A scratch pattern in which the crossfader is opened only on the forward stroke of the record push, silencing the return movement to create a clean one-directional sound.
The forward scratch is a technique in which the DJ opens the crossfader just as the record moves forward and closes it before or during the pull-back, so only the outward stroke produces audible sound. The return movement is muted, giving the scratch a single, directional accent per cycle.
Why it matters
It introduces the fundamental coordination of crossfader timing with record movement, which underpins nearly every intermediate and advanced scratch. The one-handed crossfader close on the return teaches the DJ to think of the fader as a rhythmic tool rather than a static switch.
In practice
Start with the crossfader closed. Push the record forward and open the fader at the same moment, then close the fader before pulling back. The goal is a tight, clipped sound on each forward push with silence in between.
