

Been watching so many 'how to scratch' videos, but yours are definitely the most comprehensive ones. Thank you so much for all these informations.

[@SiHargreaves]

Wow, thank you! Once I've found a new job I'm going to complete the series

[@WattyJay]

This Video Just Saved My DJ Career

[@SiHargreaves]

😂

[@mugzysmokes163]

Ty

[@on-lineworldwide9267]

This is great! 👍🏽 Thank you! 💪🏽❤️

[@SiHargreaves]

Any time!

[@DJSteevott]

I'm watching all your videos at the moment! Very good content! 🙏

[@SiHargreaves]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@brucep383]

Awesome vid as always, full of useful stuff and production value is spot on. A vid about your daily practice routine could be cool and useful for others

[@SiHargreaves]

Great suggestion!

[@fermd9357]

I just got a Rane One controller. I’m looking forward to practicing these techniques. Thanks!

[@barrywatts8501]

Cheers great video Si this is so relevant for me.

[@SiHargreaves]

Ha yeah I think it's relavant to a lot of people actually

[@djlightnin1975]

Very dope dude

[@pizzaslice3987]

Amazing work

[@SiHargreaves]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@petes6817]

Love the video again. I like that you talk about scratching in general rather than specific techniques (but I wouldn't mind a tutorial on your fav combos made up of basic scratches 🙂).

[@SiHargreaves]

Noted! I have a kind of rough road map of videos and I think one of them should help out with that.

[@DjMossy]

Loving your vids Si. You have a great way of explaining things 👊🏼

[@SiHargreaves]

I appreciate that! big ups.

[@DjMossy]

Your welcome bro 👊🏼

[@SuperRuss26]

Awesome tutorial

[@SiHargreaves]

Cheers! :)

[@maker_kutz]

Great Tutorial thanks

[@SiHargreaves]

Cheers bro

[@daveb8795]

Another amazing video! I will have to watch this one several more times to wrap my head around all of this information...wow :) Thank you Si!

[@SiHargreaves]

Glad it was helpful! Keep practicing man. Anything else you'd like to see more of?

[@daveb8795]

@@SiHargreaves I'll watch anything you put out because it is always so good. But since you asked, anything Ableton would be awesome. You have a great way of diving deep into a subject and explaining it. Thank you again for the great videos!

[@SiHargreaves]

Wow Ableton? Interesting. I deffo had some ideas for Ableton stuff in the future. I still have so much scratch bizz I need to get out of the way first though haha. Glad to hear that people might be interested in that though! Cheers Dave

[@DjC4]

Thank you for these videos and discussions! Amazing production value and concise teaching. I can technically execute a lot of scratches cleanly and on time, and I've been trying to find tips and tricks to get that funky melodic swing to my combos. I really hope you keep putting out content like this. I really admire your scratching flow and melodic swing style. Thanks to your videos, it's become very clear I need to return to the basics to improve record control specifically. So selfishly, if you're taking content suggestions I would also love some basic scratch question / answer stuff that focuses on melodic / pitch diversity that people can play along with. Thank you so much for these theories and lessons!

[@SiHargreaves]

Hey thanks for the suggestion. I might drop some vids like tha to see how they do. In the meantime beat junkie TV has some cool Q&A you can follow

[@DjC4]

@@SiHargreaves oh nice, I missed those on their page. Thank you for the suggestion!

[@ianmatthews1724]

Off the grid! Love this term! Lol

[@frawleywood3276]

You deserve 100k Subs

[@thedjnamedves]

Another great video to work ones technique

[@SiHargreaves]

Thanks 👍

[@bobbysinger9573]

Have a soul... tap into your natural rhythm,listen to the music...

[@djalcompton]

Wicked advice mate! Off to practice

[@SiHargreaves]

Have fun. Anything else you'd like to see more of?

[@djalcompton]

@@SiHargreaves I’ll have a think and hit you up. Got any good tips on how to relax when practicing? I get so tense trying new cuts I’m sure it effects the outcome! The odd spliff helps!

[@SiHargreaves]

Ha ha, yeah it's a tough one. I've only recently been able to relax more when scratching . I don't think there's any secret unfortunately, just practice more. Eventually your body will get used to it and allow you move quicker and more fluidly. You could try playing with different positions on the record though. For instance, the closer you are to the middle of the record the easier it is to fling it around.

[@djalcompton]

@@SiHargreaves good advice. I also borrowed my mates external fader so I can practice clicks during work! Build that muscle memory!

[@dcampbell3349]

Si....lately I’ve been watching some videos on dj revolution. If possible.....you should do a video talking about revolutions unique style. I can’t tell if he’s just doing a lot of quick tear combos or he just baby scratches mega fast. I think it’d be a cool break down. What you think? As always bro. Love all the content brother. My scratching is coming along. Thanks for the tips in slowing down man. Has helped a lot

[@SiHargreaves]

Great suggestion! Can you send me some video that you've been watching and I'll check em out?

[@dcampbell3349]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYHLpmmbibifmrc

[@SiHargreaves]

Bro! Those cuts are fire! Maynnn. He's doing twiddles mostly at the start there, but they're super clean! Would be really hard to imitate. Rev has always had a fire style dude. I think he's a great example of a DJ who just flows in a really unique way. Kind of aggressive but funky. My answer is this: I don't think he's doing anything super different to anyone else... Just the way he does it is super dope. Dunno if that helps really.

[@dcampbell3349]

Lol yea he’s super dope. I’ve met him a few times and have always tried watching him as close as I could when he warms up. Wish I had recorded it. His hand movements are just unique and on point. He does a lot of scratching for “evidence” the rapper from dialated peoples. Well thanks bro. Thought maybe you could see what I couldn’t but let’s all just agree that rev is the biconical man lol

[@boomslangVN]

Not all heroes wear capes, some have dope scratching skills!

[@majobernal3738]

yes yes yes!

[@SiHargreaves]

ye boooiiiiii

[@clickr101]

👏🏽✌🏽

[@MajDuckworth]

Who you looking at?

[@SiHargreaves]

Heh, myself. It's my Atomos Shinobi on top of the camera.

[@vernondaniel5682]

What mixser to buy i dont want to buy them £1000 mixsers

[@SiHargreaves]

I'd recommend looking into Innofaders matey and seeing if one fits in your current mixer if you dont want to spend loads of money

[@wedfrest]

DOOM

[@SiHargreaves]

just remember ALL CAPS when you spell the man name...

[@rogermoore27]

Lots of female DJ's are a bit robotic even though the scratches are good. Some just stand there with their hands moving and their upper body freezes in place

[@SiHargreaves]

Hmm dunno about that distinction. You remeber DJ Sara? I just think a lot of em haven't been scratching so long I guess

[@rogermoore27]

@@SiHargreaves ok