This lesson continues our look at dynamics by introducing a decrescendo, scratching from high to low. It explains how changing the speed of the record changes the pitch, then demonstrates how a decrescendo can be applied over a beat. Using dynamics can make your playing more interesting, help convey emotion, and give you more tools to be creative.
Below is the original transcript from the video.
What’s up? In this video we are going to continue to cover dynamics. In the last video we learned that dynamics are how hard or soft we play. We also learned that for scratching this applies to how slow or fast we push the record. That means that when we push or pull the record fast, the pitch is higher, and when we push or pull the record slowly the pitch is lower.
Dynamics can be played with any sound that you want to use. I’m going to scratch from high to low. This is called a decrescendo. Now that we know what a decrescendo is, let’s dive into an example of how it can be applied over a beat.
Rhythm 1
Using dynamics allows us to make our playing more interesting and help us to convey emotion. The more tools we have at our disposal gives us the ability to be creative, and with time and practice this will lead to discovering our own sound. I hope this helps. Peace.
FAQs
1. What is a decrescendo in scratching?
A decrescendo in scratching is pushing or pulling the record from a higher pitch to a lower pitch.
2. How does pushing or pulling the record at different speeds affect pitch?
Pushing or pulling the record faster produces a higher pitch, while pushing or pulling the record more slowly produces a lower pitch.
3. Why are dynamics useful in scratching?
Dynamics are useful in scratching because they can make your playing more interesting, help convey emotion, and give you more tools to be creative.
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.
