Learn To DJ. Mixing or Scratching?

One of the top questions I get asked by guys and girls like you that want to learn to dj is weather they should learn to mix or learn to scratch.

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Here it is….straight up! Dj Mixing and scratching are two VERY different skill sets. Even though they can be used together, you will have to start by learning to dj with one or the other.

Mixing is more geared towards playing multiple songs together to create new unique songs, playing with the energy of the must to fuck with peoples emotions and to take people on a journey. Scratching is more geared towards jaw dropping short 5 minute performances.

Scratching and Mixing also require very different dj equipment to learn and play on. Scratch DJs swear by vinyl and mixers with a tight crossfader. This is because they need tough equipment that will allow them to feel the small sounds and cut back and forth rapidly in between sounds. Mixing djs have all moved to CDJs (dj cd players) and a lot are heading towards fully digital setups because mixing can be done on almost any DJ setup.

Both methods of DJing are wicked but here is why I chose learning to dj mix first over learning to scratch vinyl:

First and foremost, scratching sounds wicked for a few minutes but after a half hour, an hour (or “10 seconds” if you ask someone like your patents…) those screetches and scratches aren’t too pleasing on the ears. I don’t know many people that enjoy going out to a club, lounge or rave and just hearing the same beat and scratching sounds for hours on end. This means you have a limited time when you can play as a scratch DJ and this rules out being able to perform at a lot of different clubs and parties.

With mixing on the other hand, you can mix on a 6 hour private yacht party, you best friend’s birthday, in any club, lounge or even a restaurant and you can cater your sound to the atmosphere of the venue. With so many potential parties to play this means that mixing DJs have the opportunity to play A LOT more often than scratch DJs. I don’t know about you but I wanted to play as much as possible when I want to learn to dj!

On the flip side, scratch DJs get paid way more per hour than mixing DJs. At scratching competitions, scratch djs will be paid $500, $1000 or even $5000 for a 15 minute set. However, scratch DJs can only play for their 15 minuets so I felt that it was better off to play 8 hour sets at $200 per hour than one 15 minute slot at $500.

If you are a good mixing DJ you can play anywhere so I recommend learning to mix as DJ before learning to scratch. That way you can play a lot of parties and scratch as well which will be a huge bonus!!!

Either way, get out there and have fun. If you are set on being a scratch DJ, thats awesome. A lot of aspiring DJs don’t really know the different and highlighting these differences was the point of this post.

I hope it helped!

What are your thoughts?