Phrasing in scratching is how a DJ scratches rhythms to express a musical idea and add to a track. This lesson demonstrates the idea with four-bar and eight-bar phrases, including an example where the second four bars are changed to make the phrase more interesting and less repetitive.
Below is the original transcript from the video.
Good phrasing is important for Scratch DJs because it adds spice to the tracks that we play. But the question is what is phrasing?
Phrasing in scratching refers to how a DJ scratches rhythms to express a musical idea. It's a way to add creativity and enhance a song and make it sound better. But what does that really mean?
Essentially, it’s how we "add" to a track. Phrases are usually four bars, but they can be longer or shorter depending on the flow of the music.
Here’s the catch. It's up to you to decide what sounds best, because there are no set rules. Everything depends on your preference and style. Here is an example of a 4-bar phrase.
4-Bar Phrase
This time I’m going to give you an example of an 8-bar phrase. Listen carefully and see if you can hear a difference.
8-Bar Phrase
In the last example, we changed the second four bars to make the phrase sound more interesting because we don’t want to be repetitive. Remember phrasing adds spice. Too much of the same thing can be boring and bland.
What we just showed you were examples of musical ideas. The definition of phrasing sounds complicated and abstract but it’s really that simple. You can find hundreds of phrases to spice up your scratching in our book. Links are in the description. Peace!
FAQs
1. What is phrasing in scratching?
Phrasing in scratching is how a DJ scratches rhythms to express a musical idea.
2. How long is a phrase in scratching?
A phrase in scratching is usually four bars, but it can be longer or shorter depending on the flow of the music.
3. Why were the second four bars changed in the 8-bar phrase?
The second four bars were changed because too much repetition can sound boring and bland, and the change made the phrase more interesting.
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.
