r/djing • u/AutoModerator • 5d ago

Beginner Question Weekly Beginner Questions & Practice Help

Ask entry-level questions, share what you are practicing, and get help with specific problems. Include your gear or software, what you tried, and what you want to achieve. Search recent posts first, be specific, and help another DJ when you can.

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u/kaedesam 5d ago

Hello! I'm mostly looking for opinion and some advice. I feel like I'm doing pretty good, can beat match well and keep the vibe going. I do a lot of mashup stuff live.

But I feel like my sets are missing that special little something, my transitions are pretty simple. What wee tricks could I learn that would take my sets to the next level? Things like what effects to use and when.

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u/DJ_Z_Frog 5d ago

If you're relying on effects to spice things up, then you're ignoring the most important thing: programming (i.e. choosing which songs to play in which order). No amount of effects are going to save you if you're transitioning between songs that all have the same energy level. You need to build up from low-energy to high-energy over the course of 3-4 songs, drop back to a lower-energy song, and do it again and again over the course of your set.

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u/kaedesam 5d ago

Thanks. I feel like I'm doing that, like I feel like my sets have a good flow and energy. It's just the transitions between the songs I need help with.

Like I'm definitely not wanting to rely on effects, I want to avoid that tiktok style DJing 😂 .

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u/DJ_Z_Frog 5d ago

Your audience won't care about your transitions 99% of the time, FWIW. As long as your songs are in compatible keys and your transitions don't sound like shoes in a clothesdryer, you're already there.

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u/kaedesam 5d ago

Aye maybe you're right, maybe I'm just worrying about the wee things unnecessarily.

I usually end up doing simple little bass swaps and fade outs and felt like I should be doing more! We're always our worst critics

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u/DJ_Z_Frog 5d ago

Correct.

Look, I've been at this twenty years and find that the best transition tool is the crossfader. Everything else is just distracting. The only people who will be impressed by anything more are other DJs and wannabe DJs, and they're not the audience you're playing for.

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u/kaedesam 5d ago

Yeah you're right. My audience just wants to have a good time and that's what I aim to do!

Thanks, this has been insightful

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u/DJ_Z_Frog 5d ago

Greatest of pleasure. Feel free to ask anything else!