This week, Short-e teaches you how to do the Chirp scratch. Named because it sounds like a bird chirping away, this scratch is attained by playing the sample forwards and cutting the end of the sample off, then bringing the record back and turning the fader on. Repeat.
You probably heard DJ Premier use this scratch loads and it can be really funky. Although relatively simple you can achieve much with this scratch, combining it with flares for the chirp flare.
This tutorial is aimed more for the beginner just starting out but we hope you seasoned pro scratchers enjoy the beat and QnA at the end.
Once you have the basics down, experiment with timings and swing. Chirps are great to practice triplets with.
The beat is #8528 taken from the Studio Scratches Beats for Scratch Practice Vol. 1 series
What do you think of this tutorial? Want us to do more? Please leave your feedback and comments.
If you post a video response we will critique it and advise you if required.
Happy Scratching! 
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Just some additional information of which I’m sure most of you are already aware: the chirp scratch was most significantly popularized by DJ’s Cash Money and Jazzy Jeff. Jazzy Jeff introduced it in the song ‘The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff’ on the album ‘Rock The House’. In this song the Fresh Prince invites Jazz to scratch in certain ways, like making the record burb and making it sound like a bird, ergo the chirp scratch. funny sidenote: after the chirp Smith tells about the time his DJ got struck by lightning and turned into an autobot: “he got on the wheels of steel and began to … transform!! Jazz didn’t actually invent the transformer scratch, but it sure was a cool way to introduce it and he did make it sound more funky than Spinbad had done before him. Man I love that record!!
P.S. As I’m just 24 years old, I was only 2 years old when all this happened, so it’s all second hand knowledge that I’m sending out. But I do think it’s very important to know your history and I welcome everybody to correct me where I’m wrong or add to what I say.
Keep up the good work, I love these tutorials and practice beats!
Awesome reply Kevin!
Thanks for taking the time to contribute to that, we look forward to seeing you around here more often.
- Short-E
Yeah Kevin you’re right..Rock the house was the first popular record to include the transformer and chirp scratches…
Before that you had artists like Hitman Howie Tee,DJ Jaz from philly (formely Jazzy J),Grand Dragon KD (Steady B’s dj at that time),Cut master DC and Cash Money that recorded those scratches on wax…
I must say the first record that really showed off the chirp from beginning to end was a jam called “Boogie Down” by Robbie B & Jazzy J from 1986..I still play the song up to this day.
Thanks Jeff! I didn’t know that record by Robbie B and Jazzy J! But that’s exactly what I’m talking about, using this kind of platform to learn from each other.
Awesome knowledge sharing going on here, keep it up, you are educating me! – Short-e
Just in case you guys didn’t know..
There are actually 2 DJ Spinbad’s,the man from Philly invented the transform,not the one from NYC..
Peace!
Thank You for your tutorial ! and for the Scratch History !
I like a lot the short-e scratch
Hey DJ Live, thanks for stopping by!
exelente tutorial pero keremos mas y mas y mas
saludos desde mexico!!!
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