scratching
techniquesSKRACH-ing
A DJ technique of manually moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable to create rhythmic sounds.
Scratching produces percussive, rhythmic, and melodic effects by manipulating a record against the stylus while using the crossfader for rhythmic gating. Basic scratches include the baby scratch (no crossfader), chirp, flare, crab, and transformer. Advanced techniques combine multiple scratch types into complex rhythmic patterns. Scratching transformed the turntable from a playback device into a fully expressive instrument capable of melodic and percussive performance.
The transformer scratch, named after the cartoon, involves rapid on-off flicks of the crossfader while moving the record, creating a stuttering robotic effect that became a hip-hop staple.