The Chirp: Builds Fader Control
If you’re beginning to work on the Chirp, this is where control starts to matter in a new way. The movement may still look complex from the outside, but the technique itself is straightforward. One hand opens and closes the fader in time, while the opposite hand moves the record in time with it. This is the point where coordination is no longer optional. It becomes essential.
Many people approach the Chirp by focusing on the sound it makes rather than the actions that create it. That’s where problems start to begin. The Chirp isn’t about the speed of opening and closing the fader, or the sharpness of the sound the technique is known for. It’s about placing strokes and fader movement in time. Two motions coming together as one. Without an understanding of rhythm, the technique can feel awkward. With it, the Chirp can become clean, controlled, and musical.
In this post, we’ll look at the Chirp as more than an introductory fader technique. It’s a checkpoint. This is where timing, coordination, and rhythmic awareness must come together. What you build here can directly affect how comfortably you can control the fader.
Understanding How We Approach the Chirp
The Chirp combines record movement with fader motion. The record moves forward and backward, while the cross fader opens and closes to cut the sound. Unlike earlier techniques, you are now responsible for coordinating two actions inside the beat.
- Each record movement must stay in time with the rhythm being scratched.
- Each fader motion must be in sync with that movement.
- Strokes should land exactly where the notation of the rhythm says it belongs.
This is where the understanding of rhythm becomes non-negotiable. If timing is off, the Chirp exposes it immediately. You may feel disconnected and unsure of when the fader should be opening and closing, and when your record hand should be moving. That’s not a flaw in execution of the technique. It’s a timing issue.
When rhythm is understood, the technique becomes more comfortable. You know when each motion should begin, when it ends, and when it repeats. That’s because you know where it belongs in time, and both hands operate as a single unit. The Chirp stops feeling like random motions and starts feeling deliberate.
We recommend starting the Chirp with simple rhythms using quarter notes and rests. This keeps your attention on stroke execution and coordination with the fader rather than complexity. Use a metronome or loop a beat at a comfortable tempo. Count out loud if you need to. We rely on written rhythms to show exactly where each motion happens so the record and the fader move together in time. The goal is to build coordination, not speed.
As with all scratching techniques, ambidexterity matters. The Chirp requires fine control from both hands, and DJing in unfamiliar settings demands flexibility and adaptability. Practice switching hands. Let each hand experience both responsibilities. If one side feels uncomfortable or unstable, don’t avoid it. That discomfort is normal and part of the process. Coordination is being built. Comfort comes with time and practice.
The Chirp isn’t out of reach. It’s a clarity check. It shows you whether timing, control, and an understanding of rhythm are actually in place. When those elements line up, the technique reveals itself to be pretty basic. It’s just opening and closing the fader in time with the movement of the record. Nothing more, nothing less.
The original transcript for the video is below.
Hey what's up? This is Ronin from Scratching Made Easy. In this lesson we are going to learn about the Chirp. We are going to start off with quarter notes and quarter rests. If you haven't done so already, check out our Baby Scratch series which covers the basics of how to count music. That way you’ll be caught up with what we are about to cover. Let’s get started.
We're going to begin with the cross fader in the open position. We're going to push the record forward and close the fader after we hear the sound. From this position we are going to open the fader and pull the record backward, and then close the fader after hearing the sound. When these steps are completed consecutively, they are called chirps.
Rhythm 1
Let's play a couple of measures and apply what we just learned. Make sure that you are using the start of the sound. If you want to download our scratch tool, you can find a link to it and anything else mentioned in this video in the description below. I also want to let you know that I like to start with the cross fader closed when I play chirps. I like to open the fader as I move the record forward. It’s a matter of preference, so it’s up to you to figure how you want to start the attack. That being said...it’s time to dive in. The tempo is at 85 beats per minute. Alright, here we go!
Rhythm 1
All right let's do it again, but this time let’s focus on technique. We want to push the record forward on beat one, pull back on beat two, push forward on beat three, pull back on beat four, and then repeat the same sequence for one more measure. Let’s count it off. Here we go!
Rhythm 2
If you are new to this, it may take some time to get used to opening and closing the fader while moving the record back and forth. With time and practice, it will work itself out. Let’s keep things moving and step things up a bit. We are going to add quarter rests on beats two and four. Here we go!
Rhythm 2
Let's play the rhythm again. But this time we are going to try to focus on getting the sound as clean and even as possible. We want to get a nice even and consistent sound, while trying not to rush the beat. Here we go!
Rhythm 3
Let's play another example. Now this time let’s try to play at a steady and even tempo. If your playing isn’t steady and even, slow down the music; and if this is too easy for you, go ahead and increase the BPM. Alright, here we go!
Rhythm 4
Now that you have got the hang of it let’s move on to the last rhythm. Remember that we want to play even strokes that are clean and on beat; we don’t want to rush. We want our strokes to be right on time.
We hope that you enjoyed this video. Make sure that you practice with both hands until you get the hang of it. If you liked the video, be sure to share it with anyone who might find the information helpful. If you have any comments, please leave them below. Thanks for watching! Peace!
FAQs
1. Why are timing and coordination important for the Chirp?
Timing and coordination are important for the Chirp because the record movement and fader motion must come together in time as a single unit.
2. Why do we recommend starting the Chirp with simple rhythms?
Simple rhythms are recommended for the Chirp because they keep the focus on stroke execution and coordination with the fader rather than complexity.
3. Why does ambidexterity matter for the Chirp?
Ambidexterity matters for the Chirp because both hands need fine control and should be able to handle both record and fader responsibilities.
Summary
The Chirp combines record movement with opening and closing the fader, requiring both hands to move together in time with the written rhythm. Keeping the rhythms simple at first helps develop the coordination and fader control needed to place each stroke accurately.
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. 1 → Pt. 2
How I Learned to Scratch With the Cross Fader - The Chirp (Part 2)
