Learn to DJ, and learn where the music came from
Free, plain-English guides to DJ gear, mixing techniques, music theory for DJs and the history of the culture, from the first radio jocks to the vinyl revival. Whether you just bought a controller or want to understand why house music came from Chicago, start here.
DJ gear explained
Turntables, media players, controllers, mixers, headphones, monitors, needles and software, and what you really need to start.
GearBudget starter DJ setupsFour starter setups from bare minimum to club-ready, with what to buy, what to skip, and the hidden costs beginners forget.
GearCDJs and media playersThe club standard decks that play music from USB sticks, how they evolved from CD players, and the features that matter when you play out.
GearDJ controllersAll-in-one DJ controllers explained, from small two-deck units to standalone systems with built-in screens, and how to choose one.
GearDJ headphonesWhy DJs need closed-back headphones with swivel cups, what impedance and isolation mean, and how to cue safely without blasting your ears.GearDJ mixersWhat every knob and fader on a DJ mixer does, the difference between scratch, club and rotary mixers, and how to set gain so you never distort.
GearDJ software explainedA neutral look at Serato DJ, rekordbox, Traktor, VirtualDJ and other DJ apps, what each is known for, and how to pick one without regret.DJ techniques
Beatmatching, phrasing, EQ, cueing, loops, scratching, transitions, harmonic mixing and reading a crowd.
TechniqueBeatmatching by earA step by step method for matching the tempo and timing of two tracks using only your ears, plus how to fix drift and when sync is fine.TechniqueBuilding a DJ setHow to plan a set from opening to closing, prepare playlists and backups, shape energy, and stay flexible once the music starts.TechniqueCueing tracksHow to set cue points, start tracks cleanly on the beat, use hot cues and back-cueing, and monitor the next track in your headphones.
TechniqueEQ mixingHow to use the low, mid and high EQ knobs to blend two tracks cleanly, the classic bass swap, and mistakes that make mixes sound muddy.
TechniqueHarmonic mixing and the Camelot wheelHow to mix tracks in compatible keys using the Camelot wheel, with the full key chart, safe moves and energy-boost tricks.
TechniqueLoopingHow beat loops work, auto vs manual loops, extending intros and outros, loop rolls and creative loop tricks that stay musical.DJ and music history
From radio disc jockeys and disco to hip hop, house, techno, drum and bass, amapiano and the vinyl revival.
HistoryChicago house, from the Warehouse to the worldHow DJs and producers in 1980s Chicago turned disco, drum machines and cheap synths into house music, and how the sound crossed the Atlantic to change club culture for good.HistoryDetroit techno and the Belleville ThreeHow three friends from a Detroit suburb fused European synth-pop, funk and futurism into techno, and how the sound found its biggest audience in Europe.
HistoryDisco and the rise of the club DJHow New York club DJs invented continuous mixing, why the 12-inch single was created, and how disco's boom and backlash shaped dance music.HistoryGarage, from New York to the UKThe Paradise Garage, Larry Levan and New York garage, and how the name traveled to London to become UK garage and 2-step.HistoryJungle and drum and bassHow UK rave culture, sampled funk breakbeats, reggae sound systems and pirate radio produced jungle in the early 1990s, and how it evolved into drum and bass.
HistoryKool Herc and the birth of hip hopThe August 1973 Bronx party often called hip hop's birthday, the "merry-go-round" break technique, and the DJs who turned breaks into a culture.Genres and tempos
Dance and DJ genres from A to Z, with a tempo chart you can keep open while you dig for music.
GenreDJ genres A to ZMore than 60 dance, club and DJ genres, each described in one line with its typical tempo and where it came from.GenreGenre BPM chartA quick-reference table of typical tempos for more than 30 DJ genres, plus how to mix between genres with very different speeds using halftime, doubletime and transitions.
Music theory for DJs
BPM, beats, bars and phrases, musical keys, song structure and how pitch changes affect key.
TheoryBPM and tempo for DJsWhat BPM means, how pitch faders change tempo by percentage, the simple math for matching two tracks, and how halftime and doubletime let you mix across genres.TheoryBeats, bars and phrasesDance music is built in groups of 4 beats, 8-bar sections and 16 or 32-bar phrases. Learn how to count them, find the downbeat and use phrases to time your mixes.TheoryMusical keys for DJsWhat a key is, major and minor, the 24 keys, the Camelot wheel and why some tracks clash while others blend beautifully. No sheet music required.TheoryPitch, key lock and key shiftingChanging a track's speed also changes its pitch unless key lock is on. Learn the semitone math, when to use key lock or master tempo, and how key shifting helps harmonic mixing.TheorySong structure for DJsIntros, builds, drops, breakdowns and outros in club tracks, plus verses and choruses in pop and hip-hop. Learn how each section works and where to mix in and out.
Career and gigs
Practice routines, recording mixes, getting booked, music licensing basics and protecting your hearing.
CareerA DJ practice routine that worksHow to structure practice sessions so you improve every week, with warm-ups, focused skill blocks, recorded run-throughs and a weekly plan you can adapt.CareerGetting booked as a DJHow DJs usually land their first gigs, what promoters look for, how to build a press kit, and what to discuss about pay, set times and gear before the night.
CareerHearing protection for DJsClub volumes can damage hearing in minutes. Learn safe exposure times, how musician earplugs work, booth monitor habits and early warning signs like tinnitus. General education only.CareerMusic licensing basics for DJsA plain-English overview of the rights involved when DJs play, record and share music, who usually holds which license, and why buying tracks legally matters. Not legal advice.CareerRecording and sharing mixesHow to record a clean DJ mix from a controller or club mixer, set levels without clipping, export the file and choose where to share it.
CareerHearing protection for DJsClub volumes can damage hearing in minutes. Learn safe exposure times, how musician earplugs work, booth monitor habits and early warning signs like tinnitus. General education only.CareerMusic licensing basics for DJsA plain-English overview of the rights involved when DJs play, record and share music, who usually holds which license, and why buying tracks legally matters. Not legal advice.CareerRecording and sharing mixesHow to record a clean DJ mix from a controller or club mixer, set levels without clipping, export the file and choose where to share it.Start here
A beginner's 30-day practice plan, the DJ glossary from A to Z, and answers to common questions.
Start here30-day DJ practice planA week-by-week checklist that takes you from unboxing your first controller to recording a clean 30-minute mix. Tick off each step as you go; progress saves in your browser.Start hereDJ FAQ for beginnersStraight answers to the questions almost every new DJ asks, about gear, sync, music, practice time, gigs, money and hearing.Start hereDJ glossary A to ZPlain-English definitions of more than 60 DJ terms, from acapella and BPM to transform scratch and waveform.
Watch on YouTube
One music history story a day, from the Technics 1200 to the 12-inch single, in under a minute.
Music history you can wear
Tees and hoodies printed to order in the USA. Every order keeps these guides free.
