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Simple and Free Instructions on How to DJ

A new set of turntables and a mixer can be daunting for a beginner, but there are many free and simple resources to get you started. Online videos, books from the library and simple how-to guides are all available to the novice DJ. The first thing to do is familiarize yourself with the following parts of your turntable and mixer set; the crossfader, the pitch control and the master/cue headphone switch. For easy mixing, use two copies of the same record to get their beat-matching basics down. Pick a record of the house, drum and bass or techno genre as they were created with DJing in mind.

Instructions

  1. How To DJ - A Beginner's Guide

    • 1

      Put record one on the platter on your left and record two to the platter on your right.

    • 2

      Switch the crossfader to the left and drop the needle on record one to play it out of your speakers.

    • 3

      Set the headphone switch to cue and play record two. It is best to only wear one ear cup of your headphones so you can still hear record one through your speakers.

    • 4

      Find the first downbeat on record two- usually the sound of a kick drum that begins a looped beat. Pull back on record two and holding it still, then allow it to move forward to play that kick drum again and again in your headphones. Release record two to let it play at the same time as a downbeat on record one.

    • 5

      Let the two records play starting from the a downbeat. If record two is playing slower, move its pitch control slider up. If record two is faster, move its pitch control slider down. Return to step four. Repeat these two steps until the two beats are matched and sound correct playing simultaneously.

    • 6

      Wait until record one is almost over while repeating steps four and five to perfect the mix. Most dance music songs have a breakdown toward the end where the drums fade out for a while. When the drums return on record one, it is a perfect time to begin to both records out of the speakers.

    • 7

      Push the crossfader to the middle to allow both records to play out of the speakers. If it seems as though the beats are losing sync, make slight adjustments by touching record two to slow it down or gently pushing it to speed it up.

    • 8

      Push the crossfader all the way to the right to allow record one to play on its own through the speakers after both records have been played together long enough to create a seamless mix.

    • 9

      Swap record one out for a new record to cue with your headphones.

    How to Find Free and Simple DJ Instructions

    • 10

      Search the Web for online DJing videos. Try a few links in the "Resources" section.

    • 11

      Check your library for titles such as John Stevenson's "DJing for Dummies," or "How to be a DJ" by Chuck Fresh.

    • 12

      Find text-based instructional guides online (check for links in "Resources").

    • 13

      Call your local DJ equipment stores to esquire about DJing lessons. As of 2011 in New York, for example, the store "Rock and Soul" is offering an introductory lesson for free.

Digital Music

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