Back to the basics...

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Back to the basics...
Posted on: 27.08.2013 by Federico Vilas
I've got to say. I'm a little frustrated today... I've been mixing ALL vinyl here lately and I got the bright idea that I need to start to practice hamster style and better yet...LEFT handed.

I'm a righty so hamster style is an easier transition BUT I failed terribly when I tried with my left hand... I play violin so I know I have the coordination BUT I cannot get my brain switched off righty mode
Hellen Mindrup
03.09.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Victory is mine....
say it to my face and not on the internets

Originally Posted by sarasin
One plays better, but you practice worse!

I dont smoke anymore...but when I did, I also played better.

BUT, when I wanted to Practice...like...repeating specific scratches etc, I would just slump back into jamming instead of actually practicing.

I would loose focus on what I wanted to achieve outta the practice session and just enjoy myself instead of pushing to try get the knack of a specific scratch.
Idk, it's different for everyone. I just get way too into it lol.. I'll catch myself wobblin around my room jammin like an idiot when it's just me in there haha.
Lilliana Perris
02.09.2013
Originally Posted by Kwal
I play better tbh.
One plays better, but you practice worse!

I dont smoke anymore...but when I did, I also played better.

BUT, when I wanted to Practice...like...repeating specific scratches etc, I would just slump back into jamming instead of actually practicing.

I would loose focus on what I wanted to achieve outta the practice session and just enjoy myself instead of pushing to try get the knack of a specific scratch.
Norah Legowski
01.09.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Ghost weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed...
You win ALL THEE INTERNETZ!!!
Nelida Ghouse
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by DjLiquitATL
regular before... I'm not real far into scratching YET but after watching DJ's like yourself, qbert, and others alike it seems like hamster style is more efficient the more complex and faster the scratches get... it could just be me overcomplicating things like always... I would like to know how and be efficient in both styles RIGHT handed...
Nah hamster style is definitely not more efficient or anything. I know it might seems like that at first but hamster and regular are nearly identical... there are minor differences when you're starting out, but eventually you can do whatever you like no matter what was you scratch. There are guys like D-Styles, Ricci Rucker, Toadstyles, Deska, etc, who all scratch normal and are as fast and clean as anyone. Then Q-bert, Shortkut, Muzzell, I-Emerge who all cut hamster and are as fast and clean as anyone.

I highly recommend just doing either hamster or regular across everything you do... scratching, mixing, juggling, because the last thing you want is to have to switch back and forth from hamster to regular constantly. Although technically hamster and regular are both equal, regular has a huge advantage overall in that more DJs in general scratch regular, and it's easier to work with other people on the same set if you scratch/juggle the same as them. Like I juggle hamster and I've never been able to do x-men style juggling where they switch back and forth between each other because I believe I've met 1 other person ever who juggles hamster, lol.

Scratching both right handed and left handed is definitely beneficial though, and I'd keep developing that, but yea not really necessary to scratch both regular and hamster. I totally went through the same phase though where I kept questioning whether hamster style was good because I couldn't stab clean and transforms were hard, and I was like "damn regular people just have to tap it with their pointer finger", but eventually my thumb got really fast and it just came down to practice. I believe maybe feeling limited like that sometimes makes you over-compensate and practice harder at it, which can be a good thing.
Federico Vilas
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by Vekked
Were you doing regular before or always hamster?
regular before... I'm not real far into scratching YET but after watching DJ's like yourself, qbert, and others alike it seems like hamster style is more efficient the more complex and faster the scratches get... it could just be me overcomplicating things like always... I would like to know how and be efficient in both styles RIGHT handed...
Hellen Mindrup
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Ghost weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed...
Not my first timeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Nelida Ghouse
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by DjLiquitATL
I've got to say. I'm a little frustrated today... I've been mixing ALL vinyl here lately and I got the bright idea that I need to start to practice hamster style and better yet...LEFT handed.

I'm a righty so hamster style is an easier transition BUT I failed terribly when I tried with my left hand... I play violin so I know I have the coordination BUT I cannot get my brain switched off righty mode
Were you doing regular before or always hamster?
Hellen Mindrup
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by sarasin
Were you Goofed on them herbs?

If so....don't be when you practice.

I made that mistake...got nowhere fast.
I play better tbh.
Federico Vilas
27.08.2013		I've got to say. I'm a little frustrated today... I've been mixing ALL vinyl here lately and I got the bright idea that I need to start to practice hamster style and better yet...LEFT handed.

I'm a righty so hamster style is an easier transition BUT I failed terribly when I tried with my left hand... I play violin so I know I have the coordination BUT I cannot get my brain switched off righty mode
Yong Aptekar
06.09.2013		Too much harsh, not enough mellow Kwal lol

I can only use right hand on a hampstered cross fader. Anything else and my hands can't communicate with my brain
Hellen Mindrup
03.09.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Victory is mine....
say it to my face and not on the internets

Originally Posted by sarasin
One plays better, but you practice worse!

I dont smoke anymore...but when I did, I also played better.

BUT, when I wanted to Practice...like...repeating specific scratches etc, I would just slump back into jamming instead of actually practicing.

I would loose focus on what I wanted to achieve outta the practice session and just enjoy myself instead of pushing to try get the knack of a specific scratch.
Idk, it's different for everyone. I just get way too into it lol.. I'll catch myself wobblin around my room jammin like an idiot when it's just me in there haha.
Lilliana Perris
02.09.2013
Originally Posted by Kwal
I play better tbh.
One plays better, but you practice worse!

I dont smoke anymore...but when I did, I also played better.

BUT, when I wanted to Practice...like...repeating specific scratches etc, I would just slump back into jamming instead of actually practicing.

I would loose focus on what I wanted to achieve outta the practice session and just enjoy myself instead of pushing to try get the knack of a specific scratch.
Brunilda Kora
02.09.2013		Victory is mine....
Norah Legowski
01.09.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Ghost weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed...
You win ALL THEE INTERNETZ!!!
Federico Vilas
29.08.2013		I feel much better... I believe I will stick to regular scratch and just learn to use both hands... I have a habit of over complicating things
Nelida Ghouse
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by DjLiquitATL
regular before... I'm not real far into scratching YET but after watching DJ's like yourself, qbert, and others alike it seems like hamster style is more efficient the more complex and faster the scratches get... it could just be me overcomplicating things like always... I would like to know how and be efficient in both styles RIGHT handed...
Nah hamster style is definitely not more efficient or anything. I know it might seems like that at first but hamster and regular are nearly identical... there are minor differences when you're starting out, but eventually you can do whatever you like no matter what was you scratch. There are guys like D-Styles, Ricci Rucker, Toadstyles, Deska, etc, who all scratch normal and are as fast and clean as anyone. Then Q-bert, Shortkut, Muzzell, I-Emerge who all cut hamster and are as fast and clean as anyone.

I highly recommend just doing either hamster or regular across everything you do... scratching, mixing, juggling, because the last thing you want is to have to switch back and forth from hamster to regular constantly. Although technically hamster and regular are both equal, regular has a huge advantage overall in that more DJs in general scratch regular, and it's easier to work with other people on the same set if you scratch/juggle the same as them. Like I juggle hamster and I've never been able to do x-men style juggling where they switch back and forth between each other because I believe I've met 1 other person ever who juggles hamster, lol.

Scratching both right handed and left handed is definitely beneficial though, and I'd keep developing that, but yea not really necessary to scratch both regular and hamster. I totally went through the same phase though where I kept questioning whether hamster style was good because I couldn't stab clean and transforms were hard, and I was like "damn regular people just have to tap it with their pointer finger", but eventually my thumb got really fast and it just came down to practice. I believe maybe feeling limited like that sometimes makes you over-compensate and practice harder at it, which can be a good thing.
Federico Vilas
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by Vekked
Were you doing regular before or always hamster?
regular before... I'm not real far into scratching YET but after watching DJ's like yourself, qbert, and others alike it seems like hamster style is more efficient the more complex and faster the scratches get... it could just be me overcomplicating things like always... I would like to know how and be efficient in both styles RIGHT handed...
Hellen Mindrup
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Ghost weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed...
Not my first timeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Nelida Ghouse
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by DjLiquitATL
I've got to say. I'm a little frustrated today... I've been mixing ALL vinyl here lately and I got the bright idea that I need to start to practice hamster style and better yet...LEFT handed.

I'm a righty so hamster style is an easier transition BUT I failed terribly when I tried with my left hand... I play violin so I know I have the coordination BUT I cannot get my brain switched off righty mode
Were you doing regular before or always hamster?
Brunilda Kora
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by kwal
I play better tbh.
Ghost weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed...
Hellen Mindrup
28.08.2013
Originally Posted by sarasin
Were you Goofed on them herbs?

If so....don't be when you practice.

I made that mistake...got nowhere fast.
I play better tbh.
Lilliana Perris
28.08.2013		Were you Goofed on them herbs?

If so....don't be when you practice.

I made that mistake...got nowhere fast.
Rena Estabrook
27.08.2013		I don't scratch, but if I did, I would want to switch the dominant deck from right to left.

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