6 TIPS TO START DJING FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS

[@DJPhilHarris]

Enjoyed the video? 🎧🎶 Take your DJ skills to the next level by clicking here: philharrismusic.com/upgrade!

[@lindakhanyile9250]

I really did ,enjoy the video

[@BasirHakeemee]

What do you do in terms of security when djing at a random club or something

[@blamonnongrum5798]

Yes the truth is that don't add too much effect and I like this video

[@chriswemyss1959]

thank

[@djk-square]

U

[@Sinista1Productions]

PLAYLIST! PLAYLIST! PLAYLIST! So True!!! I just DJ'd a Weedfest in Maine on Saturday for a group of people who have bene smoking & eating edibles since the Wednesday prior... I put together a playlist of Mashups with songs people love, mixed them up and built each song with crowd participation... By the end of my set, I had 90% of the attendees out of their tents and up-front dancing... The ENERGY I felt from the crowd after that performance was SICK!

[@sircolt8184]

True stuff. Just last gig I tried out something different since I became bored with beatmatching. Because I knew this was a tek party I purposefully combined hellfish's you need more crack with mungo jerry's in the summertime both in original bpm. People were already pissed because of a small merzbow encore about 3 tracks before to get everybody in the mood. Next thing you know theres bottles flying through the room like javelins, people beat the shit out of each other left and right and I could hear myself saying this set needs some laid back pitched to at least 230bpm with the bass distorted to fuck. That was an experience I won't forget and reminded me once again what I love about music haha!

[@MisterExcelsior]

Ayee!!! Hello from Portland Maine

[@boozy8659]

It’s even more impressive given you managed to get people stoned out of their minds onto the dance floor 😂

[@McVey_22]

Also from Bangor Maine! 🥂 you should go check out my KZbin channel and lemme know what you think! I’m just starting off and I don’t even have a ddj or cdj yet. Just using my iPhone and my laptop with virtual DJ! Using an actual DDJ would be so much easier 😩

[@McVey_22]

kzbin.info/door/L2fp7EFqo-L69oPQi2T4eg

[@prodbymrsl]

This is some of the best advice I heard! I literally played my first DJ gig ever a few months back, and I had NO equipment, only a laptop. I downloaded Serato software, and made the best possible dance playlist I could think of. I learned how to make a decent transition between two songs in a couple of days and just played the gig. Mind you right before I went on stage I thought I was gonna shit my pants thinking I don't know anything about dj'ing and wtf am I doing, and then I had the best dj gig ever!!! People were coming up to me saying this was the best time they had on a dancefloor in ages, and I couldn't believe it. It's all about being in the shoes of the dancer and playing music people will enjoy dancing to. Good luck everyone!

[@s.k634]

Fantastic stuff man .Hope you are still going strong a year later

[@LukeZealand]

I definitely think you're right for beginners to refrain from using too many effects but I think it is crucial to becoming a successful Jockey because you can definitely use effects to improve the listeners experience. Especially with reverb on vocals and a repeater on drum beats. I personally think it makes you feel more like an artist when you're able to do effects because your utilising your comprehension of a song you have heard a million times.

[@EdgarJBraz]

I agree with that guy 👆🏼. specially if your audience are mostly young people, by that👈🏼 i meant to say, that as a young dj i do love to party around clubs where the dj uses a lot of effects to almost changing the song to a different beat, and that’s where the magic happens! you know the song you’re listening too, but you never herded remixed like that before, them you simply love it because “you know the song”…

[@clarissaglover8568]

Amazing

[@GoalGetterGuide24]

F4

[@anaclarapiechestein2983]

You´re so right about the importance of the playlist and bearing in mind that you wanna make people dance to the music they love. Thanks so much, it was super helpful

[@archer4922]

Pro tip that I put in another video of yours that I learned very early on in the 90's when I started djing after a couple big hiccups at gigs. ALWAYS HAVE BACKUP SYSTEMS, MIRRORED HARD DRIVES AND THUMB DRIVES ARE A MUST. Also if doing a mobile gig like a wedding have a Spotify list ready on your phone or tablet if a catastrophic failure happens like I had last weeknd (3 mins into a wedding ceremony my main laptop fried, super loud pop over the speakers then smoke and fire from the back of the hp😬), Spotify saved the ceremony, had a old laptop for the reception but kept locking up mid mix most of the night but even with the dead air it was still a great reception. 👍

[@bmic7320]

Probably by far the most helpful video i found. Everybody else uses basic house track samples. You using actual songs was very helpful man, thank you!

[@djflintstone2816]

One thing you forgot to mention is that when djing you have to be able to read the crowd this helps you decide what music is keeping the people on the dance floor plus some dj sets takes you on a journey. I vary my mixing style from drop beat fade in out filtering and beat matching

[@consumervouchers]

One of my dj buddies used to always mix remixed versions from the record pool back in the day. I asked him why and he said it sounded cool my response was nobody has heard that version...and it was killing the vibe at his gigs. I suggested starting with the orgiginal and blend in the remix for effect and it worked. People like familiarity but you can train them up on the remix just don't over do it.

[@andreb877]

Excellent point!!

[@GORILLAZ41]

I absolutely love remixes and so do many others

[@borishribljan]

I'm complete begginer, please more videos like this!

[@DJ-ui2cn]

Been DJing since the 80's using Technics 1200s until CDs came to the picture. Briefly left the hobby and definitely been meaning to make the change to these new mixers. Nothing like doing your research and finding great vids like yours for guidance. Subbed.

[@Dj_tremaine]

I love this tutorial out of all of the ones I’ve seen honestly!! The most brief to the point & clear explanation

[@r.i.psteez929]

Beginner Dj here, started about a week ago. I’m Mexican so I’ll mainly be dj-ing mexican cumbias, which don’t necessarily have too much quantization, everything is more natural and off time so what would you recommend doing ?

[@downloadernav]

" Song selection is the key " Point duly noted ! Thanks Phil ! Lots of love from India !

[@spookmedia5536]

I've just brought my first deck the unmark midstream pro plus so here taking hints lol

[@dahitman55]

Fire transition. Techno to House is nuts.

[@vjp724]

You are a brilliant communicator and teacher.. I am learning so much from you.. thanks a lot my friend..

[@djdouwanna9051]

I wish I had this video before I started, it took me ages to work out how to use the cue button with headphones 👍😉 Thanks Phil

[@carpatos1106]

One correction to point 1. Don't get any controller which is not compatible with rekordbox, get pioneer preferably, these mfs monopolized the industry and most dj gigs you'll be getting are probably going to be on pioneer cdjs. Pioner cdjs only work with tracks you've analized with rekordbox. If you analyze your songs for practicing in another software, you'll have to go again and analyze and setup your tracks twice to be able to play gigs...

[@neptun3189]

Thankyou

[@henrikzetterstrom278]

This was the BEST introduction video about being a DJ. I have now even subscribed on your channel. I have been dancing for almost 2 decades at night clubs. I even used to be a aerobics instructor too (I am strait if you now thought I was not), so I can "feel" the music and I can also "feel" where in 8 X4 of the beats are in a song without counting.. And when it comes to DJs, you are so right. The BEST DJs are those who Play FOR the people, with that said, I mean they KEEP a song for at least 2-3 minutes, AND they change the songs at the RIGHT BEAT. The ultimate change beat is of course at end of the 4th of the 8 beats. But then there are those DJs out there who are there just to show off how "great they are" and they act as if all the people who came to the night club came just to see the DJ perform..... and the DJ change song every 20 second, and use all the kind of "own made stuff", and I cant even "feel" the music anymore. That kind of DJ think he is more like a "rock star" and he is really "pushing it" BUT no one is at the dance floor....... Another kind of DJs I have encountered are those who actually do not know anything about the 8X4 beats. So they change a song after the first, or second or third of the 8 beats, and that makes people "trip" on the dance floor. Not that most people understands WHY they trip, or why it "feels odd" when the new song comes along, but it is because the DJ changed the song after the first or the third of the 8 beats. Only a real DJ understands now what the heck I am talking about. And if you are a DJ who do not understand any of what I wrote, then go back to basics, LISTEN to the music you are playing, and try to hear where the 1, 2,3 AND 4th of the 8 beats are. As an aerobics instructor we NEED to understand this and hear it, due to all Aerobics music is based on the 4X8 beats and so does dancers. So if someone who wants to become a DJ do not "hear" the beat, or understand the structure of a dance song...... maybe its better to not want to become a DJ. I am saying this, to prevent future night club dancers to have a bad experience when it comes to night club dancing. Because everything is about the DJ. And also, to “listen” to the audience. IF no one is on the dancefloor after 1 hour playing…. CHANGE THE MUSIC. Same as for me when I was working as an aerobics instructor. If I lost clients, maybe it was that my routines was not good enough, and I should CHANGE it somehow. "Last night a DJ saved my life", for me, it is the happiness of being able to stay on the dancefloor and dance for 3 hours. But if a DJ is not good... and too introvert and play for himself and are there just to “show off” then I get even a little upset. Because it is like that with everything. TALENT. Talent to “feel” the music. Aerobics instructors, DJs, dancers and music creators need to “have it”. A good DJ has it, a bad DJ doesn’t have it. And if you need to “count the beat” to know where you are in the song…. Then you don’t have it. Because if you have the talent to feel the music, You only need 4 seconds of listening to a song to “feel” where you are in the song. DJ programs tracks this, and also CDJs and mixers also track this, but if you have it in your own “system”, and everything feels more “natural”. So I have decided to learn how to become a DJ, how a DJ controller works, and am thinking of buying the Pioneer DDJ 1000, even if I maybe should start with the DDJ 400. What do you think about that?

[@mistert7958]

DORK

[@tony6795]

"Sir..."

[@_calebfray_]

Best tutorial I have seen yet I just got the ddj sx and this will help me a lot because i am going to be preforming this summer

[@lyndajay4407]

Yes, I hate when DJs use too many effects on my favorite songs. It ruins the experience for me.

[@edyolivan8442]

Last night I had my first gig as a Dj and I used a DDJ - 200 controller for the job (it was a small restaurant)… i prepared the best playlist I could according to my taste and it went amazingly well, the people there loved me and the managers ask me for presentation cards with I don’t have since I just started :P So yes it’s the musically taste and to try your best to keep a good party lit and not the gear… although like you said at the beginning of the video I would like to upgrade later on. Once again thank you and greeting from Texas. Also thanks for the video cause as a beginner is hard to have a reference on we’re to start. Looks like I’m d

[@lmy222]

wow that sounds awesome!!! how much time did it take you to practice until you were on your current level?

[@Swar0071]

I'm hopefully getting my Numark party mix tomorrow so I'm excited and hopefully this video can help me learn a thing or 2

[@therealwaliekpays]

I got the party mix as well its straight

[@ebow1163]

Same just got mine yesterday

[@markcaulfield6449]

Absolutely priceless and fantastic advice here, your my go to place and DJ for advice on all DJ stuff, keep it coming Phil..!

[@charlessmith263]

In the disco years, DJs on the decks would do cross-fading tracks by way of beat matching on the vinyl turntables. Nowadays, DJing is a lot different than what they did in the disco years.

[@bevinjoseph5741]

This video definitely gave me confidence as a entry level dj, I believed in the perfect playlist and it’s not about the skills with the effects.

[@luiscasas773]

Thank you so much for this video, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from this video. You really gave 6 good tips to follow especially the transition tip, filter and play method. Thank you so much please keep them coming and ill continue watching.

[@DL30Creations]

I do karaoke gigs at locals here and picked up the Traktor S4 MK2 to spice it up a bit and these tips will help.

[@maestrojanmj7818]

Your the best mate. Good luck and all the best.

[@justinneal3251]

Thank you…this is my dream career and I’m trying to learn how to get started

[@iixmusic]

After watching this tutorial I got inspired to make this kind of track🙌 Amazing tutorial keep it up man🙌

[@futureproof80]

Great video…& not overwhelming like some! I’m a newbie & looking to start DJing very soon in the new year, so all these tips are very helpful. I also need to build a basic set up (equipment) so any tips from you guys will be huge! Thanks in advance. 🙌🎶

[@robi6110]

I just bought the Traktor Kontrol S2MK3. a friend of mine, who has a lot of experience, suggested it to me. It's not that cheap but in the long run it will pay off, apparently.

[@3485martin]

REALLY useful tips, best video i have seen yet, got yourself a new subscriber, greeting from Chicago IL.

[@Mrfeast-AD]

Thanks man, first set up got delivered .can’t wait to have a go tonight

[@huey8431]

Great priceless info! I remember doing all the mentioned when I first started. Wish I learned it from you sooner!

[@melissaglargaardmartins3304]

Hey Phil. Do you have a video where you explain and show what the DJ deck is plugged into? And also what other equipment you will need for a total setup (As a completely beginner).

[@benediktlinek]

For a controller you only have to connect it to a pc and maybe some speakers

[@delbertprince5302]

The lesson was very understanding and helpful. I would like to be a master in DJing. I just want to add DJing to my profile.

[@gregoryfitts6220]

Love this video. Im literally just learning how to use my deck. I dont wanna be a Dj with all the fancy tricks...i wanna be that simple Dj who plays good music.

[@its_eboni]

Thank you, you've inspired me. I was here fretting away about how I'm going to learn all the technicalities as a beginner, but this reminded me we all have to find and honour our individuality, in everything

[@mr.cloudbound]

These are really great tips for beginners! Just started DJing and my friend taught me most of these things but this is the one!

[@pinkranger2373]

Quick, concise and smart…thank you for a helpful tutorial, I appreciate the time you took to make this 👏🏻

[@MrDiaz22]

Thank you so much for these tips specially the 4th one. I just started practicing how to DJ and have been focusing a lot on transitions thinking it was the most important thing, and you just opened my eyes on this thank you!

[@snakemont]

00:10 I am thinking about being a DJ for a couple of years! lets do it! filter out and que!

[@Nyccolevop]

Nice job done 🔥 I been djin a while and ur absolutely correct I learned a few things from this video as well thank you Phil 💪🏾🔥🔥🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼

[@MrMoccy80]

Great tips especially effects and playlist!

[@viperstinger77]

I totally agree with what ur saying, i've been djing for 27yrs, and I've seen the young DJs come thru tweaking knobs and think they are the shit then you look at the dance floor people are not dancing. You can have all the skills in the world fist pumping & tweaking knobs but if you cant read and get the crowd dancing you have pretty much fucked your djing career.

[@snakemont]

The Dancefloor will not be empty! Thank you for filtering out and Volume down....play!

[@marqosmarqos1201]

Im new to DJing and this was extremely helpful. Thanks

[@annettemuise2123]

Great video! Thank you! Love all the tips. Especially love tip #3 and #6!

[@DamienAlexander]

I started getting a DDJ 400 because I always hear people complain at weddings that the DJ keeps playing hardstyle for ages, maybe 1 or 2 good hardstyle tracks would be fun with some audiences, but its just a wedding and people wanna dance or start off with some slower 80 bpm music.

[@empressmagneta]

This was great!!! My board and laptop are on the way this week and I have a gig Sunday. I’m excited 🎉 thank you

[@aggzish]

With point 6 , happy hardcore also works well to begin with as there's basically only two beats in the whole genre .

[@rznwrznw]

I love this practical advice. Thank You!!!!! I am new to DJing!!!

[@Arcton-nv9cr]

Exactly as others have said not my kinda sound but really flexing the capability on the RR there, I own a set of these so thanks

[@archer4922]

Great tips for the beginners! Also remember the equipment doesn't make a great dj, practice does. 👍 also learn to read your crowds, not every gig is the same especially mobile gigs. I've been in it for 25 years now and have gone from the old school technics 1200's and a couple Sony discman portable cd players to 19" rack mount systems to the pioneer dj cdj 800's to pioneer dj ddj rr and ddj 1000's. Been thru it all as a mobile dj and club dj. However if you noobies plan on being in it a while spend some $$ on quality equipment, I mainly use QSC k12 speakers and have been on the same pair plus a pair of matching subs for almost 10 years, they have been to hell and back from Mardi Gras parades falling off of floats to weddings to schools and clubs and the same set still going strong and still looking great after all the bangs and bumps. I can't kill them, was $4k well spent and paid for 10 times over now. For your decks can go wrong with numark or pioneer. I've still got a 10 year old numark ns6 I still rock at some gigs but mainly use pioneer dj at big events. 👍

[@OHAYOfromJAPAN]

Thanks you so much.your amazing.this video help me a lot as a beginner.

[@anboojz]

Wow!! Thumbs up to this video... i got this controller 2 weeks ago and will be implementing these

[@juliodefreitas157]

Awesome lesson 👍👍and thanks for sharing your tips. .

[@snake_king]

Great video, thanks! However, the one thing everyone misses to mention is the fact of where the actual music comes from? Can you use Spotify softwares or do you have to use other services?

[@kasyndri]

Damn, this is such an amazing intro tutorial. Liked and subbed f’sho. It’s great when field-expertise meets high quality video production/flow. Very impressive ✨

[@C-Dub1906]

Thanks Phil. I purchased your course and your method for learning to beat match worked best for me. Not knocking anyone else’s. Just saying yours was the easiest one for me to grasp.

[@ma-sellontechane3014]

You are an awesome teacher. I am enjoying your videos and taking a lot from them. Thank you!

[@kontraktofficial]

ay yo! on the first thing i would like to point out that yes the pioneer rekorbox thingies are a club standard. BUT remember its still CLUB STANDARD. it does not matter if you do it with vinyls, rekordbox or controllers, all of that shit takes practice and all of that shit takes skill and talent NO MATTER WHICH ONE YOU START WITH

[@blackcyborg009]

Question: How do you position your overhead camera?

[@kellymelrose8527]

ive done all but 1 of my gigs without decks ..i just used my laptop and mouse ... just used the crossfader and i had the dancefloor busy all nite ....as u say its about the music and people like what i played

[@alexj.8634]

This is literally the most descriptive video I’ve see in a while, seriously. Great job

[@sportschmoll]

Great Info, thank you very much from Germany

[@jhdrummer4815]

I’m a House pop producer and a local festival is asking me to play. Not joking they think I’m a DJ as well but I’m not! I used to be a hobbyist DJ with vinyls back in the 90s but then nothing more. Now I’m ready to book my gig at the festival pretending that I will play my own DJ set. I have 2 months to prepare and not decks at all for now. Question, can I reasonably believe to be ready for the gig? Thinking to rent the decks to prepare for the show and learning how to DJ. Am I crazy to say yes to the festival?

[@scottj8243]

Great video thanks phil, waiting for my first controller to arrive, cant wait to get started.

[@maxdcorgi]

Great advise, know your audience first. Create an amazing playlist, and minimize those effects.

[@_CJM]

Really helpful, using the numark mixtrack platinum

[@leifbergado6125]

Thanks for the tips brotha i just bought and expecting my ddj 400 control tomorrow

[@jaydeepgajjar8711]

For once, the software is actually really useful

[@PerkiSubscribelikeshareyoutube]

Ok thank you so soon I will try to create the perfect playlist

[@M3D_Concepts]

Thx I'll be sending some beginners I know to watch this. Maybe hearing another day the same thing will help them.

[@tincity9820]

AMAZING JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THANK YOU!

[@ChaseBowman]

Thanks for this! Wondering in tip 3, what filter or FX are you using?

[@gatallica_]

I just got this controller! Beginner DJ here

[@Prince_Matthew]

Good stuff, very helpful. Thanks for sharing! 🤙

[@smfremixes]

Great advice! nice video!

[@djdolceproductions899]

Hi! Your videos are so helpful and great!! Thank you for making them. Question: What video editing App do you use? (For adding the arrows and boxes and stuff?) 😊

[@RTR_RRoomes73]

Thanks. I will tag this and refere to it a few times along my journey

[@krunowien3214]

Nice and simple explanations. Tnx for this precious tips m8 👌👌👌🙏🙏

[@leeharsant]

I use the hot key as the cue button well used to on my first controller. The cue button was clunky so the pad was👌as a cue button.

[@hiteshdhawan1]

We can never know how much of the mixing is prepared and how much is live. So how much should be prepared? Like 90%

[@ebow1163]

Good at communicating helpful :)

[@gustavomenezesdesouzamelo5126]

Best video ever for starters! ❤

[@lilmarlone5911]

YOU ARE THE BEST TRAINER EVER

[@chrisl5711]

Great advice. Straight to the point!

[@ananas2.05]

I think im gonna be a dj so this video helped much

[@krisis8736]

I will be taking your DJ training courses.👍

[@djkatnap5808]

Thanx for the advice bro 💯

[@Paul-km8ko]

When I was dj'ing in nightclubs during the 70's disco era we had two belt drive turntables an equalizer and headphones. You had once chance to get it right, figure it out yourself, with no assistance from the technology of today.

[@ToniRawGazer]

I first started on the cdj 1000mk3 now I have moved onto the xdj xz which is insane

[@bihialex]

thank you my friend for this amazing tutorial i appreciate it and my greetings from morocco !

[@blanehartleb2754]

Hands down best video I have seen for beginners. ME. Thank you so much

[@janetsworld9734]

Thanks so much, this was so helpful

[@swiatzuzi4303]

really good advices mate thanks!

[@PerkiSubscribelikeshareyoutube]

Phil whenever you want to try a tutorial please use some of my music because yet I want to know what magic mix I can do with them

[@djsporting14]

you tracks are free to use ?

[@PerkiSubscribelikeshareyoutube]

@@djsporting14 well not for you only Phill

[@PerkiSubscribelikeshareyoutube]

@@djsporting14 I was talking to Phil only

[@scottj8243]

A.k.a he wants free advertising through phil’s audience....

[@ScozzieMan]

do you ever du tutorials with virtual dj? love the videos btw

[@jasonarnold3012]

dont think he does but i know where there is a course on it gordon its not expensive if you interested

[@ScozzieMan]

@@jasonarnold3012 really? where?

[@alexgibson1291]

All softwares do the same thing bud