The Baby Scratch: Developing Timing
The Baby Scratch changes again when your timing becomes stable enough that you can actually notice what is happening inside the beat.
When timing is still developing, you are mostly trying to stay on time. But once the technique starts landing more reliably, subtler details begin to show up. Mistakes become easier to hear. Placement becomes easier to feel. Small timing shifts become obvious instead of invisible.
This section focuses on that change. This is not about speed or new rhythms. It is about developing good timing so the Baby Scratch sits inside the beat with clarity. Good timing means each forward and backward stroke is evenly spaced and consistently aligned with the beat, without rushing ahead or falling behind the beat.
Developing Timing
Good timing is your ability to recognize where your strokes land inside the beat, and to put them there consistently.
Awareness of timing improves when you start noticing things like:
- A stroke that lands slightly early
- A backward strokes that lands behind the beat
- A subdivision that feels uneven, even though it sounded fine yesterday
That is progress. Your ears are getting sharper, and your hands are being asked to match what you can now hear. Your standards are not getting higher for no reason.
Having good timing is not just about staying on beat. It is about knowing when you are not, and correcting it with control.
Below is the original transcript from the video.
Rhythm 1
Hey, how’s it going? In the last video we added quarter rests to sixteenth note and quarter note rhythms. In this video we are going to go over sixteenth notes, eighth notes, and quarter notes. You can find links to everything discussed in this video in the description below. Alright, let’s get started. The tempo is at 86 beats per minute. Here we go!
Rhythm 2
Let’s go ahead and dive into another example. But before we do that, let’s make sure that we count out loud. Why do we want to count out loud? We want to count out loud, because it makes it easier for us to stay on beat. Time to move on to number two. Let’s go.
Rhythm 3
This time let’s try to focus on being really precise with our counting. As I’ve said before, this will help us to identify counts of rhythms. Learning how to count music can change the way you hear music. If you’ve been with us since our first lesson, it’s possible that you’re starting to recognize similar rhythms when you listen to music. Let’s keep it moving and jump on over to rhythm three. Here we go!
Rhythm 4
Listening to music is an important part of learning how to recognize rhythms. It’s okay if you don’t recognize the rhythms at first. Being able to recognize them will come with time and practice. The value comes from being exposed to them. With the next rhythm, let’s continue to count out loud. Let’s also try to focus on playing a steady and even tempo while staying on beat. Okay! Let’s move on to the fourth and final rhythm. Here we go!
That covers it for this video. The next time you’re listening to music, count along and see if you can identify some of the rhythms. Being able to recognize counts of rhythms should allow you to be more creative with your scratching. If you really want to step up your game, check out our premium content. It will help you get to the next level. Thanks for checking us out! Peace!
FAQs
1. What does good timing mean for the Baby Scratch?
Good timing for the Baby Scratch means each forward and backward stroke is consistently aligned with the beat, without rushing ahead or falling behind the beat.
2. What does awareness of timing mean for the Baby Scratch?
Awareness of timing for the Baby Scratch means recognizing where your strokes land inside the beat, including when a stroke lands slightly early, a backward motion lands behind the beat, or a subdivision feels uneven.
Summary
Developing good timing with the Baby Scratch means recognizing where each forward stroke and backward stroke lands inside the beat and placing each one there consistently. As your timing improves, early strokes, late backward strokes become easier to hear. That increased awareness helps you recognize when you are off time and correct it with control.
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. 7 → Pt. 8
Continue to: How I Learned to Scratch on Beat - The Baby Scratch (Part 8)
