Please bear in mind that there is no universally accepted system for scratch terminology. Email flaredycats@hotmail.com with any questions and we will spurt the truth.


Baby

With the fader open, and the record at the start of a sound, move the record forwards and backwards.

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Forward

Start with the fader off. Open the fader and let the record go to play the sound, then close the fader at the end of the sound. Draw the record back to the start of the sound with the fader off.

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Stab

Like the forward scratch, except you push the record forwards instead of letting it go. Fader movement is identical: instead of letting go of the record, push it forwards, then with the fader off pull it back.

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Reverse

The opposite of a stab. Open the fader for the pullback on the record instead of the forward push. Play the sound for the pullback part only.

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Slide

Start as with the stab but instead of pushing the record quickly to create a sharp sound, push the record slowly and leave the fader open to create long, low, relatively quiet sound.

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Chirp

Start with the record at the start (or very slightly before the start) of a sound with a sharp attack, and the fader open. Push the record forward and close the fader gradually, then pull the record back and open the fader gradually to get two sounds. When you get the basic co-ordination, do the scratch quickly, move the fader quickly.

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Tear

With the fader open, push the record forward (as with baby) and then draw it back in two distinct parts, to create three sounds. Tear ish up!

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Baby fades

Do a baby scratch, whilst doing it gradually lower the upfader to the bottom to fade the sound out.

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Forward echo

As with forwards, but using the upfader. Have the crossfader open and the upfader closed. Open the upfader to the top and let go of the record to get a normal sounding forward. Close the upfader (move it down) and pull the record back. Open the upfader again, but this time not quite all the way to the top so that the forward is quiter than the first one. Repeat this and have the upfader at a lower open position each time to create an echo-like effect where each forward is quieter than the previous one.

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Transform

Get a long sound such as 'aaahh'. Start with the fader closed and the record at the start of the sound. Let go of the record, and with the record running, open and close the fader for any number of times.

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Pushed reverse tear

The opposite of a tear in the first part, push the record forward in two parts and pull in back in one.

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Tapped reverse tear

Let go of the record, tapping it to split the sound into two parts, then pull it back.

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Square tear

Push the record forward in two parts, and pull it back in two parts, to create four sounds.

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Flare

There are several key points to understanding flare scratches. Firstly, flares start with the fader OPEN, (not closed - as in the transform scratch). Secondly flares are created by letting the record move with the fader starting open, and then creating sounds by 'clicking' the fader shut then open. Different flares are created by differing the clicks - either by the number of clicks or the position of the clicks. This may seem really confusing to a beginner. But you are going to learn.

One click flare

This scratch starts with the fader open, the record is moved, and while it is moving the fader is clicked shut, then open ONCE. This creates two sounds.

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Two click flare

Now try two clicks to make three sounds!

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Orbit

Orbits are two flares, both with the same number of clicks, combined so as to produce a rolling effect.

1 click orbit (or 'one-clicker')

Thus a one click orbit is a one click flare in one direction, followed by another one click flare in the reverse direction. This makes a total of four sounds.

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2 click orbit

Like the one-clicker, except you put two clicks in each stroke, to create six sounds (three forward and three back). Often you may hear these simply referred to as 'orbits' in the turntablist vernacular.

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3 click orbit

Like the two-clicker, except you put three clicks in each stroke, to create eight sounds (four forward and four back).

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4 click orbit

Like the three-clicker, except you put four clicks in each stroke, to create ten sounds (five forward and five back).

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A brief note on technique

You may have realised that one can indeed employ different methods to produce the clicks required to flare and orbit. You can simply click the fader by holding it with your fingers and moving it shut, or you could try the 'twiddle' or 'crab' techniques!

Twiddle

The twiddle offers a different way of performing the clicks. You need to have your thumb relaxed and holding the fader open. 'Snap' your index finger across the fader to click it off, and then spring it back open using your thumb. Then in a swift, fluid motion do the same with your forefinger. Don't try to push the fader back open with your thumb, just relax it, so that it springs the fader back open, and let your fingers do the work.

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Crabs

Similar to the twiddles, but using three or even four fingers.

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To get good twiddles and crabs, you can build up the co-ordination by practising the following exercise: Hold the fader open with a relaxed thumb. Push the fader shut with your index finger and let the finger slide off the bottom end of the fader, so that you thumb pushes the fader open again. Try to do the whole move smoothly, and keep your thumb relaxed. Perform one-clickers, shutting the fader using this method and build up the speed and accuracy. Do this for each finger (all four of them) on your fader hand. Question: Two click orbits. To crab or not to crab, that is the question. Answer: See FAQ page.

Crab fades

Use the crabbing finger action on the upfader instead of the crossfader, and crab at different volume levels to create crab fade effects.

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Scribble

Press lightly on the record, and tense your arm so that it shakes, moving the record forwards and backwards very quickly. an easy way to impress a crowd.

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Drills

Like a scribble, except you use your arm to move your hand forwards and backwards to create a moving scribble effect.

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Rubs/ hydroplanes

First style - let the record run like a forward, and place your finger lightly on the left side of the record so that it is opposing the direction of the record spin. Allow your finger to lightly skip or bounce along the record to create a slightly slowed grating effect over the sound being played. Second style - instead you push the record round with one hand whilst the other is used to bounce along the record. These can be done in both directions unlike the first style.

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Tweak

Turn the record player off and spin the record around in both directions at differing speeds by pushing the edge of the turntable platter with your hands. You can also use fader techniques in combination with this. Historically the transform scratch has often been used by famous 'tweakers'.

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Bubble scratch

Change the eq whilst babying, scribbling, doing any other scratch to create an effect resembling a wah pedal.




Sonic flares

This complicated and subtle scratch will be detailed in the forthcoming FlaredyCats video.

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Turbo scratch

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Chirp-crabs

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Serial chirp one-clicker

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Parallel tear-chirp

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Serial chirp orbit

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Oleonthosis

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Hexagon tears

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Magic tears

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Waltz orbits

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Regular pulse

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Irregular pulse

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Doppler pulse

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Parallel park

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