turntable
instrumentsTURN-tay-bul
A device that rotates vinyl records for playback, also used as a musical instrument in DJ culture.
A turntable is a device that spins a vinyl record while a stylus traces its grooves to produce sound. Beyond simple playback, turntables became musical instruments in the hands of hip-hop DJs, who developed turntablism — the art of manipulating records to create rhythmic and melodic effects. Techniques include scratching (moving the record back and forth under the needle), beat juggling (alternating between two copies of the same record), and beat matching (synchronising the tempos of two records for seamless transitions). The DJ turntable setup typically includes two turntables and a mixer. In electronic dance music, DJs use turntables or digital controllers to blend tracks seamlessly over hours-long sets. The turntable's transformation from playback device to creative instrument is one of the most innovative developments in 20th-century music.
Grand Wizzard Theodore accidentally invented scratching in 1977 when he stopped a spinning record with his hand to hear his mother calling him — and liked the sound it made.