The Best Crab Scratch Tutorial on Youtube (Includes Slow Motion footage)

[@robertwaelder]

Great tutorial! I love that you covered both normal and hamster style, and did a slomo version. So helpful!

[@BeatsBeneath]

Awesome! Thank you! I really like the super slow motion helps a lot doesn't it? Luckily my house mate does crabs hamster style or I wouldn't be able to do that. 😌

[@konmoe121]

Practicing crab really helps getting smoother in general as soon as you try to combine it with other scratches. Thanks for the tutorial!

[@housewyfe]

I have to say this is definitively the best breakdown of this technique I've seen. It's still infuriatingly difficult for me as a maybe 'intermediate' level turntablist, but it *really* helped it click in my head. Thanks a ton!

[@BeatsBeneath]

Glad it helped! It's one of the weirder ones to get

[@dcampbell3349]

Great video. Thank you for the open fader tip. Finally getting to learn to scratch. Working on basics. Hopefully I’ll add this one soon

[@BeatsBeneath]

Nice one! Good luck

[@vernondaniel5682]

Wow that mixer looks good

[@BeatsBeneath]

It's a djm s9 with a custom faceplate on it from nmcp studio

[@Mac_Fleetwood]

That cutting time tip is bad ass. Everybody else already showed me the finger part. Now I got it! Thank you sir

[@daveb8795]

Great tutorial! I do them with 3 fingers open fader if I’m using it as a pattern. But I commonly find myself crabbing a pullback as a transition into another pattern.

[@BeatsBeneath]

Good stuff! Me too. I don't tend to do them on their own too much but love doing them like that. Or even on the forward, but it's much harder to catch them that way for some reason.

[@Gyrbae]

2:41 How a dj tells you he's not interested

[@BeatsBeneath]

Not sure I follow?

[@DV91]

Thanks for the tips. It’s taken me a long time to master it but I feel like I’m getting close and it feels good.

[@sergeiorlov5096]

Mister- your tutorials on scratching are literally the best on KZbin. Trust me, I've seen them all)

[@BeatsBeneath]

Wow, thanks! That's very kind of you to say. I wish more people were watching them, then I could focus on them more!

[@sergeiorlov5096]

@@BeatsBeneath I really hope for that, and wish you to get more following!

[@richarditaliano8781]

Thanks so much for all your scratch content. Have learnt so much from it all. Brilliant 👌

[@Audiiokidd]

I’ve been debating which new scratch to learn. I think I’m ready to try the crab now. Thanks for this tutorial!

[@BeatsBeneath]

Awesome! Why not eh? It's a cool scratch to add some variation. Thanks for watching.

[@DJ-Justo]

Wow never thought of starting open fader crab but now that you say it I think I, usually open fader anyhow. For example ahh yea in the yea I’ll be open and start the crab.

[@DocHalliday]

I'm glad I found this channel 👍🏾👍🏾 I lean towards the open fader crab style, and sometimes I'm clean, sometimes not so clean with it. The tip about aiming your fingertips towards the bottom of the fader cap is gold, I can't wait to get home from work and try it out. I strike my fingers towards the middle, and that might be why my crabs are inconsistent. Cheers! 🍻

[@BeatsBeneath]

Welcome!! How did you get on?

[@DocHalliday]

@@BeatsBeneath My crabs have become much cleaner and more pronounced! 👍🏾👍🏾

[@nicklessticksfpv]

I use 3 fingers, i like to combine this one with the chirp scratch, dj mouss a the time was doing it so well.

[@BeatsBeneath]

Ah I didn't try that for some reason, gonna give it a go. Thanks for watching.

[@salvadorvillanueva148]

I was definitely one of those beginners that wanted to learn crabs asap, thankfully I didn't learn them until after I had the basics down. Nowadays I don't really use them, but when I do, I like pairing them with flaires. I do a 3 finger crab and scratch hamster.

[@BeatsBeneath]

Ya it's a common pitfall, I guess it just looks and sounds super unique so people want to learn it.

[@presise]

Im going to save this video

[@axeratedmofo]

Shameful to admit but I am one of those that learnt to crab scratch proficiently before i had a good grasp on the basics, and while it was good to know something flashy, i definitely relied on it too much and basically hit a brick wall with learning new scratches and patterns. I'm forcing myself now to start from square one to get everything else down

[@ZoRosales]

This tutorial helped it click for me thank you!!!

[@parishutcherson3663]

Can you please show me on how to do the "Matrix" scratch when you slow down while scratching?

[@BeatsBeneath]

I've never heard of that actually. Any links to it?

[@j0ntsang]

Another excellent video! I have come to see Crabs as just the method to achieving quick fader movements in service of speeding up other scratches, which is why I have been spending most of my time focusing on starting / ending with them open. On their own with a drag, is basically as impressive as a transform. It can sound nice here and there but otherwise boring!

[@BeatsBeneath]

I agree actually. They're more of a spice scratch than a fundamental. That's why I don't practice them too much. Everything has it's place though I guess. I found it quite a challenge to only do crabs at the end, that's why the freestyle is so short lol.

[@dasimsim]

Can i do it with finger and how

[@georgeadams6254]

Sick guy.

[@thewatcher6295]

I’m a beginner, what’s the best order to learn scratches?

[@BeatsBeneath]

Hey man. I've written a video about this I'm working on but it roughly goes something like; baby, scribble, Drags, forwards, backwards, Marches, transformers,Chirps, tears, flares, 2 clicker, OG flares etc... I mean there loads and lots of overlap tbh

[@thewatcher6295]

@@BeatsBeneath Thanks for the quick reply. I like your scratch style . It's funky and you work with the beat and not overpower it. You use a simple generic beat and make it flow great. That is the mark of thoughtful scratching in my opinion. keep up the good work.

[@oluwaseunadesola8381]

I love dis

[@BeatsBeneath]

No worries!

[@daveb8795]

What is the table that you have your gear on? Looks nice!

[@BeatsBeneath]

It is! It's solid as heck. I got it from my mate, who got it from Etsy somewhere. I dunno which seller, as I got it second hand. It's super solid though.

[@DrGeta666]

What kind of cut in lag do you use? I'm really finding it hard to work out what I find best, I've been learning in the world of closed fader scratches and I've had my cut in lag to 0 or 1 on a pioneer S7 and was fine but I'm finding it too shallow for crabs and open fader cuts like 2 clicks as the audio is only cut really quickly and almost unable to be heard.

[@BeatsBeneath]

I like it short as possible really. I'd say just keep working on your technique if you're not getting s defined sound.

[@kingray7734]

Question... Do you have to hold the fader really tight with your thumb? Like your 3 fingers are forcing the fader to move?

[@BeatsBeneath]

No it's more of a light touch. Just a really small pressure but yeah your fingers move your thumb so has to be weak

[@kingray7734]

@@BeatsBeneath Thank you so much. Your scratch tutorials are the best I've found on KZbin my man

[@BeatsBeneath]

Thanks! means a lot

[@djayking256]

Nice

[@jgirling6890]

After a year of scratching I've tried to learn this on and off and every time it's the same result, can do it closed..1...2...3 1...2....3 then trying it from an open or in a flare I get the 1 or the 2...3 or just a 0 😂 it's so frustrating. It's like my fingers and hand position is so comfortable hitting the other scratches then adding the crab in a little freestyle and no sounds are even made just kills me! I'd like to know how people learnt it... How long it had taken... Did they get the same problem as me.. give us your own personal feedback learning this scratch

[@BeatsBeneath]

Yeah that really is a tricky part. May be get your twiddles clean to get the timing and then add in the extra finger again once you have the timing.

[@macdjmarco]

I'm kinda practising that crabs right now. And I don't how how hard should i stop the fader from opening. 😅

[@BeatsBeneath]

Not very, it's a light touch. Think of a light spring.

[@macdjmarco]

@@BeatsBeneath Lovely, thanks 🔥

[@jasonmaitta4127]

Great tutorial! I personally do 3 fingers, open style, and hamster. 👍

[@BeatsBeneath]

Nice nice. The 'classic' way I guess

[@barrywatts8501]

Thanks so much Si. Really like the tutorial. This is going to help so much. Im at that point just trying them closed as you said. Coming along ok i think. Cheers again my friend👍👍👌

[@BeatsBeneath]

Glad it was helpful! The timing is the key, nice and slow and defined. I still practice the movement walking around town coz I'm a fidgeter. People must think I'm a weirdo.

[@vernondaniel5682]

What mixer is that please

[@BeatsBeneath]

DJM S9

[@lavenderflowersfall280]

Evolution crab evolution!!!!!!!

[@BeatsBeneath]

Ha, what's the from?

[@TheGfreshofficial]

Open 3 fingers. Was someway more easy for me to learn then closed

[@BeatsBeneath]

Interesting

[@shink3760]

Thank you for the detailed breakdown. Now let me go practice my basics...😫

[@BeatsBeneath]

You’re welcome 😊

[@vernondaniel5682]

Can you do that with a djm.600

[@BeatsBeneath]

You might struggle, I've only ever used those mixers in clubs and their crossfaders aren't the best for scratching I don't think.

[@vernondaniel5682]

Ok thank you..

[@GlowBeets]

Great vid dude! Cheers!

[@BeatsBeneath]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@tonymckeown6652]

Great now I have crabs 🦀

[@BeatsBeneath]

Lol, the scratch I hope...?

[@djminos2759]

3 on the crab for me. If it I want 4 notes I do 2 twiddles.

[@goldenJibaku]

How can you say best after Q-bert did a tutorial 😆🍀

[@abelmunoz2836]

I use 4

[@rushdontrun]

Mate your videos have got so good. Fucking love it.

[@BeatsBeneath]

Ha cheers bro! That's the plan I guess. Keep boshing em out and improving.

[@shaikhabul697]

Hi sir I am dj a.y.b from india im staring scratching plz teach me how can i....

[@BeatsBeneath]

Lol, the suspense

[@ry6222]

I tried it last night and damn I couldn’t do it man =/ will keep trying though

[@BeatsBeneath]

How's that crab going now?

[@buddafingaz9403]

Im with ya on the regular style my friend. Hamster style doesnt feel rite for me, cause my thumb doesnt like being the enforcer, my fingers do mostly when pulling off different scratches. Definitely would love to get this one down, I usually do this with two fingers, cause I can twiddle my fingers pretty fast, so thats my version... Lol... Its a work in progress rite, rite... Lol.. bahahahaha... Great video homeslice, definitely helpful, & appreciated, Respex.... 🔥💯👍🙏🎶🌎

[@BeatsBeneath]

lol 'the enforcer' I like that. I used to just get a credit card and crab on that all day while I was on the train and that. It's a good way to hear if you're nailing those clicks or not. No reason you can't get some practice in when you're away from your decks!

[@buddafingaz9403]

@@BeatsBeneath lol... Yea for sure, thats a really good idea, I think I'll check that out. Ive been working on Boomerangs, & 1-Click Flares, & also 2-Click Flares, & im definitely making progress with the Boomerang, & 1-Click Flares, but the 2-Click Flare I can only pull off slowly rite now, when it comes out clean, & its aggrevating, cause I can't really hear the whole cool effect of the 2-Click Flare due to that very problem... Lol. I've been kinda playing around with the Joe Cooley, as well. Always been captivated by the crab skratch though, something about it, just gets me man. I love the repetitive clicks, & the cool repetitive sound it creates, while doing them forwards & backwards. But, man, when im jamming out to an instrumental, or Loop Beat, etc..., I seem to mess it up for some reason. Lol. How long you been scratching for? Very nice crabbing man, caught my attention, when scrolling thru my KZbin videos tonite, glad I clicked on your channel brotha, its nice to meet you, im Jeff, til next time homeslice, Wicked Respex.... 💯🔥👍🙏🎶🌎

[@BeatsBeneath]

Ah cool man. Long time now I started in 2004. Shoukd probably be better than I am by now after that amount of time. Deffo didnt practice as much as I could have over the last 5 years

[@KrasavkinRomanE]

Приветству братан.

[@sinjintek]

Long fingernails? Interesting. I clip mine close and file down smooth ..I think my crabs are hella clean 🤷🏻

[@Dorkster81]

Lol I cant crab scratch but i can two click flair. Two click tears. Etc. Lolol

[@BeatsBeneath]

Not the worse scratch to leave out your repertoire to be fair.

[@mugzycuts706]

Still trying lol

[@mj_nooker]

U forgot to say, that crab must be done with RELAXED hand and fingers (because u can't do it with tense hand) and it's the main trick. That's why your guide is good (thanx!) but not the best %)

[@BeatsBeneath]

Haha fair enough "the best" was a bit of a click bait title not gonna lie

[@mj_nooker]

@@BeatsBeneath :)

[@djemsy5887]

Unfortunately my crossfader fell victim to the 'Coronavirus' two days ago when it broke into 4 pieces haha 😖

[@BeatsBeneath]

Damn man, tragedy! Get an Innofader in the post!

[@tutorbravin5058]

too much talking

[@BeatsBeneath]

Too much negativity