As much as we’d like it to be, DJing isn’t as simple as many DJs make it look. Enjoying music and having a huge library of songs isn’t enough to make you a DJ, however, it can be a good starting point. Fortunately, the road to becoming a DJ is significantly easier than it used to be. Practically, all you need to get ready is a laptop, a DJ controller, and a library of high-quality tracks that you can use in your sessions. But if you’d really like to make some progress, there are certain rules that you should follow to make the process of becoming a DJ easier.
Choose A Direction
If you look closely, many types of DJs can sometimes intersect with each other, in a professional sense. Club DJs can provide certain moods and atmospheres depending on the type and audience of the club. Resident DJs in clubs are expected to keep the floor on fire by transitioning between music tracks, mostly electronic, to keep the audience hyped up. Turntablists are DJs that use vintage techniques and modernized versions of old-school turntables; using vinyl discs instead of digital libraries while transitioning between tracks, which is quite the scene to behold if the DJ knows what they’re doing.
Equipment
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As a beginner, you don’t have to go over your budget to get the best available tools in the market. It’s alright to begin small and then make informed decisions when it comes to upgrading gear later on. As a beginner DJ, the first piece of equipment that you want to obtain is a DJ controller, which helps you mix tracks seamlessly. You’ll notice that the best DJ controllers are the ones that give you a lot of freedom with the software of choice. Focus on obtaining something simple and powerful, yet, affordable. Practicing your skills on DJ controllers can be quite a fun experience if you truly enjoy mixing music.
Beatmatching
The soul of DJing is beatmatching; it’s what makes a DJ stand out from the crowds with their skills. The core purpose of beatmatching is to synchronize the beats or tempo of two different tracks in the same phase. Without beatmatching, the mix will sound like random noise that no one wants to hear. Whether you’re using a virtual kit or a physical mixer, you’ll use a pitch fader to sync the tempo and a jog wheel to adjust the phase. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot of time learning the technicalities because most mixers and software have a built-in function that can sync the tracks automatically. However, it’s still advised that you focus on the basics if you want to start showing off with some tricks.
Music Theory
Most successful DJs have a solid background in music theory, even if they are not experts at playing acoustic instruments. Mixing music isn’t only about the tempo and the phase, but also using the right style. Since most electronic music uses 4/4 time, you’ll want to pour your focus on being able to count the beats in a measure or bar to find the sweet spot in a song that allows for that perfect transition that will keep the dance floor lit.
There is no standard method for becoming a DJ; everyone can enter the field from different starting points, depending on their skills and passion. As long as you’re dedicated to becoming a DJ, researching and practicing new techniques should be easier than ever. Don’t be too eager to put success as a milestone, but rather focus on becoming better for yourself before anything else.
