Strong Hand on Record or Crossfader when Scratching?

[@mingusx3440]

Thanks for making this video. This is exactly what I'm struggling with at the moment. I can do the usual basic scratches and I find that I'm much more comfortable with my strong hand (right-hand) on the record. But everyone seems to argue that to be better at cutting you have to be nice with the fader. So now I'm trying to teach my left hand to be as good as my right one on the record, while I trying to perfect the fader techniques of course. It's even got to a point where I'm thinking, should I try scratch hamster-style? I don't know. This is a subject not talked about a lot in my opinion. Thanks again for this.

[@sihargreaves]

I don't think it's a bad thing to experiment at all! If you feel comfortable right hand on record, stay that way. That's the way I wish I'd learned personally.

[@apintus]

@@sihargreaves me too

[@razjel3991]

Same here, 10 years of no deejaying, since that i can clearly mix and scratch on normal ways, but the left/right thing always handycapped me too. i saw another video of dj liftoff which explains how to hands on the fader in a good way too handle it better. maybe this helps too. your comment is 2 years ago, but hey, help and talking is always good :)

[@dnewgen7669]

I'm a few years late LOL, but I just wanted to thank you for this video. The way you just explain everything just makes so much sense! The way you cover so many scenarios/examples of things that never get talked about!

[@Anthony-pz7tl]

Mate you should saved me - got a set of decks and jumped on to KZbin to learn scratching and began with my non dominant hand on the decks and i couldn’t for the life of me copy any of the baby scratches in the tutorials. On the downscratch (bringing the platter back) I kept over shooting the mark and the jog wheel kept slipping under my fingers and losing starting finger position. Landed on your vid, switched hands and BOOM! PROGRESS MADE! Thank you!!!

[@caineblais544]

being a 10 year violin student I noticed that the right hand (bow hand) is more expressive at articulating different notes/pitches on the record. It seems that the wrist and arm movements required to pull and push the record are very similar technique for pushing and pulling a bow across the bridge of a violin/viola. That being said the weak hand can definitely be trained to be just as proficient. I began studying the turntable and scratching 2 years ago and realized a year in that I had neglected the my left side when it came to scratching. My solution was to stop practicing the right for 6 months and begin slowly relearning everything on the opposite side. By the end of the period the left hand was able to catch up so now we just keep up both sides and give them equal attention and time when doing daily drills. I have noticed that some scratches come more easily to different sides. For example, my right can do great transorms while the left is better at crabs. I'm working to refine those each day and even them out. It takes patience. I think the reason each hand is naturally better at one scratch or another is because they are being operated by L vs R brain. About that whole shifting from 1st to 3rd or 5th position on the violin thing. It can be done without jumping the bow it just takes a really steady shoulder under the chinrest.

[@sihargreaves]

Wow, amazing insight! Cheers!

[@evanrandall1675]

I've been going crazy with these tutorials and theory videos for dj'ing and I keep coming back to this channel. You're really great and I really appreciate you making this content

[@cliffnewman5469]

I started to scratch in 95, the only way to study was from DMC videos, myself and mostly every other dj used there stronger hand on the fader, it wasn't until 96 97, a dj by the name of q Bert, you may of heard of him, not sure what he's up to now! Lol. He totaly turned that concept on its head, you are very limited if you do not use your stronger hand on the disc or vinyl, this video explains it perfectly. Personally I have limited my ability for that one reason I used my stronger hand on the fader, being right handed, the left Turntable direction is totaly not natural as the right. Top marks fella for your video.

[@wickedwaiatamusic]

I love the honest and logical conversations that you have that are not discussed on any other channel! And D-Styles is my favourite Scratcher!

[@lustforlow-end6022]

I like to do it both ways. For example: I can transform & crab better with my right hand on the fader but I can chirp & flare better with my left hand on the fader. I’m right handed by the way. Thanks for doing your videos Si, they’ve been a great help! 👍

[@salvadorvillanueva148]

Using my right hand on the record (dominant hand) made sense to me because I came from a musical background. I played violin and guitar before and I associated playing the strings with moving the record and moving the faders with pressing on the frets. This idea to record control being your voice, just a different way of thinking.

[@sihargreaves]

Yeah it seems comparable to me too. Dunno why I never thought of it that way when I first started..

[@Energyflash1979]

Thanks man, finally someone recognising the body anatomy and turntables not being symmetrical, it's a complete mismatch but I suppose turntables were invented first then scratching 70 years later lol. With your right you can more naturally move your hand in an anti clockwise circle probably due to the pivot point of the elbow helping to pull it in that direction. With my left hand it's like I'm conscious that I have to make it go from the outside left (9 o'clock) towards the bottom centre (6 o'clock)and I'm kind of pushing in an unnatural way from the outside left towards myself. I suppose like in the west we write from left to right yet it really isn't suitable for left handed people as they smudge the wet ink as they write. Thanks again

[@karisma1]

It depends on the scratch style. A lot of the older school mid late 90s scratches like transforms, flares, crabs relied heavily on the fader hand. The newer scratches like delayed flares, autobahn etc imo rely more on the record hand.

[@sihargreaves]

No doubt, although I think you could argue transformers are very record hand focused, especially to get them sounding funky

[@zomgoose]

I have only dabbled with scratching. I am better at scratching and x-fader with strong hand. I will learn to use x-fader with my weaker hand, focusing on scratching with the stronger hand. Thanks!

[@daveb8795]

I devoured most of your videos when I found this channel because the content is so good. However, I skipped this one because I thought I was set in my ways. I ran across it again today and thought I'd like to see what you had to say on the topic and WOW, I'm so glad that I did! This is amazing analysis and advice and is no way rambling! Thank you again @Si Hargreaves!! Your stuff is so good!

[@sihargreaves]

Wow, thank you man! Any videos that stood out to you that you'd like to see more of?

[@daveb8795]

@@sihargreaves since you asked, more scratch tutorials would be awesome. That chirp flare you do sounds amazing! Also, a breakdown of each cut from your BoomCity video spot would another one I'd watch a million times :)

[@mickeyswell]

Just realized my question to Dopez made your video! hahahaha. Just to add my 2 cents, I found that I chirped a lot better with my strong hand (right hand) on the record. At the time I was a strong hand on the fader guy. But watching DStyles and the fact that I could chirp better with my strong hand on the record, and obviously questions to others made me make the switch. Now I can't scratch for the life of me with my right hand on the fader.

[@cainphilipsz-ritchie8347]

I'm right handed and aways learnt with right hand on record! I've started switching sides and actually think more control on the fader is more important for combos and wish I had started this way round at the start!

[@sihargreaves]

Heh, we all different. I think both have different strengths and it all evens out in the end.

[@ianmatthews1724]

I'd say it doesn't matter that much. One thing I would say is scratch hamster, makes moving to the upfaders slot smoother!

[@Itsdjsigi]

Literally changed the game for me. I always felt like scratching with my dominant hand was way easier and now it makes sense. Thank you! Time to start from scratch again haha

[@semyonboyk0]

A bass player getting into scratching here. In theory, after years of playing bass with fingers of my right (strong) hand it makes all the sense for me to use these skills on a crossfader: it already has good timing, a lot of the movements are similar, I can even do decent crabs pretty much right away after studying Billy Sheehan's 3-finger plucking technique for so long. But it just feels right (don't know how else to explain it) to control the record with my strong hand, even though my weak hand will have to learn so much more. I'm currently going back and forth, but I guess I'll have to make a choice at some point, and I hope I don't regret it down the road.

[@sihargreaves]

Hey man, I wouldn't worry too much. It all balances out in the end whichever way you do it (so long as you practice enough). I think you're doing the right thing by practicing both for now. Good luck!

[@BobbyBriscoeBeats]

I've always had my strong hand on the record, but it makes more sense to have your weak hand on the record. This is because most combos will need longer duration of speed on the fader than on the record. You can do bursts of speed with your weak hand, and that's all you really need on the record.

[@sihargreaves]

Heh, I disagree, and so does D-Styles!

[@BobbyBriscoeBeats]

@@sihargreaveswatch videos of people scratching these days. Fader is going non stop. You don't sit there and scribble non stop. That's my point. D-Styles is the best but he is also just as fast with both hands.

[@Itsdjsigi]

Then you for this, I agree 100% with too much tension on a arm will slow you down. I’m struggling with that right now and trying to be more loose

[@sihargreaves]

Word. To be honest the only thing that really seems to help me losen up is more practice haha. Just seems that after a while your body gets used to what you're trying to do and eventually you can do it smoothly. I think it's to do with the neurons in your brain and how quickly they can fire.

[@jbwernstrom4519]

What you say definitely makes sense. What about hamster vs regular? Another video😉

[@sihargreaves]

Oh you bugger! Ill put it on the list though for sure. I read a post by vekked on this subject. I'll see if I can find it

[@jbwernstrom4519]

@@sihargreaves Sorry 😁

[@jreign]

Great info and vid! If I were to start over, I would have started with my stronghand on the rec. Started with a horrible turntable/needle, and PMC-16 skratchmaster mixer, so I naturally learned transforming with the fader first. I was close to switching sides when the Vestax C1 came out, but I never got my hands on one haha.

[@maestr0damus356]

Thank you for sharing this video. For quite a while I've struggled with deciding which hand to move the record with. Being right handed I'm going to try and use that hand to manipulate the record. I'm starting to think I'll have more control over my movements. I'll keep you posted.

[@sihargreaves]

That's awesome! You can do it! Push through the weird feeling you'll feel on the cross fader at first and it'll be worth it I think.

[@undosequence6627]

Excellent video! I know exactly what you mean Simon. I've hit a brick wall as to what my left hand on the vinyl will do, so after 25 years I'm transitioning over to the other side 😀

[@sihargreaves]

After 25 years! Dayummmmm. Dopez posted a vid of him cutting on the "dark" side the the other day. Was pretty Dope...z. lol

[@justinhughes4119]

Huh ... Ive been wondering this but didnt want to be asking a stupid question. I guess it wasnt as stupid as I thought, thanks for this video!

[@thecish]

Dope vid, I learnt with weak hand on the record, and hamster - I get by but do wish I had learnt the other way!

[@samgarrod4781]

I'm a right hand xfader and use the hamster when manipulating the right deck when necessary.

[@urehlav]

What about someone who is dominate on the right hand but cant use the left hand in a separate rhythm? However, I can use the right hand in a separate rhythm to my left. Which means I can keep a slow movement on the jog wheel while moving the fader faster. I feel like that forces me to use the left hand on the jog wheel.

[@sihargreaves]

I think what this comes down to is this; at first it will seem harder. But, once you're over the hump so to speak, it will get progressively easier over time. So it really depends how long you plan on scratching and how much practice you are willing to put in.

[@cogdj6452]

I’ve tried a lot to use my strong hand on the record but I feel so much more coordinated the other way.Logically makes sense to use right hand on record but seams so much harder.

[@michaelenglish839]

Just loaded the video, but before I even watch, just want to put out there. I used to mix, back in the day, with like techno music, drum and bass, stuff like that. Not really any scratching at all, but it did familiarize me with how to move a record and the basics of a mixer and FX. So I got a DDJ 1000 SRT and am using that to finally learn how to scratch. By default I just put my dominant hand, the right, on the platter, with my weaker hand on the crossfader, but hamster style. I think probably because DJ qbert really got my attention when I was younger, and I always liked the look of that kind of scratch. Plus, it usually uses the technique of closing the switch rather than opening it, when compared to regular style. Closing the crossfader off means moving it to the right, my dominant side. I do plan on getting better with my left hand on the vinyl, but again, just wanted to comment where I'm at now, a few weeks in into learning how to scratch. Now I'm going to watch your video!

[@michaelenglish839]

Awesome explanations and examples, I really appreciate the research you have done because it's saving me time lol - liked and subbed - can you help me with something? I've been asking this on other comments sections as well. Using the controller, obviously it's smaller than a record. I'm having a hard time keeping my fingers on the platter. They keep sliding off to the left. Any tips on that?

[@sihargreaves]

Thanks for commenting man! Really appreciate that and I'm glad to help. It's kind of gross but a lot of DJs lick their fingers to get more grip on the record. I guess that'd work for your platter. If that doesn't work, it's also an old DJ trick to get some stuff that makes your fingers moist for handling paper. I can't remember what it's called though. Other than that... practice, practice, practice

[@PBLCDMND]

The local DJs and friends told me back then to use the hand which feels naturally to me. So it became the right (strong) hand on the crossfader.

[@sihargreaves]

Heh I mean they're not necessarily wrong. But I like to explore the different options and this is how I've come to think of things.

[@PBLCDMND]

@@sihargreaves And exploring things it what's it all about in the end! ;) Great video!

[@harrymoschops]

Cool scratch montage! Jack's analog/binary hand analogy makes sense. One technique I think more effective on the left vinyl is reverse scratching with your hand facing in, not that I can do it...ah yes, you've reminded me, practise!

[@sihargreaves]

You a lefty or a right Harry? I can't remember. I was pretty sure about the difference in sound before I made this vid. Not I actually think a lot of it is just to do with the individual scratcher's style!

[@harrymoschops]

I'm laevodigital, or put another way, dextroanalogue.

[@sihargreaves]

Sounds good to me. Q Bert would approve

[@mark-gv3js]

I am a left-handed scratcher but I can scratch both ways but I prefer using my left hand.... I am very sharp and very quick. Just like you are use my thumbs. And it's all about record control..

[@buddafingaz9403]

What up, shout out, great video, yea man, im naturally a righty, so I usually use my right hand on my scratch vinyl / vinyl, & my lefty on the cross-fader. But my buddy says good DJs can use both hands either way. And better DJs can go back & forth, between Regular mode, & Hamster mode. But always leave room to learn & grow to do more & better... Lol... Bahahahaha... But, its really up to the person in all honesty, in my own opinion. If your enjoying yourself, & your happy with what you do, than your golden! As long as your enjoying DJing, & happy with your methods, & always leaving room for learning, & growing, then thats all that matters..... Respex.... 🔥💯👍🙏🎶🌎

[@BobbyBriscoeBeats]

But I can't do 3 clicks on the fader with my weak hand. I have to use crabs and twiddles to compensate.

[@sihargreaves]

Nice. I can't get close to 3 clicks on my weak hand on fader either. Took a long time to get it with my strong hand tbf

[@dtwistrewind7361]

I can can transform right hand on fader only, all other types left hand on fader, tried hamster but my brain won't rewire.

[@namelesswon]

Completely agree.

[@barrywatts8501]

Great subject. I was thinking to start practicing with my strong hand on the fader. But my left hand on the record is really like strange. Cant even do drops!! 🤣🤣.but transforming with my right hand on the cross fader is amazing! I can even crab a bit!

[@sihargreaves]

Heh yeah left hand on either is really horrible at the beginning! Just keep trucking I reckon. No time practicing is wasted at the end of the day.

[@KodhDj]

Nice talk - this subject is invisible but huge after a long time. Give yourself the time to pick, try and appreciate how you feel what ever the hand you chose.Compare if you can and then go with the practice - There is no right answer to this but as long as you have fun maybe it's right..left...lol

[@sihargreaves]

lol. Yeah man, agree. Just gotta have fun and keep practicing at the end of the day.

[@KodhDj]

@@sihargreaves 👌

[@michaelenglish839]

I went with dominant hand on the record and hamster for the crossfader. Pretty much 1% of all the scratch tutorials out there are showing it that way. So I have to do a lot of imagination when I watch others explain how to do certain scratches. My first exposure to scratching/turntableism was that making me itch video DJ qbert. Since I didn't know anything about the art back then, I figured the way he did it was the way you do it. So over the years when I have "air scratched" that's how I imagined myself doing it. Now that I got all the gear, and I have been doing it the way I described, I'm very happy that I didn't go mainstream. I also ride snowboard goofy foot 🤪

[@michaelenglish839]

Also, I skipped the licking fingers part lol. Every 10 or 15 minutes I grab a little alcohol wipe and clean off the jog wheel and my fingers. I guess a DJ controller is a bit different than actual vinyl?

[@sihargreaves]

It's a little different yeah. The main thing being one is always moving and the other is still. They both get pretty gross though!

[@ericwang604]

Thanks for the information. How come my needle skip here and there when i scratch. I did set anti- skiing right. Is that because my tonearm set it wrong? Seems i will lose the sample cut while i put too much attention on the hand it skip backwards.

[@sihargreaves]

I find more often than not its because of the record. Especially when its a bit loose on the spindle. You checked all that?

[@ericwang604]

@@sihargreaves i just bought new needle it works perfectly. So its the needle.

[@dinogoldie9716]

Try patting your head and rubbing your tummy (in a circular motion) at the same time. Which way round do you find most comfortable? There's your answer. Also, most right-handed people strum/pluck a guitar with their right hand while fingering the fretboard with their left. I dunno. I'm not a deejay.

[@M3_86]

Well right arm goes in the same direction as the record. Thats a huge pro

[@sihargreaves]

Yeah man I agree. Also your a lot less 'open'

[@M3_86]

@@sihargreaves we need a vinyl pressed in reverse so we can scratch mirror image haha Great content!

[@Chris_978]

Great video very cool to watch im strong on my right hand for the record and left i used to think otherwise that i couldn't do it for a while and noticed after getting used to it more its getting close to my right side but my crossfader with my right hand is weak any tips ? Also the different DJs u shown towards the end im more like craze because i love beat juggling i spend alot of times on it lol.

[@sihargreaves]

I find practicing 2 click flares helps get the movement down best as you end up doing so many clicks. You could also get an old cross fader and take it around with you to practice on the bus and shit.

[@BrennanSedivy]

OMG this is a question I’ve always had. My strong hand is on the platter. I have no rhythm and will take whatever I can get.

[@sihargreaves]

Hehe cool man.just gotta practice more and it all balances out in the end

[@BOOMCITYTV]

Another great vid!

[@sihargreaves]

Cheers man. That shortcut vid you posted was siiiick!

[@BOOMCITYTV]

Si Hargreaves 👊👊

[@zomgoose]

and always be creative

[@itimmy101]

Excellent subject! 👍👍

[@sihargreaves]

Boom! thanks for watching

[@jensschmidtmann8195]

Vielen Dank. Gutes Video.

[@sihargreaves]

Awesome, thanks

[@djglobol]

I used my left hand on the record and I’m right handed.

[@zappers1000]

What swiftstyle video is that? 6:01

[@sihargreaves]

I'm not sure, I just picked a random one and nicked the clip from it.

[@jogonjoneth]

superb video ...i agree with everything u say !!!!!!!!!!

[@sihargreaves]

Wow awesome man! Plenty of people don't actually ha

[@jogonjoneth]

@@sihargreaves i was a guitarist when i learned to scratch ......fader hand was my strumming hand so felt totaly natural ....im trying to tech my other hand on the fader but it so un natural ...time and determination hahahahah the advantage i have though is i understand the scraatches now so im just teaching my hand the patterns my brain already understands ,,wher as in the beggining i was trying to learn the scratches as well ....if u no what im saying ..

[@sergeiorlov5096]

IMHO, as a beginner- you should try and force yourself to practise both. Obviously, you'll still have a more "dominant" hand, but it's a good skill to have. Yet worth mentioning that I'm originally a keyboardist, hence it might be a bit easier to me.

[@sihargreaves]

I certainly don't disagree. I think piano players and keyboardists such as yourself put more of an emphasis on using both hands equally, nothing wrong with that at all!

[@MajDuckworth]

I agree

[@sihargreaves]

Good

[@drkhaos4988]

Spend time with your weak hand. Practice deliberately. Keep it slow.

[@sihargreaves]

Yeah man. Can't argue with that! Everyone's in a race to be fast. I kind of think it's harder scratching slowly

[@Paidonthedaily]

I like hamster style

[@RavenSWE]

I hate that I learnt with my weak hand on the record! My weak hand on the crossfader was just way too uncoordinated.. also wish I hadn't gone hamster since I now think a lot of fast transforms and other closed fader scratches sound better than open fader ones. Really fucked it didn't I!

[@sihargreaves]

Nah man. You didn't fuck anything! Check this video by Dopez, he does all the things you're talking about. Just keep practicing and you'll get there whatever method you choose. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ3SZ3R_h9B8grM

[@RavenSWE]

@@sihargreaves damn I didn't realise Dopez had learnt all 4 ways, that's mental! I guess you're right though, just need to practice more!

[@scratchgonzo]

@@sihargreaves qbert scratches hamster so that shuts down any talk of hamster not being good haha. I'm with you tho, transforming hamster is so hard

[@Presbiter]

of course there is an correct answer and its the only one that is correct. You practice with both hands equaly, period. Being a dj with an affinity for scratches but only uses one hand is like a basketball player that can only dribble with his strong hand...limiting oneself below mediocrity

[@sihargreaves]

Heh if you say so man. In my experience life is a little more grey than black and white. It all depends on your goals at the end of the day. If you only want to scratch eg like Q bert and D Styles you're going to get better if you put all of your focus into just getting better on one side. If you want to be a more rounded DJ and enter battles and juggle etc its good to learn both. So there's another answer for you...

[@Presbiter]

@@sihargreaves sure, everyone can do as they like. Now I ask you, is really the factor which hand you chose for scratching and the movement the big difficulty for beginners or is it rather the fact that you do two different movements simultaneously with each hand during a scratch and even may be at different timings? no matter which hand you chose you will face similar struggles on both at the same time. Lets say your strong side is your right hand. If you chose left for scratching, then you will struggle most likely with the plattermovement on your left hand, while if chosing the right side, you will then face the struggle with the fader movement of your weak hand. both plattermovement and fadergymnastics also offer a similar level of difficulty, so by chosing just one side for scratching wont lower the difficulty bar while at the same time close the door to a shit load of intermidiate and advanced techniques . Never the less, if one absolutely only chose one side, what ever floats his boat aand brings you fun is fine in the end ;)

[@Love.film85]

Bro I'm a x DMC contender and it absolutely makes no difference if your left or right handed if your right handed it's the fader if your left handed thats the fader.. no need to confuse new comers into the scratch game..look at NETIK THEN LOOK AT UNKUT..wot r these guys sayin PMSL the patterns come mainly from the fader hand not the record hand therefore the strong hand is SIMPLY IF YOUR RITE OR LEFT..Never seen so much ridiculous chat over this 🤣🤣🤣

[@sihargreaves]

Me: presents a well-thought-out, balanced argument that tries to take into account the nuances of the subject backed up by evidence. Marine: Derpa derpa derpa