How to Beatmatch BY EAR!

Beatmatching is one of the the first steps in learning how to mix. Beatmatching well can hide transitions from your audience and surprise them by taking them in a new direction that they didn't even notice. But it has to be smooth! Otherwise it can have the opposite effect and make you look like a noob. In this video I will show you the basics of controlling both the speed and the phase of two tracks. In this demo I am using CDJ2000Nexuses and a DJM2000, but you can learn to do this on nearly an DJ hardware/software.
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Demo Tracks:
Noir- Clickit
Chris Malinchak - If U Got It (Mark Knight Remix)

[@seanp2434]

When I started practicing beatmatching by ear I would have one song playing on one deck and keep it on a loop. Then I'd use the other deck to beatmatch. Once I got it I spun the jog wheel to mess it up and then beatmatch it again. I'd do the same with different songs over and over. It really helped me and hopefully this helps someone too

[@cyrusjulian187]

NYC 2044 simple yet very practical tip. Thanks!

[@AdrianMakBC]

I am really loving the DJ community y’all are the most helpful folks fr

[@timemasterhms]

This definitely helps, but I think mixing full tracks also gets you into a habit of realising when to mix in and out of tracks. Start with a small collection of songs with varying tempo, then build your library as you get more confident with beat matching.

[@CollosalTrollge]

HI, I dont know if it is the CDJ version i have of the CD Player but i find the loop function is horrible since you can hear a fine click sound, or miss if you can call it that, when you create the loop. I do of course try my best to press the buttons on the beats as possible. Ive tried to do 4 beats - so beat 1 press and then beat 4 end and even 2 beats or even 8 beats, i dont know. Sometimes i get it perfect but its not always, and the thing is in the live mix you cant afford to have a cla-cla sound as it will ruin the tune.

[@PHlyingAZN]

@@CollosalTrollge turn on quantize

[@SynQ86]

Imo you don't explain enough the working of jugging the jogwheel and adjusting the pitch fader. So i'll explain it in a more clear dummy way: You cue up and let go on the first beat of the bar. Listen and if it sounds bad you start jugging the wheel forwards or backwards untill it starts sounding "ok", leave it for a second or 2, listen and when it starts to sound bad again adjust the jogwheel again. Do you have to jugg forward to make it sound better? Ok now you know 100% sure the track you try to beatmatch has slower bpm then the main track playing out loud. If you have to jog it backwards to make it sound better the track you try to mix is obviously faster bpm. Now each time you turn the joggwheel to a point where it starts to sound better again you adjust the pitch fader in the corresponding way. If you have to turn to joggwheel backwards (so counterclockwise) that means you try to slow down your track so you should adjust the pitchfader up (wich is MINUS) Always keep turning the joggwheel untill the beats are matched and listen how fast the beats start to drift out of sync again. The faster they drift apart, the bigger the adjustment needed on the pitchfader. There will be a moment where they will stay in beat like 10-15sec and slowly drift again, but that means you have them nearly beatmatched and the pitchfader should be adjusted VERY slightly. The joggwheel is just a temporary adjustment of getting the beats in line, you keep them in line by actually adjusting the pitch with the pitchfader. The joggwheel is just pushing the beats, it is not adjusting the tempo of the actual song. So its prety much: joggwheel - pitchfader - joggwheel - pitchfader - .... untill you don't need to turn the joggwheel anymore and the songs are beatmatched.

[@Ghostface1265]

nice, thank you!

[@MicheleTurchiarelli]

I wish you made a video about this. You explained that so nicely using words... imagine with a video!

[@Exige_UK]

Very well explained, thank you.

[@fruittwist3131]

Thank-you for this explanation.

[@DJallreds]

I've been considering making a beatmatch video and hitting all these points you're talking about. You nailed it. It's about listening to the beat, waiting a second, keeping it in time with the wheel, and adjusting the pitch fader accordingly. Repeat as necessary. You can be really concise about it. No need to explain why you moved the jog wheels or the fader. That's what the ears are for. If you can't hear one beat differing in speed than another, you can't beatmatch. In a couple seconds, knowing the relative speed of the new track and adjusting as needed is the whole crux. That, and, making sure you launch your tracks on corresponding 8, 16 and 32 bar counts. Keeping track of where the phrase is on the OLD track is key to landing concise mixes. Can't do that? Then force yourself to do it. Put a piece of paper over the waveform and tempo (all of it, not just the tempo. You can still 'cheat' by looking at the waveform and watching the beat devisions on the screen) and just learn it. Our ears are our best asset. Might as well use them. If someone is stuck looking at a screen to beatmatch, what happens when you're on a day time stage and the sun is exactly at the right angle where you can no longer see the screen? You're fucked. I may actually do this video. I'll have to borrow a camera..... but.... A multitrack recording of the cue feed and the main mixer output, then mix them down in ableton, roll off some of the highs from the mixer output (to simulate the sound in the headphones) while beatmatching and cut the cue channel once that's done. Probably hook up a mic and have short explanations in real time. "Too fast, jog, move fader, listen. Slightly too fast, slight jog, fader, listen. listen. slight jog. Good. Mix it." Short, concise, to the point. Use your ears.

[@KnifeBSting]

Great tutorial. I've seen many beatmatching tuts out there but this is one of the best. Great job!

[@yankeefreak1]

You dont even know how big of a help you are in this video. Im a beginning house dj, defiantly like this video man

[@DJEzraLive]

Hey man, this is a great video! I just bought a basic DDJ-SB3 kit, so I'm starting to do my homework and found this video super easy to follow! Can't wait to work on the techniques when my hardware arrives, and thanks again for the info!! Be well :)

[@Susannseidel]

good job! first video which gaves me important and elementary skills. short and clear communication - like it! Your way of creating this contribution helped me a lot. your implementation is precise, comprehensible and easy to understand. thx a lot!

[@gavinchin7625]

amazing , thanks so much for taking the time and effort to do this. please keep doing what ur doing

[@BeatSoulOfficial12]

Thanks man you're the best! we need more videos like this!

[@thetruemrstallings]

I'm glad I stumbled across this video. Very helpful and insightful at the same time.

[@ForSynthsSake]

I am learning and this was so so helpful. Thank you for posting.

[@Djradhevlogs]

That's why I love old school DJ's ❤ i really love your skills like I use

[@BattleAudioRecords]

4/4: when the kicks starts, you start. Breakbeat: you may match SNARES instead if the kicks (see jungle for example). Actually you need to examine each sound how the one can blend into another one.

[@cedricdhaese2219]

This tutorial was very amazing! Thanks alot!

[@KfzmChris]

its a good tutorial. my main sttyle is dnb and its a little bit harder. you must focus on the snare/clap (2 and 4), cause the kick can be on 1, 3.6 and 4. but the way u explain it you can do it on every style. and most important: you can do it on every dj device. controller, cdj and (in my case) turntables... its always the same and the classic oldschool beatmatch. i used the same technic like you on my turntables so i can realy say: good tutorial for the beginners.

[@djevo5662]

Djs today don't know there born. It was a real skill to get a vinyl to match. No bpm, no wave screen or auto sync

[@TheJoker-fb2ni]

Man I really liked this vid!! is just awesome!! Blesses and greetings from Colombia! :D

[@zski1]

Holy mother of God!!! Nice setup bro!! Oh, and great video ;) But practice is key for sure. I would suggest for beginners to keep that tape on the BPM counter to really learn how to hear the mix and beat match; a skill that once learned, will never leave you.

[@olddaysareover]

that mark knight remix though! love that song...

[@benmichaels3435]

His voice is soothing ❤️💕

[@DRI1966]

Hi, Thank You for this good hints, I really like the one beat loop catch up, really good trick :)

[@Granturia245]

Hey Christian is is possible for you to do a room/setup tour at some point? Would be relly nice to see more of your equipment. Nice and entertaining vids also, keep up the good work! :)

[@Scottstimo]

Super helpful, thanks! If only I had equipment to practice on...

[@3VLN]

This is the tutorial I needed!

[@xwgpx55]

hahaha shoes in the dryer is an awesome metaphor. Love the videos dude!

[@britain2brasil]

If you were beat matching by ear you’d have covered the waveform as well would you not ? Just saying.

[@FatMatt419]

No, but you would cover the phase meter (but only if he was actually using link)

[@marcosa.catena6414]

that is how all started ! ... well done !

[@maxrocksd]

Highly informative,thanks!

[@wavecooperaus]

If your just starting out, I'd recommend beat matching on tracks at the same/similar bpms. So for me for example, I play tracks that go between 127.9-128bpm. As those fit perfectly together. It's well easy to do this without headphones once you get the hang of beat matching with headphones

[@notectrl]

LOL

[@bmatheny14]

Great video very helpful. Question though, when beatmatching in your headphones do you have it all the way to cue or do you let some of the master bleed into the cue?

[@ArseneGray]

Would be amazing If you make a video about gain control and equalizing when mixing in tracks.

[@SlayerDarkRaver]

i have 2 tips for this. 1: set the pitch high as fuck, that way you know its faster than the other track. nudge the jogwheel backwards and slow the pitch at the same time. do this until matched. 2: slow the pitch down, but not as extreme as tip one. nudge the pitch up and down until you are matched. the nudging starts off with big movements and ends with really, really, small movements. both works on cdjs, virtul programs and vinyl. the 2nd tip dont need nudging.

[@SlayerDarkRaver]

*2nd tip dont needjogwheel nudging.

[@digical492]

Nicely done. I've been a vinyl DJ since 1986 and you are right on point. I recently went to digital and even with all the cool technology I still use this method to beat match. It just comes naturally to me. unfortunately some younglings have no rhythm and depend on the pretty colored buttons to do what our ears can do. I'm not knocking anyone It's just that some people don't have it.

[@powbangcrash8852]

Are you still around? I've been. Dj since 96 and want to start again but this new equipment is a little intimidating.

[@aranadjproducer]

Really good tutorial, Vibezzz !!!

[@mickeythomas2248]

Nice setup! Cheers from Lincoln Park Seattle

[@akustiktrax5186]

Very nice video. Nice voice too. Thanks a lot it helped me a lot.

[@WILEY67]

Thank you for the tips

[@kunzth]

great tut, thanks a lot

[@1dawdy1]

hey man, you got any videos on mixing on key? thanks

[@lindagriffith5325]

This is excellent

[@sonic79901]

This helps the DJ Beginner a lot maybe Because some new DJ didn't beat matching with their ears but their machine lol BTW, greeting from Taiwan

[@partycity55]

great stuff very easy to understand

[@xamela1]

Great vid.Do you always keep the bass of the incoming track up at 12 o clock when mixing?

[@lustforlow-end6022]

Hello people. If you really want to learn beatmatching start with slow hip-hop instrumentals (even if you don't like hip-hop). Slow music is much harder to mix but once you master it, you'll have no problem mixing house/techno etc... I promise!

[@acewolf3005]

Lust for Low-End alright I'm taking your word!

[@zhiony8613]

I think that uptempo is kinda harder to mix than slow bpm music

[@JoyHoffi]

Or „old“ music which isn‘t produced on a computer, the tempo isn‘t 100% accurate the whole track, so you need to adjust all the time

[@hassanmaqsood8450]

I will argue the opposite. Techno and house are so phrased so perfectly to help a newbie pick out the transitions quicker. Just my opinion, i started with 120-128 bpm-based techno/house. Its much easier to phrase and beat-match. Do what works for you, but try everything! Fail fail fail! But keep trying. After hours of frustration, I figured out what works for me, and as it turns out, its the SAME technique our boy here is using!

[@simonprice7441]

Try mixing 70s 80's 12" versions... bpm jumping up down down up.. fuck hip hop r n b old school..... Master that master anything... FACT.!!!!

[@shaag92]

I had the worst time the first time a played with CDJ, i didnt know that the bpm can change while mixing, it did it the whole set!

[@Dev1nci]

Add improper monitoring, a tricky crowd and the basic pressure of an event and you’ll be happy if you have beat sync as a backup or if not then loops and cues will be the next best thing.

[@DBLG65]

Beatmatching with your ears requires hand and ear coordination. Constant nudging or pitch bending doesn't help and becomes a crutch. Most people who do this all the time can't seem to grasp using the pitch control. Louie Vega, Tony Humphries and David Morales, masters of using their ears, pitch control and nothing else. Their headphones don't come down until the mix is finished. Close your eyes, use your ears, plant your hand on the pitch control. Learn how to use your headphone levels properly. Use a booth monitor if necessary. So many Djs never use a booth monitor and they blast the music from the mains trying to hear the music. Most of all, practice.

[@PC-hp6gz]

That is down to knowing how a turntable pitch control reacts and the tunes that you are mixing. You can jerk the pitch up or down using the pitch control instead of touching the platter edge. When you know and trust a Technics turntable, there are both options. I have an Audio Technica AT-LP1240 deck and it is a different beast and less predictable with the pitch control way of working, it takes longer to settle to the pitch you land on after a spiked change of pitch, up or down. With that, I find that platter play is necessary until I find the sweet spot.

[@TheAschwin83]

Wauw,, mad skills.

[@gelatinous6915]

Nice mixer mate

[@elvoj5245]

Thank you!!!

[@Minute27]

you need more views man best vids out

[@christianjackson]

Minute27 :)

[@simonprice7441]

Nice vid how bout doing same with couple of 70s 80's 12"versions... that will really test your/anyone's skills...

[@PaulMullerOz]

Nice job

[@zoosher_ukswiftbold9020]

Nice setup....

[@SuperFlame1991]

excellent video, pls more...But mixin by ear on cdj 2000 nexus is like:"learn to drive stick in Mercedes benz S500"

[@tekalealex9850]

Good video man!!

[@projectresonate5142]

Good video Man

[@jslayz1way]

Thank you soooooo much🙏😭

[@Perklickklick]

holy shit, that setup!

[@Ex0rz]

What I usually do is a quick ride on the pitch untill im pretty close to the correct bpm and then start the mixing process and then start using the jogwheel and doing more precise beatmatching. But that requires a bit more trained ears.

[@scimanuk]

Nice work

[@buddhadey5545]

Thank you so much

[@sioudoussema3918]

Thank you buddy

[@garimamahar7739]

Christian can you do a video on when to load the incoming track correctly coz I suck in that

[@evgeniyperekhod9278]

I liked yr qiuck fix method using the loops) Cool, will it try tomorrow) A little late to try right away, my neighbors won't appreciate it at 1 morning)

[@cloerenjackson3699]

Even with the BPM meter taped over you still get a lot more assists on this digital setup than you do on a vinyl setup with only the sound and no readouts.

[@thiagoliguori]

awesome!

[@lobono2292]

I actually loved when you started on the 2 instead of the 1. Made it better for me 4 some reason

[@djanunnaki6622]

If you missed a bar like counting 1234 and press play on 2 instead of 1 can the wheel help you?

[@djonyx6770]

Good video and everything but i watch a lot of these tutorials and the DJ uses house/EDM music for all the demonstration. I'd like to see a video where someone uses hip hop or pop, maybe even reggae to make their point. something with lyrics, chorus, bridges. That's the type of music i play. I just think House/EDM music all sounds relatively the same and is around 124-128 BPM.

[@djlowtek]

+Brenton Jenkins You probably would have better luck looking for Mobile DJ's doing video tutorials. That might give you a better variety of music that's up your alley. I spin Drum and Bass which is much more variant than this 4 on the floor house/trance stuff but it's still 4/4 timed (same with hip hop too, all 4/4 time) -- all these tips can apply to any style of music that is 4/4 time. Beatmatching simply is training your ears to listen to both tracks at the same time, identify if the incoming track is slower or faster and adjust, then getting the first beat of the current phrase in-line and boom you're beatmatched. Now practice that day in and day out and it will eventally become second nature to beatmatch by ear, it will just come naturally like riding a bike. Best of luck man and have fun.

[@adirahrobinson5742]

I'm a 1200 technic DJ that has to deal with the fact they're not going to be 1200s everywhere I go to spin. So my question is how do I set up the tempo control to mimic a 1200 turntable? And yes can we get an example of spinning hip-hop, salsa, funk or any other challenging genre of music? Thanks!!

[@raymond186]

Can you do this by ear on analogue, well ok cover the display completely. you had wave form showing, I have vinyl and no visuals to aid me, so would find that really helpful. many thanks

[@jaztobefree2012]

really helpful thanks :)

[@tongtong2522]

it's really helpful

[@nozz71]

DROOOOOOOL at that setup

[@KyleMcintosh97]

How do you know what beat to drop the second track in on when your cdj display does not show the waveform like on the cdj-2000s, please can someone help me??

[@VALLCOTV]

In some of the other videos im watching the the tempo from the jog wheel can go out of time soon after correctly beatmatching and on some they stay locked in. does that have to do with the master lock on the cdj or something else?

[@Schatzliste]

ultra great

[@zSOULZx]

If beatnatching by ear is it cheating to check the starting bpm of your tunes? I’m a beginner but I’ve got most down except beat matching without sync

[@kaleidoscope40]

Hey it's a very good video , you really helped me how to match well , that was one of my biggest mistakes djing , but I have some doubts yet , could you please make a little video about matching songs with of different genres like , dubstep with basshouse or trap with trance , something like that , or maybe not making a video just teach me how to mastering that kind of things , because I don't want to play just trance for example , I mean mixing 128 bpm to 124 bpm , change the rythm , you got it? please help me with that Great video again

[@JoyHoffi]

I started with CDJ‘s now with a controller and laptop, sometimes, just for fun, I mask the screen, so I can‘t see the bpm, just so you don‘t kinda loose it ^^

[@Mestashi3880]

HI. for anyone that sees this can you nudge two tracks during a mix if the CDJs aren't connected with a LAN cable

[@DanielGarcia-pr1dd]

it helped me thanks

[@ballistic-zink-1254]

Same with Dnb you match the kicks

[@mrnawache]

Where would you start for this différents genre? Dancehall Moomba Afrobeat

[@frankthetank8216]

sick setup

[@asharali2010]

Are you supposed to hear both songs in the headphones or just one? I find it tough to beat match when there’s one song outside and one in the headphones so I play them both in the headphones. Is this wrong?

[@reekchatterjee2960]

If I am 1 beat behind,then I can simply move the jog wheels back and beatmatch the track instead of looping one beat.Isn't it?

[@TheNyukNyuk]

nobody likes the "shoes in the dryer situation" lol

[@InnrskyMusic]

So beat matching with just 4 on the floor is not an issue for me, I have issues with beat matching tracks I’ve never heard before kind of like sight reading when you play piano but you have no idea how long the intro is or when the drop happens unless you look at the wave forms. I HAVE to do it like this most of the time because I have hardly anytime to listen and study these tracks since I get them daily by submissions. Another thing all the tracks submitted range from 70bpm-160bpm and the tracks vary in styles from trap, house to dnb but all under the same umbrella since they’re all mostly under a sub genre called Wave. Any advice besides “you have to study the track before hand”? I do listen to it once or twice usually but hardly over and over. My mix show is mainly about new releases.

[@Casketkrusher_]

It's especially easy to beatmatch tracks from today or from 2000+. In the 90's the beats could go offbeat in a single track because of the analogue sounds and how it's made, it's way harder with old rave or techno tracks from the 90's.

[@Matttski]

not really. learn how to pitch ride and you can mix any track on the spot

[@mushedvibesmedia7390]

I knew this guy was real when he was like, "I have tape"

[@ballistic-zink-1254]

Mushed Vibes Media lol u know don't ya

[@vapon]

Someone who knows how to dj at last!

[@MrAdeezy24]

Are those 2000s or 2000 nexus cdjs? If 2000 how do you get the top waveforms

[@staffordalvi1929]

Do this with vinyl first and then using digital cdj's is a breeze!

[@p3py925]

The absolute truth ....

[@staffordalvi1929]

This guy's using cdj 2000's. You can buy 2 good turntables for less than the cost of one cdj. Besides the point is to learn how to beat mix properly. The best way to do that is with turntables. Even 10 year old can do it with digital equipment.

[@househeadspeakz]

That's if you can afford 2 turntables and a mixer. We all don't have the $$$ for that. That's the same with buying 2 CDJs and a mixer. Not everyone can afford. Controllers is the way to go. I own the Pioneer DDJ 400. It's an awesome controller! Affordable, portable and comes with fully license Rekordbox software.

[@staffordalvi1929]

@@househeadspeakz I can understand that. But let me tell you that I bought my first pair of technics 1200's in 1988 when I was 18 years old. I worked everyday after school for a year and saved for them. It's all about sacrifice. If you want something bad enough you can make it happen. Within reason that is. Currently I'm saving up for cdj 2000's. I'm sure you know how expensive they are. But I'm making an effort to do so while paying a mortgage on my house. So not to offend you and others who say equipment is expensive, I buy that excuse. Besides when I started djing there wasn't an alternative to 1200's so I saved hard for a pair.

[@leeprice6415]

100% right we never had bpm displays or youtube tutorials then

[@timmoorcroft5639]

Yo I’m a young house dj beginner with my cousins Cdj-900 s but I don’t have a middle part what’s some good cheap ones chhers

[@Ellerz03]

Because I mix dnb predominantly using the bpm slider usually takes far to long when I’m trying to go for things like doubles, switches or triples as I usually have my hotcues set 16 beats before the drop, I know how to beat match because with stuff like house and garage it’s not as quick. But dnb I struggle and have to use sync else I’ll miss the queen points. How do you change the bpm quicker than the bpm slider?

[@xamela1]

Do you not need to still adjust on the pitch control when correcting with the jog wheel? :)

[@TheMrRow]

+xamela1 only if the bpm changes during the song.

[@thrillerzsound-joshua2780]

wow !!! i was more caught up in your equipment

[@hightreesfamily4376]

Can you answer me something about my cdj 2000 nexus

[@JEL52863]

Informative