100% an instrument, and an incredible one. I've never once DJed in my life, but I absolutely love scratching over my tracks, it completes them. I treat turntable the same way as I treat my drums, bass or keyboards when writing music, it's a fully-fledged member of the band.
Welcome back 🙏🏽 agree that’s why they call turntablism the Art of deejaying. thank you for your effort in gathering all of that information, this video is a full study in just 12 min
Would love to see a vid on the turntables evolution. Its development through accident as much as innovation is imperative and coincidental to its nature and hip hop’s nature . The turntable is post modern in its inception, response and use, the fact it can reference music and “quote it” directly from source is so special. The use of records as live sampling creates another discourse on capitalism and ethics. If you look at the turntable as a metaphor to help us explain our existence it also carries this idea of the “supernal artisan”, the fact it was created with the idea in mind to play music- for us to hear other people’s playing but somehow has become itself “sentient” and is itself a musical instrument is nuts. When you look into its ability to self reference it’s just incredible. I don’t know if you ever got the chance to speak to or find out about Phillip Jeck about his experimentation? There’s a bunch of stuff, ideas and thoughts about record players as instruments on some threads on Ricci Rucker’s old asisphonics site and on Gizmo’s old Scratchworks site. ❤
Heh thanks. Should have watched it one final time before clicking publish coz I noticed some weird jankiness in the edit that I'm going to have to live with forever now haha
Good video! From a music composition/production point of view, the turntable could also fit nicely in the category of Mellotrons, guitar pedals, and samplers. Physically, there's not much similarity between these, but they all are used to alter an existing sound for musical purposes.
Great video Si. Definitely the tt has a dual identity. I'll share this with by DJ friends, and yes, please make a video about how the Technics made an impact in the Bronx.
Word, in retrospect it's a hard subject to turn into a full video. I'll try and dig some more content out of that book to share, it's a really great book
Word, in retrospect it's a hard subject to turn into a full video. I'll try and dig some more content out of that book to share, it's a really great book
@@SiHargreaves Short is cool too. Or could be part of a different topic, like 'history of the 1200' to beef it out? anyway whatever you do in the future i look forward to it. great channel
I'd imagine a bit of snobbery also comes into play if you talk to musicians. But like most instruments, it takes time and a lot of practice to master, especially if you want it to sound musical. Definitely make that Bronx video as well 👍
Heh yeah I've experienced it, but only when it comes to tone play type stuff and the tone not being completely in tune. If it was good enough for Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones it should be good enough for most other musicians.
You're an excellent editor. I enjoyed the topic, but what really stood out for me was your editing and writing. You are very talented. Thanks for using those talents to spread our special culture in a manner that even a non-musician could understand. I feel like you may have been a technical writer at some point in your life. You certainly possess the skills for it. Thanks! - Demetrios
Ya it was a cool bit in the book. Might struggle to make a whole vid out of it in retrospect. I can highly recommend the book though it's packed full of info.
Video looks great Si! There are definitely a lot of similarities between the turntable being used as an instrument and how a theremin is played - one hand modulating volume and the other pitch!
I think another thing about the turntable is that it offered an accessible entry into using recorded sound as an instrument. Looking at the history of sampling, it seems like composers were simply waiting for recorded audio to be invented because some were jumping to experimenting with it quite early on. The issue is that stuff like tape is finicky, harder to get into, doesn't look as "cool" as a turntable setup, frankly. Messing with a turntable was a lot easier for a little kid to try back in the day after they saw a movie like Wild Style or something.
Yeah the fact it was available is certainly a major reason for its success. Why New York though, that's the interesting thing. It could have taken off any where in theory.
Thought provoking video, and very well put together. I liked the Quincy Jones anecdote. Musing on the subject I considered a classical music conductor being analogous to the role of the DJ...in that they are both intimately involved in communicating the musical experience to the listening audience. Conductors are regarded as musicians in the context of the orchestra, so why not DJs armed with an arsenal of wax-plates?
Its probably the most versatile instrument there is , especially with a pair of reloop 8000s or vestax c1 where you get proper notes manipulation too ,
The question shouldn't be, is it an instrument? The question is, is it the instrument of the future when you consider, using synthesizers, finger tapping, beat juggling etc We're able to play any instrument, whether we use it percusively, to mimick other sounds and instrumental, making unique sounds using built in FX and samplers. All this allows the modern day turntablist to be a one man entertainer. Utilise DVS software and midi triggers to incorporate video and lighting then you have a full Audio Visual Experiantial Show!
Ya I came across that in my research (cant remeber where) so there's deffo some ambiguity in the whole thing. He also claims a lot off bullshit stuff too though so I dunno. I can't really address every little thing like that I come across as it makes the vid too long so just went with the clip I had ha. But ya may be I could have put a little pop up text or something 🤔
@@SiHargreaves I saw him DJ in Melbourne around late 93 on the flyer had DJ Disk turntablist, I still have the flyer, this is the claim he is saying I’m just backing him up
@SiHargreaves cool I will check that out bud. I'm still crap at crabbing lol. Great and helpfull video you did though. Just horrible to pratice as my fingers just don't want to know.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Glad you got a new one! fantastic video! If you happen to be looking for suggestions, I've always wanted someone to do a video or a podcast on the evolution of the scratch record.
Yooo, nice one. I in fact have already written the script for this video. I asked my wife to choose between that script and this one about which to make and she chose this one. You've given me permission to revisit it now hehe
100% an instrument, and an incredible one. I've never once DJed in my life, but I absolutely love scratching over my tracks, it completes them. I treat turntable the same way as I treat my drums, bass or keyboards when writing music, it's a fully-fledged member of the band.
I see a Si Hargreaves vid, I click like.
Genuinely one of my favourite channels on youtube
Yooo thanks so much. That's crazy!
Kid Koala’s Drunk Trumpet was a seminal moment for me. Genius 🙏🔥❤️🔥🙏
Maaan, I was with some jazz musicians and this came on. They had to turn it off coz it was too out of key for them. It made me sad lol
Young Numark and Cut 😂😂
Heh they got good bantz, would love to see more interviews with those guys.
Welcome back 🙏🏽 agree that’s why they call turntablism the Art of deejaying. thank you for your effort in gathering all of that information, this video is a full study in just 12 min
Ah cheers, took me a while to put it together
So happy to see you back posting! Made my day, as always incredible content.
Thank you! Ya it's been too long. I really enjoyed making this vid though and it only took my a few weeks!
Incredible video. so engaging and informative.
Awesome vid as always!
Si when the fader fingers fall of go watch SI thank you brother you don't know the pleasure you bring KEEP SCRATCHING dj abc Macclesfield UK 🇬🇧
Good to see you posting again. I'd love to see you get a D-Styles interview.
Almost made it happen a few weeks ago! Will try and get him next time, he's a quiet guy! Super cool dude though
Would love to see a vid on the turntables evolution. Its development through accident as much as innovation is imperative and coincidental to its nature and hip hop’s nature . The turntable is post modern in its inception, response and use, the fact it can reference music and “quote it” directly from source is so special. The use of records as live sampling creates another discourse on capitalism and ethics. If you look at the turntable as a metaphor to help us explain our existence it also carries this idea of the “supernal artisan”, the fact it was created with the idea in mind to play music- for us to hear other people’s playing but somehow has become itself “sentient” and is itself a musical instrument is nuts. When you look into its ability to self reference it’s just incredible. I don’t know if you ever got the chance to speak to or find out about Phillip Jeck about his experimentation? There’s a bunch of stuff, ideas and thoughts about record players as instruments on some threads on Ricci Rucker’s old asisphonics site and on Gizmo’s old Scratchworks site. ❤
This was great. Really well done.
Heh thanks. Should have watched it one final time before clicking publish coz I noticed some weird jankiness in the edit that I'm going to have to live with forever now haha
As a purist vinyl house DJ, I can categorically say that turntables are an instrument. Nice video by the way :)
Fair enough! Great DJ name too ha
@@SiHargreaves Thanks! 😁
Glad you're back, homie. Never gonna stop scratching. Probably my favorite hobby. And you're one of the guys who's helped me along. Cheers!
Bruh, that's dope. Hows it going? Sad to say I don't get much time any more (just had a kid)
Superb video. I have spun vinyl since 91 and I can personally say that turntables in the right hands are without a single doubt musical instruments.
Word, thanks for the kind words and keep spinning the rekkids!
Good video!
From a music composition/production point of view, the turntable could also fit nicely in the category of Mellotrons, guitar pedals, and samplers. Physically, there's not much similarity between these, but they all are used to alter an existing sound for musical purposes.
Great video Si. Definitely the tt has a dual identity. I'll share this with by DJ friends, and yes, please make a video about how the Technics made an impact in the Bronx.
Word, in retrospect it's a hard subject to turn into a full video. I'll try and dig some more content out of that book to share, it's a really great book
Word, in retrospect it's a hard subject to turn into a full video. I'll try and dig some more content out of that book to share, it's a really great book
Love all your vids man, this is another great one. Yes, please do the vid on why the TT was used in the bronx!!
I'll try and see if I can come up with enough material! It might be a short one .wondering if I can interview some people
@@SiHargreaves Short is cool too. Or could be part of a different topic, like 'history of the 1200' to beef it out? anyway whatever you do in the future i look forward to it. great channel
As soon as you mentioned its like Bowing a Violin, yes thats the one :)
Heh nice one
I'd imagine a bit of snobbery also comes into play if you talk to musicians. But like most instruments, it takes time and a lot of practice to master, especially if you want it to sound musical. Definitely make that Bronx video as well 👍
Heh yeah I've experienced it, but only when it comes to tone play type stuff and the tone not being completely in tune. If it was good enough for Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones it should be good enough for most other musicians.
@@SiHargreaves Yep totally agree
Great work and study 🙏
Ah... one of my fave remixes of all time! (Sour Times (Lot More Remix)).. on OG vinyl. Nice.
Classic
You're an excellent editor. I enjoyed the topic, but what really stood out for me was your editing and writing. You are very talented. Thanks for using those talents to spread our special culture in a manner that even a non-musician could understand. I feel like you may have been a technical writer at some point in your life. You certainly possess the skills for it. Thanks! - Demetrios
Bruh you're too kind. I took my time with this one and really planned it out, shame the algorithm/audience didn't like it
Great video Si, thanks for sharing it with us. I'd like to see that Bronx record player video you mentioned. Bound to be interesting.
Ya it was a cool bit in the book. Might struggle to make a whole vid out of it in retrospect. I can highly recommend the book though it's packed full of info.
Great video Sy. Always great content. Be cool to get an excuse to interview Qbert one day 😮. Loved that ones you did with John and dopez
Nice one my G. Time to get back on the grind for sure.
Doooooooooooooob! Nice vid! Chirps always feel to me like an up and down strum of a guitar
Phil! How are you my G
❤this. Its for sure an instrument.
Video looks great Si!
There are definitely a lot of similarities between the turntable being used as an instrument and how a theremin is played - one hand modulating volume and the other pitch!
May be we should get one and try it out lol
May be we should get one and try it out lol
Great work! Love the structured approach of the video
Thank you! I spent a while planning this one
I think another thing about the turntable is that it offered an accessible entry into using recorded sound as an instrument. Looking at the history of sampling, it seems like composers were simply waiting for recorded audio to be invented because some were jumping to experimenting with it quite early on. The issue is that stuff like tape is finicky, harder to get into, doesn't look as "cool" as a turntable setup, frankly. Messing with a turntable was a lot easier for a little kid to try back in the day after they saw a movie like Wild Style or something.
Yeah the fact it was available is certainly a major reason for its success. Why New York though, that's the interesting thing. It could have taken off any where in theory.
Great video ! ❤
Much love
Thought provoking video, and very well put together. I liked the Quincy Jones anecdote. Musing on the subject I considered a classical music conductor being analogous to the role of the DJ...in that they are both intimately involved in communicating the musical experience to the listening audience. Conductors are regarded as musicians in the context of the orchestra, so why not DJs armed with an arsenal of wax-plates?
Cheers mang
Great vid si
Cheers dude
Its probably the most versatile instrument there is , especially with a pair of reloop 8000s or vestax c1 where you get proper notes manipulation too ,
Yeah would love a C1 not gonna lie
That Omnichord diss though...
Lmao I mean I've never seen one played any where....
The question shouldn't be, is it an instrument? The question is, is it the instrument of the future when you consider, using synthesizers, finger tapping, beat juggling etc We're able to play any instrument, whether we use it percusively, to mimick other sounds and instrumental, making unique sounds using built in FX and samplers. All this allows the modern day turntablist to be a one man entertainer. Utilise DVS software and midi triggers to incorporate video and lighting then you have a full Audio Visual Experiantial Show!
Yeah you're right, who was that dj doing the syntablist stuff? That was pretty rad.
@@SiHargreaves SirCut
for the instrument comparison to me it feels like Hurdy-gurdy and cuica, it just.. it feels right to say that
DJ DISK invented the term turntablists
Ya I came across that in my research (cant remeber where) so there's deffo some ambiguity in the whole thing. He also claims a lot off bullshit stuff too though so I dunno. I can't really address every little thing like that I come across as it makes the vid too long so just went with the clip I had ha. But ya may be I could have put a little pop up text or something 🤔
@@SiHargreaves I saw him DJ in Melbourne around late 93 on the flyer had DJ Disk turntablist, I still have the flyer, this is the claim he is saying I’m just backing him up
Btw love your videos glad to see you’re back, honestly keep up the great content please
Subscribed.
Does it make sound? Can you manipulate the sound? its an instrument.
Make that Bronx vid btw! cheers!
Heh thanks for the encouragement, been slacking innit
DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUALS SKILL SET. YOU CAN MANIPULATE SOUND BETTER THAN SOME OTHERS... MAYBE EVEN DIFFERENT FROM A DRUM MACHINE.
Blam sighting!
It’s an instrument in the same way a snare drum is an instrument
pre watching Video my answer is YES it is.. ill comment Post video too
Nice one, it means more coming from a multi instrumentalist I guess too!
Dope
Thanks
I'm still old school in my ways and still not met a single person that'd into skratching lol
Yeah I was the same for ages. It can be hard depending where you live. There's always the whereby group you can jump on for I telnet cuts
@SiHargreaves cool I will check that out bud. I'm still crap at crabbing lol. Great and helpfull video you did though. Just horrible to pratice as my fingers just don't want to know.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Skratching is like playing a bowed instrument for me.
finished, still is
Ha thanks for watching
Glad you got a new one! fantastic video! If you happen to be looking for suggestions, I've always wanted someone to do a video or a podcast on the evolution of the scratch record.
Yooo, nice one. I in fact have already written the script for this video. I asked my wife to choose between that script and this one about which to make and she chose this one. You've given me permission to revisit it now hehe
@@SiHargreaves oh nice! look forward to it!
Cool subbed
nice one!
@@SiHargreaves no problem