How I Learned to Scratch on Beat - The Baby Scratch (Part 5)

Baby Scratch performed on a turntable and mixer beneath quarter-note and sixteenth-note notation, with an arrow connecting the written rhythm to the DJ setup

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What's up everybody? In the previous lesson we learned how to play eighth notes, quarter notes, and eighth rests. In this lesson we will introduce the sixteenth note. Let’s go ahead and dive right in.

 

This is a sixteenth note.

Single sixteenth note with two flags labeled Sixteenth Note

Sixteenth notes have two flags.

Single sixteenth note with an arrow identifying its two flags

One sixteenth note equals a quarter of a beat.

Single sixteenth note shown as equal to one quarter of a beat

Two sixteenth notes equal the duration of one eighth note.

Two sixteenth notes shown as equal to one eighth note

Four sixteenth notes equal the duration of one quarter note.

Four sixteenth notes shown as equal to one quarter note

When sixteenth notes are written consecutively, they are joined.

Two joined sixteenth notes labeled Joined Sixteenth Notes

This is what four sixteenth notes look like when they are joined.

Four joined sixteenth notes

When we count this rhythm, we count 1-e-and-ah-2-e-and-ah-3-e-and-ah-4-e-and-ah.

Two measures of sixteenth notes in 4/4 time with 1-e-and-ah counting above each beat

Rhythm 1

OK let's apply what you just learned. We are going to start by playing sixteenth notes and quarter notes. The tempo is at 88 beats per minute. Alright, here we go!

 

Scratch notation system using standard musical notation for two measures in 4/4 time for Baby Scratch Rhythm 1, using quarter notes and sixteenth notes

  

Rhythm 2

Let's move on to rhythm number two. Let’s focus on playing clean and even strokes. We want our strokes to be clean and evenly spaced apart. If your strokes aren’t evenly spaced apart, you will sound sloppy. We want our sound to be clean. Let’s go!

 

Scratch notation system using standard musical notation for four measures in 4/4 time for Baby Scratch Rhythm 2, using quarter notes and sixteenth notes

 

Rhythm 3

Let's go ahead and get into our third rhythm. I want you to focus on playing a steady and even tempo. I also want you to count out loud, because it will help you stay on beat. Make sure that you say the count properly. If you rush the count, you will more than likely rush your strokes. Alright, here we go!

 

Scratch notation system using standard musical notation for four measures in 4/4 time for Baby Scratch Rhythm 3, using sixteenth notes and quarter notes

 

Rhythm 3

Let's play this rhythm again. You don't want to rush. If you're having problems keeping the strokes even, slow down the tempo. And of course, if it's too easy, go ahead and speed up the tempo. Here we go!

 

Scratch notation system using standard musical notation for four measures in 4/4 time for Baby Scratch Rhythm 3, using sixteenth notes and quarter notes

 

Rhythm 4

Hopefully you are starting to get the hang of it, but if you are having trouble, don’t get discouraged. Sometimes learning new rhythms takes time. This information is new, so give it some time to sink in. With repetition you will eventually get the hang of it. Let's move on to the fourth and final rhythm. Here we go!

 

Scratch notation system using standard musical notation for eight measures in 4/4 time for Baby Scratch Rhythm 4, using quarter notes and sixteenth notes

 

There you have it! That's your introduction to sixteenth notes. Be sure to check out the next video. We'll add the quarter rest to sixteenth note rhythms. For premium content, check out our website scratchingmadeeasy.com With our premium videos, I will walk you through learning different scratch techniques and more importantly, how to put them together. Our Made Easy Method takes all the mystery out of scratching, and with consistent practice, it will take your scratching to the next level. Thanks for checking us out! Peace!

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Baby Scratch performed on a turntable and mixer beneath quarter-note and eighth-note notation with eighth rests, with an arrow connecting the written rhythm to the DJ setup
Baby Scratch performed on a turntable and mixer beneath mixed rhythmic notation, with an arrow connecting the written rhythm to the DJ setup