This chapter is about the rhythmical synchronization of ‘dynamic -‘ and ‘acoustic motions’ – which forms the basis of playing music with this instrument and is usually referred to scratching.
As discussed, a turntablist can slip into different acoustic roles, depending on the source audio and playing techniques. We will now examine one of these scratch techniques named as beat cutting or drum scratching, to show how this is done.
Beat cutting could be described as percussion since it works mostly with a bass drum and snare as source material. Type and arrangement of the individual audio segments may differ. To illustrate this in an example, some beat cutting patterns will be presented in more detail. We start with following requirements:
At a rate of 75 bpm the bass drum and the subsequent snare have a total duration of one-eighth – so each is 1/16 beat long. The waveform visualizes the material and at the same time the necessary -anatonic stages- are identifed. With that we create basic requirements to adapt the notation model to the original sound material.
Video: Sample
The first -anatonic stage- refers to the transient effect of the bass drum (0 – 0.1s), the second marks the decay process of this segment (0.1- 0.2 s). The third stage defnes the transient effect of the snare (0.2 – 0.3 s), the fourth the transient (0.3 – 0.4 s).
When the player uses -dynamic motions- to play the bass drum and snare in time (in rhythm), a typical beat structure is created.By clicking on the following notation you can see several videos of such performances.
Pattern 1
Video: Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Video: Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Video: Pattern 3
Pattern 4
Video: Pattern 4
Pattern 5
Video: Pattern 5
Pattern 6
Video: Pattern 6
Pattern 7
Video: Pattern 7
5.1 Famous Pattern
In the following you can see some beat cutting or with other words drum scratching pattern by some of the most famous turntablists worldwide. In this regard, I would like to thank all these pioneers of the art form for their incredible work and inspiration.
D-Styles at CSL in 2006
Tutorial: D-Styles * the notational indication is outdated in this video
D-Styles at Scratchcon in 2000
Video: D-Styles
Mixmaster Mike at Beastie Boys “Three MC’s & One DJ”
Tutorial: Mixmaster Mike
DJ Q-Bert showcase in Paris
Video: DJ-Q-Bert
DJ Q-Bert at Vestax Extravaganza 2000
Tutorial: DJ Q-Bert
DJ Netik showcase
Tutorial: DJ Netik * the notational indication is outdated in this video
DJ Vajra The Funky Drummer routine
Tutorial: DJ Vajra * the notational indication is outdated in this video