Choosing Tunes for a Set
Hi,
I am trying to plan a set and am having some trouble putting my music into some sort of order. I am probably over thinking it tbh but hope i can get some ideas of how others do it.
Thanks M
Do you mean you are playing out somewhere or just the basics of putting together a cohesive set? If playing out, what time slot are you playing and what type of music do the DJs on either side of you play?
Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply.
I am not playing out anywhere, but as you put it I just want to put a cohesive set together. Its been bugging me for ages and I have got to the point now that I am over thinking and putting myself of going on my decks.
Cheers M
All I can say is buy music that YOU love and that moves you. When practicing, RECORD YOURSELF ALWAYS. You can then go back and really listen to your mixing and blends and decide if two songs really shouldn’t go together. Something I do is after buying a chunk of tunes, I make a playlist of them and put them on my phone, then I’ll listen to them in the car and when going to sleep. This helps me really learn my new tracks and also which ones might go well together. Eventually, you’ll build up a library with specific genres but also what I like to call “crossover tracks” these are tracks that might get me from Deep House to Tech House or Tech House to Techno in seamless ways.
Don’t plan a set to the minute. I’d start by making a playlist with half a dozen tracks that maybe you’d like to play, and fill in the gaps. As said above, buy music you’ll use. Make sure your music has all the metadata properly filled out. It also depends what genre(s) you play.
Hi,
The buying part is not really the problem, I always listen to tracks a few times before buying or even listen to them again the following day. I have playlists on my phone to try a learn my tracks well but the problem seems to be putting them into order of play. I don’t know why it is so bloody difficult for me but its starting to annoy me lol.
M
What genres do you play?
Hi,
Acid, House, Tech, deep house and a bit of chicago house.
thanks
M
Have you learnt how to use musical key for mixing? That should help. Finding tracks with harmonic key helps to narrow down your option.
What software do you use?
If I am doing a set just for soundcloud or whatever, I do create a playlist, but I change up the order than initially setup when I am in the flow. I try to grab about 2 times the amount of tracks I need and have the first couple of tracks as a solid mix to get in the groove then start choosing tracks that you feel you would want to hear next.
As mentioned above - record yourself mixing at all times, but just as important, maybe more, is to listen back to those recordings and see how things worked or didn’t.
I dont think people are understanding what he is asking here… he wants to know how to put tracks in a certain order on whatever software he is using. not how to create a set or decide on what music to play.
Thanks for all of the replies.
I currently use Rekordbox
Yes you are right thunder, I have all my tunes although I try not to overload my collection and only keep
tracks I really like. As you said I am just trying to see how other put the tracks into some sort of order.
HappyDan - I have looked in to mixing by key but I would prefer to choose the order myself, I think I might learn more that way
Thanks M
Create a playlist, sort by the # column and drag the tracks to reorder them.
Hi mate.
I do a 2 hour radio show every 2 weeks. i choose a track to kick things off and guesstimate the time remaining whilst trying to to the “beginning, middle, end” thing on the fly. it just takes track knowledge, practise and experience mate. Have at it, J 
My honest advise is keep all the tracks you get, just create different playlists.
I never plan any sets, I have a few thousand tracks i pick from depending on my mood and who’s listening.
As ErikMinekus said, just create various genres/bpm/warmup-peak-close/vocal… playlists depending on what you think would be most relevant to you, then use the # column to sort them in the order you play them.
You have to decide on placement of tracks on a time vs. energy basis.
Like this (they call it “tension”, not energy):
DJTT has got you, homie:
This one is absolute GOLD:
See, I’d say for techno/progressive/deep, the climax moment should be the second to last hump.
isn’t that the same thing?
Not really. My gig playlists aren’t ever in any order. Maybe my intro track is first, but not event that, usually.