A high-speed scratch technique where four fingers roll from pinky to index across the crossfader against the thumb, producing a rapid machine-gun flutter of cuts from a single record movement.
The crab scratch is a crossfader technique in which the pinky, ring, middle, and index fingers roll sequentially across the fader button against a braced thumb, creating multiple fader cuts within a single forward or backward record motion. The result is a rapid, staccato burst of sound that resembles the flare scratch but achieves significantly higher cut density.
Why it matters
The crab scratch is one of the most technically demanding moves in turntablism and is used to create fast, machine-gun rhythmic textures that no other technique can replicate at the same tempo. Mastering it demonstrates a high level of finger independence and fader control, and it appears frequently in DMC-style routines.
In practice
Start by perfecting the flare scratch with two cuts before attempting the crab. Practice the four-finger roll on a flat surface first to build muscle memory, then apply it to the fader while keeping record movement slow and deliberate until the coordination locks in.
