I started djing when I was 11 years old.  The first thing I tried to do was, of course, scratch to the beat.  I wasn't old enough to get in a club, and back in those days there was no hip-hop music videos, so we had to pretty much guess at the exact technique to making the record scratch.

I eventually became a breakdancer for a dj crew named "The DS Jam Crew". After our practice sessions I would hang around and watch the dj's mess around.  They sort of coached me on how to mix records. But not one of them could really scratch. Back then one of the baddest scratching dj's was DJ Magic Mike. But again no videos.

I think a tried every finger grip imaginable. I tried the middle finger, then the index finger, on top of the record then I tried the side of the record. Soon I could mimic DJ Magic Mike sound. My only down fall was that I could only do it with my left hand. It took me 2 years to make my right hand scratch equal to my left hand.

When I started djing house parties it seemed like my scratching had very little effect on the enjoyment of the music I was mixing. The audience didn't seem to dislike it, but that didn't seem to get anything out of it. It was the quality of the mix and the music selection that seemed to be my bread and butter.

After a few more years I had a chance to host a college radio hip-hop show. That's where my scratching could really be enjoyed. I scratched until I couldn't scratch no more. But it seemed like the radio audience was much like the club audience. They didn't seem to like or dislike my scratching.

It wasn't until I listened to a Funk Master Flex mix tape that I realized that a scratch, cut or transform should only be used to enhance the quality of the mixdown.

If you follow these simple rules then your scratching can be enjoyed by your listening audience.

1. Attempt to have a theme to what you are cutting. Don't just bust out for know reason.
2. Never scratch over singing or rapping, unless you are triple threading.
3. Mostly scratch over instrumentals and voiceless spots in a song.
4. Always, always, always stay on beat.  I hate to hear somebody scratching a train wreck.
5. Practice, practice and practice some more.
6. Listen to other dj greats cut it up.
7. Develop your own style. Don't just copy something you heard from a mixtape.
8. Record and critic your scratching.

If you follow these simple rules, you should be just fine.

Related articles that can enhance your scratching

• The basics - What you need to now before you start making fliers
• Shock-value - This is something that can't be taught, only developed.
• Rock a party - Isn't this what is about about?
  

More excellent resources

Scratchbook - This is a assortment of scratch audio files. Very interesting concept.

DJ Wiki - A glossary of TTM (turntablist transcription methodology) terms and static graphics.

TTMethod.com - View animated graphs of advance scratching patterns by Q-Bert, Rob Swift, Cash Money, Mix Master Ice, Jazzy Jay and Premo. This site is way too cool. A must see for future turntablist.

Mydjspace - Global DJ Community - Blog with dj's from all over the world. If you are a dj and you like to blog then here you go.

Pedestrian.info - A forum for passionate creators of the art of music and djing. Definitely worth checking out.