The Stab: Developing Musical Timing and Coordination
Timing is one of the keys to the Stab. Good timing allows us to stay synced to the pulse of the beat. When we’re in time, every movement aligns naturally with the beat. When we’re not, it may feel like we’re just going through the motions. Even if the execution of the technique is correct, poor timing will make your scratches feel disconnected from the beat.
With the Stab, the record hand moves forward and backward in time with the pulse of the beat, while the fader stays in sync, slightly leading the record hand. Each movement fits into a specific point in time within the beat. The record hand slightly follows just behind the fader, allowing the forward stroke to come through cleanly. If either hand falls out of time, or if one action is mistimed, the synchronization breaks down and the entire technique fails.
The Stab develops coordination, control, and stamina because it requires more movement to isolate the forward scratch, which can make executing 16th notes cleanly more difficult as opposed to the Chirp. Because of this, practicing the Stab highlights how vital timing and coordination are in developing the technique.
To simplify the approach, the record hand and fader hand do not act independently; they move together in the same direction, each in sync with the same rhythmic pulse. The record hand slightly chases the fader, staying just behind it to maintain clean sound and control. When approached this way, smaller subdivisions like 16th notes are not a hurdle, but something that can be developed and controlled through practice.
Below is the original transcript from the video.
Rhythm 1
What’s up? In this video, we're going to continue working on the stab, and we’re moving on to quarter note and eighth note rhythms. If you’re not familiar with these terms, check out our baby scratch series. That way, you’ll be up to speed with what we’re about to cover. Grab your sheet music and let’s get started; you’ll find a link to it in the description below. Let’s count it off. The tempo is at 85 beats per minute. Here we go!
Rhythm 2
Let’s take a look at number two. We’re going to count out loud so we stay on beat. We’re also continuing where we left off in the last lesson, focusing on closing the fader completely before we pull back the record. We want to make sure we don’t hear the sound when we pull back. Alright, let’s count it off! Here we go!
Rhythm 3
Hopefully, you're starting to get it now, so let’s move on to number three. This time, let’s concentrate on staying on beat. We don’t want to rush, and we don’t want to drag the beat. We want our strokes to be in time, right on beat. Let’s count it off. Here we go!
Rhythm 4
Let’s dive into the final rhythm. This time, we are going to concentrate on playing in time, and we are also going to play nice, clean strokes. We want our strokes to sound identical. Don’t forget to count out loud. Here we go!
There you have it! We hope you enjoyed this video. Make sure to incorporate these rhythms into your daily practice routine and remember to practice with both hands. For more detailed lessons, check out our premium videos at scratchingmadeeasy.com. And if you liked the video, be sure to share it with anyone who might find it helpful. Thanks for watching, and see you next time! Peace!
FAQs
1. Why is timing important for the Stab?
Timing is important for the Stab because it keeps every movement synchronized to the pulse of the beat.
2. How are the record hand and fader synchronized in the Stab?
The record hand and fader are synchronized in the Stab by moving together in the same direction, with the fader slightly leading and the record hand following just behind it.
3. Why does the Stab require more coordination than the Chirp?
The Stab requires more coordination than the Chirp because it requires more movement to isolate the forward scratch, which can make executing 16th notes cleanly more difficult.
Summary
The Stab requires the record hand and fader hand to move together in time with the pulse of the beat, with the fader slightly leading and the record hand following just behind it. Keeping both hands synchronized allows the forward stroke to come through cleanly, while the additional movement required to isolate it can make executing 16th notes more difficult.
About the Authors
Jason E. Bullock and M. Dwayne Bullock (DjRoninTokyo) are the creators of Scratching Made Easy and the authors of Scratching Made Easy Turntable Method Book 1: A Guide to Scratching. They created a scratch notation system that uses standard musical notation to apply fundamental music concepts to scratching.
Pt. 2 → Pt. 3
Continue to: How I Learned Cross Fader & Record Control - The Stab Scratch (Part 3)
