The Basics of Scratching

Abstract

This article deals with the popular and rarely studied art form of manipulating a vinyl record by rhythmically dragging and pushing it, commonly labelled “scratching.” With sufficient practice, a Disc Jockey (DJ) can have great control over the sound produced and treat the turntable as an expressive musical instrument. Even though a digital-based model of scratching might seem preferable to the vulnerable vinyl record, and such models are being manufactured today, the acoustical behaviour of the scratch has not been formally studied until now. To gain information of this behaviour, a DJ was asked to perform some typical scratching patterns. These common playing techniques and the corresponding sounds have been analysed. Since the focus of the article is on the basics of how the instrument works, an overview on standardized equipment and alternative equipment is also given.