6 BEGINNER DJ TIPS IN 6 MINUTES!

[@DJPhilHarris]

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[@vannahgraceful4079]

I actually use the Crossfader

[@MM-pj8gz]

Great info! In the spirit of this video, here are 6 things I would encourage for people starting out/things I wish I knew: 1. Trust the process and keep practicing. People who make it look easy during showtime put in hard hours during their prep 2. Make a birthday/party sets for your friends. This is how I started out -- I would have friends send me their Spotify playlists and make a set based around the music they like. This helped me get out of my comfort zone with genres I wasn't used to mixing. 3. Don't beat yourself up when you mess up. That's right, you're going to mess up during a performance -- everyone does at one time or another. Good news is, the crowd wants to move past it as quickly as you do so, keep calm and rage on. 4. Learn to beat match with your ears. There's nothing wrong with using sync when you're starting out or in a pinch but learning to beat match by sound alone becomes second nature after lots of practice, so keep at it! 5. Organize your music early on! Save yourself some heartache early on by categorizing your music into folders. Some examples are by genre, tags (i.e. hard drops, mashups, etc.), and or moods (club setting vs. lounge). Also, always carry a thumb drive with your music because...you never know when you're going to have to cover for the unprepared DJ 😉. 6. Consider getting a streaming service like Tidal. This will allow you to try mixing music without having to purchase or download a bunch of tracks. I would recommend using this to practice before subscribing to a DJ record pool. When you are ready to subscribe to one, I would recommend BPM Supreme and Beatport (personal choice). Couple of caveats with streaming services -- 1. I wouldn't recommend relying on it during a performance with Murphy's Law lurking around every corner and 2. You can't record a set with steaming tracks so look at it more as a try before you buy 😁. (There's a way around this but, for now focus on the fundamentals). I hope this helps at least one person starting out. Keep at it guys and gals. Can't wait to see you on the big stage!

[@SharaG.]

Matt, these are GREAT tips and you have confirmed I am on the right track! I started learning how to DJ almost 2 years ago and have done exactly what you stated! Started with Tidal and just joined BPM supreme. Spending LOTS of hours daily listening to downloaded songs, setting cue points, making comments in column, color coding etc…..ALOT of work but rewarding to know I am putting in the time to learn and get my library organized before doing any gigs. I AM ADDICTED!

[@mitchelltower9885]

Amazing advice

[@richiebrixx8466]

I like to mix with the EQ lows while beat matching it makes for a smoother, longer transition

[@lukemachinegreen5168]

Can’t believe ‘don’t use the cross fader’ is tip number one! Lol When I was mixing in the 90’s, the cross fader was the way everyone done it.

[@wahlabiz]

Yessss Sir these are Pro tips these tips are literally all you need to know then work from that point towards finding your own style, Happy Christmas people 🎅🏿

[@DJDonn]

The best DJ tip video I've seen so far...all 6 were spot on 😎🎯💯

[@PsiStar]

Those tutorials on CDJs are so great. Thanks for remembering tip 6, which definitely is the most important one.

[@bennettfamily2154]

Phil...As always I learn something new from each video. I was using the 50% fade in mark, I will now do use the 80%. Thanks and keep them coming.

[@philwhatever3903]

Try mixing Old School Euro/Italian dance without a crossfader. Nearly every track needs it.

[@samshntrash]

Why is that?

[@philwhatever3903]

@@samshntrash because 99% of them start with 32 or 64 beats (minimum) of vocal or a lead synth. They need to be dropped in by hand at the same time as cutting them in. A fader is to long a curve. They also still need to be beat matched in bar and in key. Also back when these tunes was made it was all done on Vinyl so they was very tricky. It was also frowned upon to plan the order you played your set in advance. Simply because the dj’s before you may have already played what you had planned.

[@michaelhines5647]

Maybe define what genre is being referred to here regarding the tip "not to use crossfader", as scratch dj or turntablist are most likely to use crossfaders.

[@havik3420]

I've never seen anyone use the cross fader except the scratch artists.

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

i use the cross fader all the time and i leave the up and down faders in position and as most tracks on Serato are automatically even volume wise .I can leave one hand free for other things.Sometimes i might need to use a little gain up or down but otherwise im fine using the crossfader.Thats what its there for.

[@djchris30]

Its there for scratch djs, stop using it!

[@davidmark9905]

100% on the nail Phil about just playing to the crowd and making them dance..its simple. Lots of big ego Djs unfortunately just play to themselves and seek attention 😢

[@richieward8984]

Crossfader rule is nonsense. Set your curve and it's easier to blend your mix. You use the gains and ears to control the volume levels. Keeping the gains at 12 o'clock like a lot of people do is not required either. Each track is recorded different. We need to bring back using ears 😂

[@philwhatever3903]

Yep i totaly agree, as for the use of the cross fader it depends on the genre of music. If im mixing old school /euro or italian the crossfader is compulsory because a lot of tracks start with a vocal and no beat. Fading in a song half way through a sentence sounds ridiculous it needs to be thrown in faster then a pre fader can because the curve is to long. But you still need that short curve so its not too sharp an in. If im mixing trance the sure the prefaders are great for blending. Also like you say about using the ear. A lot of these new tutorials say hard pan the low EQ left. This is bollox sure i pan a lot of tracks left but only til like 11oclock and some tracks its not even necessary at all. again, all done by ear. Iv been djing over 25 years at event level, im signed by sony/bmg and never had no issues.

[@Karen-qt2oi]

I’m new to djing and your tips have been so helpful. Thank you 😊

[@selenegajraj8663]

Marry Christmas and a happy new year Phil,hope you have a great holiday!!🙋👍

[@DjMarkyBatch]

very useful video for newbies for today, all opening their first DJ controllers. merry xmas everyone!!

[@HenryChitaika]

Awesome and helpful tips. Easily explained too. Thank you.

[@globaldj719]

I just completed the beginner course and so well worth the investment of time and $! He is very experienced and smart and instructs very clearly teaching the required fundamentals but also what in reality you need to be a Jobs DJ.

[@MarcinDeep]

And for extra tip to Phil: Dont play your tracks on high gain (red led on channel) or you will have a bad time with distortion. You want to play louder, the limiter on PA will bring volume down, you will turn gain higher and everything will start to sound like poop.

[@kerzyDJ]

i started creating music learning the DAW etc but I should have learned to DJ first I have done it back to front😅🤣BUT the good thing is I know how everything works on the decks because of that, its mainly the timing etc I need to learn but great tutorial here man love it!!

[@stevied2710]

There is some information I didn't know and them some I know. I'm going to try the ones you mentioned in your video. Thank you and keep up the good work

[@husseincheeky]

This video is pure GOLD.

[@wongobongo]

Using the crossfader is KEY to cutting.

[@wongobongo]

When using it to cut make sure there's no curve on it*

[@stevenmcgladdery9133]

Honestly clear procise

[@HappyPhilip-m9z]

I love ur teaching Phil

[@eespecialeventsdj]

It strikes me as interesting that if you ignore tip #1 you'll have no need of tip #2 either. The crossfader is a viable way to mix, especially if you cut lows on one of the two channels being mixed.

[@stevoswifty6574]

I keep mine off because I have big daft arms and catch it 😂

[@crocshop4753]

my thoughts exactly ... i was like screaming at the screen (on "tip#2") 80%!?! .... you're literally manually imitating THE FUNCTION OF the crossfader! ..... LOL

[@teachingrounds]

I love these “tips” .. and to us absolute beginners they are tips. Great info here

[@ScojoDak]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and the wifey.

[@discopunk3111]

Great tips buddy, have a great Christmas ⛄

[@robinmcara793]

I scratch, I have to use it. It's not a problem.

[@AmblessedUche]

YOU ARE WONDERFUL THANK YOU

[@thewizard8955]

ok number 1 you should be runnjng your cdj3000s digital to yiut djm 900nxs2. number 2 crossfaders do have their place depending on what style of mixing youre doing. number 3 turn off vinyl mode and you can touch the top of the platter as yourr playing.

[@felicitydeikos5250]

Yes this is how I was taught in the early 90s, only now I use USBs.

[@TheLIBOTER]

Loud and Clear...So Informative in just 6 minutes its so Amazing!!!

[@oldskoolempire6314]

2 minutes in and I've already subscribed!!!! Great info, thanks for this 👏👏👏

[@virgilwilliams2378]

Well i use it. When they come up with a mixer with motorized faders, where the other fader lowers it self on it's own while you fade out, or fade in the other. Then i'll stop using it. Plus i have big hands, and i'm not Ambidextrous.

[@joshuamanueldelbarrio8090]

Love your content! Keep it up! 👍🏼

[@JosephStardust]

Unfortunately, my volume faders on my DDJ-400 are broken, and even when I don't touch them, they always fluxuate the volume and it's so frustrating, so I've just reverted back to using the crossfader, cause it's all I have atm.

[@sammymarcus8981]

Beautiful Tutorial! unfortunately the website is not available no more!

[@VSFXDJ07]

New to your channel and love your videos!! What is your opinion on how long to keep the dance floor at a wedding, house party, or corporate event (not a club or festival type setting) jumping to a particular style or speed before adding a bit of a break for folks to rest or grab another drink etc.? Example of what I mean is like 10-15 minutes or 3-5 tracks, or more like keep it going until people wear themselves out? Also the staple line dances all parties seem to want Cha Cha, Cupid, Wobble, etc. How many in a row, or spread it out? I've found that if I play say the 4th song of the same genre or tempo, the dance floor fades out and I feel silly. Then trying to get everyone back out is tougher. I've done mostly Weddings and smaller events.

[@dyad2382]

Thanks so much Mr Phil 😊

[@kevinrinehart]

I used to DJ in the military in the 80s using 2 cd players. Was there even any kind of hardware that existed like this back then?

[@isaaca3012]

Great tips mate!

[@morzie4075]

I’d have to disagree on the cross fader as I use it frequently and my mixes sound fine, it comes down to using the mixer nobs on the channel to blend the track in when using the cross fader, it is the original way of mixing anyway like you would do on turntables. And mastering the cross fader mixing means you are a higher skilled person than using the volume faders. Also having the right settings set for the cross fader is crucial to know if you are a scratch dj using software

[@djrigga]

Absolutely 👍

[@samshntrash]

I don't get how using the cross fader means your a higher skilled then someone using a volume faders.... it means your dumber by working harder then have to and have less varition of possible volume levels. There's a reason no professional djs use it, unless there scratching.

[@morzie4075]

@@samshntrash only reason everyone uses the volume faders is because it is too easy, all the professional djs back in the 90s used the cross fader for mixing which is a fact. I can mix with the cross fader and it’s sounds better than other dis that just use the volume faders, the cross fader is designed for blending a mix in properly not cutting a mix in which in affect isn’t mixing rather than just slamming in one track to another. All these so called pro djs are using things such as sync and hot cues along with the volume faders in which any amateur dj can do. Using the cross fader means you are more competent at using a mixer and utilising it whilst being able to blend a mix in without cutting from one track to another

[@samshntrash]

Why use the crossfader and the trim nob when a volume fader does the job that your doing with a fader and a knob. What happens when asong is red lining and you need to turn down the gain. Like there's no reason in ur case to be using the crossfader

[@morzie4075]

@@samshntrash if you are red lining then your gain is too high in the first place and you don’t belong on a dj set up. The whole point of the high mid and low is to use them along with the cross fader hence why is it called a mixer, and that is the true art of blending songs in together and that is what makes a good dj not using volume faders. If you are not going to use a mixer to it’s full potential then you might as well be using 2 Walkman CD players on an amplifier and start one track when the other one has ended. The principle of mixing still stands today and any oldskool dj will tell you this. I know people that have been in the industry for a long time and they are the ones that taught me the knowledge I have just given to you. Yes using volume faders is easier for majority of people out there because they can not be bothered to put in the effort to mix properly because it requires a higher skill level to blend mixes in. Most so called djs nowa days don’t blend mixes they just cut from one track to the next in which a 3 year old can do so that doesn’t mean by any means that they are higher skilled dj than someone who uses the cross fader. And unfortunately people call them selfs a dj because the equipment does most of the work for them and I can bet that if they were to have a set of turntables in front of them then they wouldn’t have a clue how to mix without the aids of hot cues, sync and in some cases volume faders as some of the oldskool mixers only have a crossfader to mix with

[@umarsavage3260]

Great job 👏

[@poshvibes4021]

Top tip for DJing, become a music fan and selector first. Do this for many years then if you still love it you can start to think about playing the music you love to other people. If you have a great ear for music, you can Dj without mixing as the amazing music will do the work for you. Either do this or alternatively don't do this and then put your Dj equipment up for sale in 5 to 10 years time as you never had the passion for it anyway like we see with 95% of wanna be Djs.

[@bobbynastro]

This is awesome! Thanks for the tips Phil 🙏🏻 What is the Track ID: for the Smooth Criminal remix @ 4 minutes?

[@ksto9334]

I was wondering the same thing

[@AntrawkssHard]

I need it!!!!

[@mgtow-balance3409]

no crossfader??!! NO CROSSFADER??!! lol i know every dj is different, but I always loved the x-fader

[@JH-qs4rh]

Dope watch!

[@KendalHammondDjSmoothk423]

Do you haave to use Cdjs to be an festival Dj? or can you use stuff like the DDJ REV7?

[@The1andOnly_888]

Hey sir. New here. Wanted to know how I can isolate the music from a song, to mix with another song?. Im using the DDJ - FLX4#Thanks!.

[@Rockinhio]

Really great!!!

[@conranteel3811]

Use the crossfader thats the whole point its there

[@adammacdonald1171]

I’m new to DJ but I have just got the 850k I would like to ad downloading record box (free) it will synchronise your tracks and make your station a faster and better place to work

[@kreater87]

solid info!

[@brianmission8884]

I have watch most of your videos but I haven't got a chance to feel the controller the turning table

[@WebsterStanislas-v8z]

Good information

[@josephdessesseau2279]

Dope.. thanks so much

[@georgedavis4453]

What decks should I get to start with

[@danielcolin2751]

Very helpful!

[@adrijodye4909]

genius explanation

[@stephencayce249]

Helluva Christmas present. Appreciate you!

[@philippalmer9004]

Wen I bye the controller does the software give u access to all the tunes... Thanks

[@alexsauber]

Well that 50% to 80% thing of your first tip isn't that right regarding the preset your channel fader is set ;) you should switch to the center position ;) (fader courbe on the channel)

[@jeikobu_jeikobu]

@1:44 this is wrong. Especially when there’s a beat still playing. This would only be an option if it is during a breakdown of the song with no beat still playing.

[@gt4033133]

Thanks again

[@KyleWirth-o3q]

Ah yes. Don’t touch the crossfader, that’s for turntablists not DJs. For when you’ve earned your big boy pants

[@Skipn]

Yooo what’s remix is that of the smooth criminal song

[@thejellyguy]

Never use the Crossfader?

[@RefugeetheDJ]

Hmm Yeah i was a bit confused too. I thought using the crossfader and setting the curve correctly so it blends the tracks would be a good tip particularly for beginners to learn and than they can learn to use the up faders as they get the hang of beat mixing.

[@thejellyguy]

@@RefugeetheDJ I use the crossfader

[@RefugeetheDJ]

@@thejellyguy good man! That’s makes 2 of us 👍.

[@Rojay04]

@@RefugeetheDJ that makes 3 of us

[@vincoderso2638]

Dude this are the basics of the basics of the basics. I know your channel focuses on total beginners but If you name things like the Jog speed adjust, which is just as important like the steering wheel on a car, an Awesome trick, I would ask my self as a professional, do you really know anything about DJing if you call one of the Fundamentals a good trick? I don't wanna judge you but I do wanna say that most of this "tricks" are basic operations of digital DJ equipment. And if you explain the crossfader, please meansion the real use for it: cutting and Scratching. Cause if you say "never use this", people who are insecure will follow this rule till the end of days and might never lern in how many different ways you can make transitions cause you said never use it.

[@Strafuzz]

The crossfader is not just for cutting and scratching

[@vincoderso2638]

@@Strafuzz I know but it is the most common use case.

[@EMOITPETER]

Hey I wish to be the best

[@doctorj7011]

Phil mix dubstep lol

[@artyserio]

some traks dont mix well different grid :)

[@johnbortscheller1111]

"use the exact same song" at 4:32...what? How am I mixing if using the exact same song? #helpanoob!😄

[@stevoswifty6574]

Just to get used to beat matching mate

[@80-two]

I’ve been DJing for over 20 yrs.. The 80% tip was total nonsense.. The real trick is the 100% trick.. Quite simply - there must always be “at least” one fader at 100% always.. It can be more than one, but it must always be at least one. The same principle applies to the “low” end EQ.. One must always be at 100% - but NEVER more than one.. These two golden rules will make any mix work

[@philwhatever3903]

I also have been djing over 20 years at event level im signed by Sony/BMG and accredited for over 100 tracks on discogs and yes your right however the low gains can both be at 100% i sometimes even have both tracks at 120% it all depends on the track and done by ear. Also the never use the crossfader is nonsense also. Im sure a lot of DMC world champions would disagree with this 😂 sometimes the long curve of a prefader is just too long, say like with tracks that start with a vocal but then drop into a flat beat for example old school euro/italian dance.

[@Anglo_Browza]

Tip - mix proper don’t sync it

[@philwhatever3903]

I’ve been mixing from before CD decks were invented. Sync is fine if your not using headphones and your cue is already set. But your right beginners should learn how to use a pitch correctly and know how to work a track that’s in the mix.

[@ParsevalMusic]

coool

[@MrDJJuicey]

Your message on NOT to use crossfader is not correct, that is an option for anyone, I have been a Dj for over 30 years and use crossfader on mixer & controller

[@sonyamano3434]

Pempers Dj advice section 🤨🙄

[@bboymac84]

Mix faster

[@adrianshaw82]

He lost me after he said ... DONT TOUCH THE CROSSFAQDER... i wish they would bring the Dislike counter back, I would love to see how many people actually Disliked this mess.. SOOO many things wrong (or really only half right) with these "Tips"/// Laughable at best...

[@P4JJP]

Sadly the Crossfader advice is utter foolishness

[@jeikobu_jeikobu]

Definitely “beginner”..

[@ramonhernandez4101]

😂😆😂Wow this was horrible advise. The guy giving DJ tips doesn’t know how to use a cross fader 😂 he probably can’t scratch either 😆 but yes tell us your tips on how to DJ 😂

[@nicklegendmusic]

That crossfader advice is bullshit and I don't care if your have been DJing for over 20 years

[@Ufkatuale]

hahahahaha wtf

[@JerryRababalela]

Great! So easy and awesome to begin with you🎧🎛

[@HappyPhilip-m9z]

I love ur teaching Phil