Getting to Know the Art of Turntablism

Discos and parties are spiced up as disc jockeys (DJs) manipulate phonograph turntables, digital turntables or DJ mixers. These activities are called "turntablism" or the art of creating music and sounds by touching records, stylus and mixer. The person who does the act is called a "turntablist" as opposed to a DJ who merely plays music. Scratching or moving records allow the turntablist to produce unique music and sounds. In such a case, the record player is turned into a musical instrument, as described by John Oswald.

The use of turntables dates back to the 1930s, as exemplified by a pioneering turntablism music created with two variable speed turntables. However, the modern thought and practice of making music through turntables started in the 1970s having roots within the hip hop culture with the master of ceremonies (MC or emcee) on vocals and the DJ making music. This culture, nevertheless, went underground in the 1990s, and during this decade, the terms turntablism and turntablist emerged. By the late 1990s, the two terms became strongly established and widely accepted relating to music produced through scratching records or manipulating rhythms through drumming, looping or beat juggling.

In 2000, a meta-genre of hip hop called "chopped and screwed" surfaced as a significant type of turntablism. Originating in the Southern United States, chopped and screwed used various vinyl emulation software instead of regular turntables. This form surpassed previous types of turntable music in terms of slowing pitch and beat (screwing) and syncopated beat skipping (chopping). Aside from hip hop, turntablism is also applicable to rhythm and blues or R&B, rock and other types of music. At present, DJ turntablists have become visual turntablists or video jockeys (VJs) that incorporate images, videos and other visual effects while producing turntablism music.