How To Get Out Of A Scratch Slump

Do you ever get in a slump with your scratching? Where you seem stuck in a rut doing the same patterns and techniques and can’t break out or get inspired?

I know I do.

Here are some things that I recommend:

• Watch an inspiring scratch video of a master at work -Here is my favorite: D-styles in Korea – very funky! Also this video of Rafik.
• Get some fresh new beats – See my Ultimate Beats for Scratch Practice series for ideas.
• Do something else – get out the house, go see friends, exercise, read, watch a movie. Turn off your scratch brain and allow room for your subconscious to send you ideas.
• Connect with other Scratch DJs – Practice with others and swap inspiration and techniques.
• Play – run around, change your energy, give yourself a break before you return.
• Don’t be so serious! Scratching is meant to be FUN!
• Limit yourself to using  just one scratch and rediscover its beauty– e.g. the chirp / baby  / one click flare. How different can you make it each time?
• Stop the comparisons with other DJs! You are you! I cannot scratch like anyone else I know. That’s so cool! The world doesnt need another D-Styles or Qbert. It needs you to be YOU! Of course you will be influenced by masters like these but you have something unique to offer.
• Consider “just in time learning” – where you learn just one thing at a time to get you to the next level – stop getting overwhelmed with too many tutorials and FOCUS on just the next thing. For me this is currently the autobahn.
• Switch off from outside influence – Turn off twitter, facebook, instagram, email and in-fact the internet in general. Even better – turn off the computer (unless you are using Serato or Traktor), and finally, turn off your phone!
• Go and practice for an uninterrupted hour – when was the last time you did that? Have a goal for your practice e.g. start the steps to learning a new scratch.
• Go and practice for an uninterrupted four hours! See above. Imagine what you could do in four hours!
• Keep a scratch practice journal – write down the scratches you learn in a simple scratch notation format and the beats and samples you liked using. In the future this will allow you to go back and see what inspired you.

What are your top tips for how to get out of a scratch slump?

Please share in the comments below.

Until next time…

Happy Scratching! 😀

– Short-E