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Some questions for advanced turntablists

DJ CON-STRUC 8:10 AM - 8 February, 2013
I know there aren't a lot of advanced turntablists in these forums but I know there are a few of you! My question is this, once you have all the foundation scratches down (stabs, transforms, crabs, chirps, 1&2 click flares and chirp-flares) and can do them pretty good. How long does it take roughly to get down new scratches? I have been really practicing hard lately, I have been practicing the boomerang aka delayed 2 click flare for about 2 months now and yesterday I was able to finally swing it double time up to 92 bpm comfortably (still can't quit get it above 92 bpm but getting close). I ask because I'm actually surprised it only took me 2 months to get this scratch seeing how it took me over a year just to get down the 1 click flare. Do you just pick up things faster as time goes on and you get better? Is there ever a point where you can learn a new scratch and be doing it comfortably within a matter of hours/days? I'm interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks
DJJOHNNYM_vSL3 12:22 PM - 8 February, 2013
As an advanced baby scratcher myself, I'd say....

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE....

Naw, on the real, practice....

For example, I've seen people like Dazz and Ksmizz take it to the next level where I clearly knew what their "Level of Expertise" was, and now they've surpassed doing scratches that I CAN'T even do....lol...

Why? Because I don't practice.... :(...

I know I didn't exactly answer your question, as it was directed towards people who're actively trying to learn new scratches, but I figured I'd put a general **Public Service Announcement** out there.... :-D
s3kn0tr0n1c 1:08 PM - 8 February, 2013
Everyone will be different.....I've been at it for about 11-12years. But prob half those years I should've practised harder tho.

I'm happy with myself at the moment as I've just learnt the swing flare and now able to do it pretty clean over a beat. Recon it took me 9 months of fairly reg practise. Probs the same with most cuts for me....ill get it slow(acapella) quite quickly but takes close to a year to get it clean over a beat...after that you can start to combo and mix it up etc.

Always good to concentrate on 2-3 cuts in parallel so that you learn a few over the year.

Latest vid i did to look at my swing flaring(amongst other cutz) -

Watchwww.youtube.com
The Return of Dj Sparky 2:44 PM - 8 February, 2013
I've progressed from baby scratchs to teenage scratches, three clicks and the bitches be wet these days
djdisciple 2:56 PM - 8 February, 2013
Strange enough, It took me quite a few years back in the day to get one click and double click flares. I think that since its a new movement (open ended) (hamster or regular) your hand doesn't have the muscle memory, similar to how a new drummer may struggle with syncopated beats.

However Boomerangs (not the same as delayed flares!), Triple click boomerangs and swing flares all came within a week (granted i practiced them all day.)
These cuts all have a similar starting movement So it was good to learn/practice them all together. I think certain cuts will be easier to acquire when they are similar to patterns your already accustomed to Chirp - Flare - Chirp Flare. Triple Click flare - Crescent Flare - Delayed Triple Click flares. Boomerang - Triple Click Boomerang - Autobanhs.

The autobanhs were tricky because they incorporate a couple techniques. two 1st halfs of boomerangs finished with a 2nd half of delayed double click flare whaa??? I can roll them all day really fast, but i can only pinch it at slow speeds. I am wanting to pinch it at all speeds. More practice for me!


I agree with the poster above though. Speed comes last. I practiced the cuts so painfully slow with out beats untill i could do a full rotation of a scratch then started doing orbits or continuous cycles/mirrored. Then i paired it with slow beats and worked with speed, double time etcc. Half the battle for some of the more complex scratches / combos was finding a good tutorial that properly displayed the hand movements for hamster scratchers, click placements slow and fast.


All in all I thnk motivation plays a big role for me. I hear other scratchers, esp live and go home very inspired and motivated to learn new patterns, make all my cuts cleaner and more pronounced, diversify my style etc.
Vekked 3:07 PM - 8 February, 2013
it definitely becomes easier to learn new scratches as time goes on because your coordination just gets better overall, so you don't have to fight as much with your hands not doing what you want them to do

disciple - boomerangs vs. delayed flares depends on when you learned them... before 2007 most people learned them through The Ever and they were called delayed 2 click flares on there.
djdisciple 3:30 PM - 8 February, 2013
Woah it's Vekked! U r super dope my dude!

As far as the boomerangs vs delayed flares debate. I'm no scratch name nazi. It can just be confusing at times to what actual scratch is being refereed to at times depending on who is using the term.
DeezNotes 3:53 PM - 8 February, 2013
I can't learn anything new. I think it's a wrap for me. lol
DJ GaFFle 4:12 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
it definitely becomes easier to learn new scratches as time goes on because your coordination just gets better overall, so you don't have to fight as much with your hands not doing what you want them to do

disciple - boomerangs vs. delayed flares depends on when you learned them... before 2007 most people learned them through The Ever and they were called delayed 2 click flares on there.

That jacket speaks volumes sir... it always puts me in awe every since seeing the back of DJ Cash Money's album cover: that belt, the confetti, the Gemini MX2200 mixer and that DMC World Champion jacket. Hats off to ya...
DJ GaFFle 4:15 PM - 8 February, 2013
DJ GaFFle 4:39 PM - 8 February, 2013
OMG... I just ran across this: Watchwww.youtube.com

That was sIcK !!! Did Vekked battle him and win?
@1:22
@4:12
@4:48
... Insane!!!
DJJOHNNYM_vSL3 8:06 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
OMG... I just ran across this: Watchwww.youtube.com

That was sIcK !!! Did Vekked battle him and win?
@1:22
@4:12
@4:48
... Insane!!!


That's stuff that makes you want to QUIT....Forget all about practice...
sixxx 8:31 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
I have been practicing the boomerang aka delayed 2 click flare


Oh how I wish I could do this. That's my next goal. The hardest part for old cats like myself is able to switch your brain from doing things the "right" way and going backwards about stuff. Learning even a one click flare was difficult (the first time) because my mind could not switch to starting and ending with the fader open. The first time I tried, I failed miserably. I practiced and practiced and just could not get it. My brain would automatically switch to the opposite. So I just chilled for a while and then got back to it. No joke I got the one click flares and two click flares within a matter of days. Yes. Days. No, they're not perfect but every hour that I practice they get perfected.

When I say not perfect I mean that I cannot get them going for long periods of time without messing up a little. I'm all about perfection. Even if it's a simple baby scratch, it has to sound perfect or I don't feel I've mastered it yet.

So to answer your question, I say that as long as you keep moving forward things SHOULD be easier to learn, but again, it all depends on how complicated the scratch is I suppose and how much you practice.
sixxx 8:38 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
Quote:
OMG... I just ran across this: Watchwww.youtube.com

That was sIcK !!! Did Vekked battle him and win?
@1:22
@4:12
@4:48
... Insane!!!


That's stuff that makes you want to QUIT....Forget all about practice...


Ain't that the truth!

Being able to scratch like that with both hands is serious business. nm
the_black_one 8:56 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
OMG... I just ran across this: Watchwww.youtube.com

That was sIcK !!! Did Vekked battle him and win?
@1:22
@4:12
@4:48
... Insane!!!


That's stuff that makes you want to QUIT....Forget all about practice...


Ain't that the truth!

Being able to scratch like that with both hands is serious business. nm


Wow....
the_black_one 9:01 PM - 8 February, 2013
I was gonna watch some porn but decited to watch that video again... Amazing
SpareChange 9:13 PM - 8 February, 2013
I think it's different for everybody...some things "autobahns" etc. seemed to take me forever, others came more quickly and there are some I've practiced for years and still can't do consistently or never really figured out like scribbles with my left hand, prisms or pinching the fader vs clicking...

I know tablists who can do some complex patterns yet can't do fast chirps...i think some scratches are easier for djs who cut hamster vs normal & vice versa..I personally like to make up my own patterns/technics vs just learning everybody elses that's the only downside to studying others is that a lot of people sound the same...but it's really infinite the amount of scratches you can learn and it really just depends on the person & their learning curve...I know I feel like it takes me a lot longer than the average person to pick up some technics but the more you practice the better you'll get regardless....u already have good fundamentals and seems like you get em down clean before you move on to the next so that's a great habit to have.
DJJOHNNYM_vSL3 9:40 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
I was gonna watch some porn but decited to watch that video again... Amazing

Well, in relation to porn, we know you're an expert with using BOTH HANDS....
sixxx 9:56 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
I personally like to make up my own patterns/technics vs just learning everybody elses that's the only downside to studying others is that a lot of people sound the same...


I agree.
sixxx 9:57 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
Quote:
I was gonna watch some porn but decited to watch that video again... Amazing

Well, in relation to porn, we know I'm an expert with using BOTH ASHY HANDS....



lol

I just had to.... lmao

nm
the_black_one 9:58 PM - 8 February, 2013
Lol!!!
DJJOHNNYM_vSL3 9:59 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I was gonna watch some porn but decited to watch that video again... Amazing


Well, in relation to porn, we know I'm an expert with using BOTH ASHY HANDS....


lol

I just had to.... lmao

nm


Right on cue, but I thought someone would throw in something about lotion, etc...

Y'all slippin...
sixxx 10:05 PM - 8 February, 2013
You just made it too easy that time...

anyway

Back on topic.

I just noticed he uses the same headphones I use. I honestly just love those headphones. I wish they hadn't discontinued them for the new model that breaks. nm
Vekked 11:41 PM - 8 February, 2013
Quote:
OMG... I just ran across this: Watchwww.youtube.com

That was sIcK !!! Did Vekked battle him and win?
@1:22
@4:12
@4:48
... Insane!!!


Haha nah didn't beat B. Izoh won the 6 minutes this year, Precision got 2nd and I tied for 5th. I won the Supremacy (vinyl only, head to head tournament), and IDA (new name for ITF), but Precision didn't do anything but the 6 min.

This set is my favourite set in years though. Precision has been in my top 5 battle DJs for a while now... so even just being in a battle with him is kind of a trip since he was one of the guys I watched the most coming up. He is criminally slept on, that's for sure. Check out his 2002 and 2007 sets if you haven't yet.
Vekked 11:41 PM - 8 February, 2013
*nah didn't beat P, not B lol