So when I do my sets I usually get guided by this questions I do to myself:
Is it in Key?
Is it the right song for the moment? (bringing energy up or down)
Is it dark techno or happy techno?
Does it have long or short breaks?
Then depending on all of those variables I choose my next song. Most of my tracks are in the 122-127 range, so sometimes I really don’t look at the BPM.
And sometimes I just don’t care and mix whatever(but im at my house lol)
Can you guys share how you go about choosing the next song?
I don’t have problems finding the next track, I am just interested how other people do it. Since I don’t have any djs friends teaching me their tricks…
Those questions are not in order,sometimes If I really like a song I just play it just because my head says" This song will be the bomb right now ". I try not to limit myself to just have it in key… If i did that all my sets would sound the same and songs in the same order and that would be boring for me.
i just pick randomly because the folder i tend to be picking from is all songs i want to play out. it doesnt really ever depend on what key it is or anything like that.
okay…I get frustrated when people use mixed in key because they think they need to or have to because it’s there. Your ears will tell you better than any piece of software.
My method also. Different start times for different track combinations. Great way to stumble across good combos. (and it also helps you learn your music)
I tend to focus more on the groove of the songs, rather than the key of the song. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, there is beauty in the disharmonics of techno and tech-house.
When I start a set I usually get a groove going for 3 or 4 tracks to ease people in - tracks that are not too heavy that I know well and work together. From there I get a feel for what im doing and I usually have an idea in mind for where I want to take it, or atleast know a couple of tracks that I definitely want to play, the way I go about linking to those tracks I tend to do on the fly but I know my collection well and will have some tracks I know lead nicely into each other - im forever making mini 3-6 track playlists that take things in different directions which can give me abit of a road marker. Trust your ears dont let track info dictate what you play next, the beauty of mixing tracks together is that the possibilities are endless
Yesterday I did a mix without paying attention to anything… disregarding keys… It is more fun without keys! and yes I need to get more familiar with my songs.
If you are buying all different genres of music, then yes, you do need to look at bpm. If you know your style and flavor the majority of your purchases will all be close in BPM.
I tend to play my playlist on the rating i give the tracks, 1 star being very easy and up to 5 stars with lots of energy and forward movement so its a bit easier to control the energy in a mix and take it up or down, this of course next to knowing your tracks and keeping the obvious like phrasing in mind when they apply. Make a playlist with songs that are the vibe you want to carry out, rate them in energy and play with that to create a nice wave of energy in your mix.
Hi,on vinyl and on digit i ve the same technic,i work my playlist at home and make every tracks in order , at home i work my playlist by tag, some tracks who have vocal are taged in red thoese who’re tribal in orange etc ..depending the energie and i make it in order bye colors "one deck one color + i know every tracks by heart ^^, i play 3/4 decks with a bpm between 140/145 and every 1m40 i need to make another track/vinyl + on 4 decks i record a 8 beat loop at the end of every tracks with beatslicer, like that i can load a track without sounding off the last one (with vinyl you need a external bpm source , i ve the Xone2D who give me this one .. playing in key’s sh.. xD
Did you really just ask “How to DJ” in this Forum???
I don’t speak about skills but for comparison: We all can learn how to drive a ar…but we’re not all able to win World Rally Championship!!!
What I mean is that everyone (specially with Software aided Djing) can learn the skills…but what you ask is what makes the difference about average and good…and it is so impossible to answer this question because it is so subjective and emotionally loaded.
There are so many elements that Play a role in the choice of the next song and “Reading the crowd” is one that is impossible to describe…sometimes I Chose a track and it’s a hit, next time I Play the same combination and it’s a flop…or it is even a bigger hit…I guess there’s no Magic rule on how to Chose the track.
As someone mentioned earlier, during my days of playing vinyl there was no focus on key only what sounded good by ear. I still live by that rule and do not worry about the key of a track. I choose the next track depending on the mood I’m in, by reading the crowd and knowing my tracks inside and out. There is no substitute for practicing and knowing your tracks like the back of your hand.
While knowing the key of tracks may be beneficial, it would kill my creativity if I was always focusing on it.
My advice for what it’s worth: Practice, practice, practice.
i just wing it. i’ve never once worried about keys.. after playing your tunes and getting to know your tracks and with proper eq techniques you can kill it without ever worrying about shit like that.
+ i know every tracks by heart ^^, i play 3/4 decks with a bpm between 140/145 and every 1m40 i need to make another track/vinyl + on 4 decks i record a 8 beat loop at the end of every tracks with beatslicer, like that i can load a track without sounding off the last one (with vinyl you need a external bpm source , i ve the Xone2D who give me this one .. 