Free DJ Training For Digital DJ Tips Members
From a foundation series for beginners that gives you the “big picture” about DJing, through specific articles covering music and mixing, equipment and software, and career areas such as marketing, performing and the music industry, our free training courses are a great place to start your learning path as a DJ. Of course, when you’re ready to take it to the next step, we have renowned industry-leading DJ courses to purchase, that again range from those aimed at total beginners to advanced courses for serious hobbyists and those aiming to make a career out of DJing; you can find out more about those on our DJ training courses page.
Foundation Course
• We publish scores of beginner-focused DJ training articles each year. To see all the free DJ training we offer, head on over to our Skills & Techniques section.
How To Succeed at DJing (13 parts)
If you think all it takes to be a great DJ is mixing prowess, think again: A truly successful DJ goes beyond technique mastery by combining smart planning, branding, and marketing savvy to create a consistent image of himself on and off the decks. From deciding what type of DJ you want to be in the first place (including being realistic about your prospects), to actually making it happen, this series doesn’t so much teach you how to DJ, but how to be a DJ. It’s the perfect first step to get the big picture before you dive into the specifics.
Start here: How To Succeed At DJing, Part 1: What Type Of DJ Do You Want To Be?
Music & Mixing
• Check out all of our free Music & Mixing DJ training in the Music & Mixing section of the website.
How to Organise Your Tunes While DJing (two parts)
If us DJs had all the time in the world, we’d probably spend an entire summer (probably more!) just sorting our music and getting all of those tunes properly filed. Since that’s not the case, and since music organisation is so central to “being a DJ”, you need a system. This series shows you one way of spending a few minutes every week keeping your library in check will pay dividends. Not enough hours in a day to get your tunes organised? Here is the answer. (We even give you some tips on how to sort your collection while you’re performing!)
Start here: How To Organise Your Tunes While DJing, Part 1
Organising Your Music Library (five parts)
The longer you stay in the DJ game, the more you realise that one of your most important assets is a properly organised music library. A well-sorted collection helps you find tracks quicker, and lets you create more comprehensive playlists. While the short primer above is a universal and easy to apply method of doing this and is the way we recommend most DJs should go about it, some people like to go deeper… much deeper. For a more in-depth method of organising your DJ music, especially if you have an “inner geek” that needs to be satisfied, check out this far more involved method…
Start here: 5 Reasons To Organise Your Music Properly
Diary Of A Novice Midi Mapper (five parts)
Follow in the footsteps of one DJ getting his feet wet in the wonderfully complex world of Midi mapping. If you’re just starting out with digital DJing, Midi mapping is not somewhere we recommend you go, but once you’re intrigued about the possibilities of changing the way the controls on your gear work to suit your own style and DJing needs, you may want to dabble: This series gives a first-hand account of what happens behind the scenes when it comes to programming your controllers. A good read for DJs who have always used the default mapping of their controllers but now want to go deeper…
Start here: Diary of A Novice Midi Mapper, Part 1 – Getting Started
Getting Started In Video DJing (eight parts)
Video DJing is rapidly becoming a more accessible option for DJs, and is one way you can add more value and impact to your performances. Whether it’s through an all-in-one solution like Serato Video or a standalone app like Resolume, integrating visuals in your set has never been easier or more stable. From DJing with music videos to adding completely unique visual elements to your Dj sets, here you can learn the basics of VJing and work out if it’s something you might want to add to your own DJing performances to help you stand out from the crowd.
Start here: Getting Started In Video DJing, Part 1
The Definitive Guide To Making a Mixtape (five parts)
A mixtape is the DJs calling card: Pass one that sounds good and you get closer to landing that gig you’ve been wanting to do. Conversely, if you hand out a shabby one, don’t expect to get called in any time soon. From tune selection, to planning, to performing your mix, to what to do when you’ve got that recording “in the bag”, this series introduces you to all of the key concepts. Make a good first impression by following our guide to creating the perfect mixtape to hand out. It’s the perfect introduction to our premium course, the Pro Mixtape Formula.
Start here: The Definitive Guide To Making a Mixtape – Part 1
Equipment & Software
• Check out all of our free Equipment & Software training in the Equipment & Software section of the website.
Making Your First Tune: A Guide For DJs (four parts)
You don’t need to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to make your own music these days: All that’s needed is some software and a laptop (even the one that you’re using to DJ will do!). Even though the tools needed to craft original tunes are freely available, the process of creating them can certainly be daunting. This training series is aimed squarely at DJs who want to get started producing their own music by introducing you to fundamental production and arranging concepts. You’ll gain confidence working within one of the most in-demand digital audio workstations out in the market today, and you’ll leave this short course with your very own full length track to boot. Take your DJing career to the next level!
Start here: Making Your First Tune: A Guide For DJs
A Beginner’s Guide to DJ Monitors (three parts)
Make the most of your DJ practice area or your home studio by choosing the right DJ monitors for your set-up, and placing them the right way to get your room sounding as best as it could. Unlike when just listening to music at home, a DJ has a precise set of needs when it comes to monitoring his or her mix, and misjudging things like speaker placement and clarity of sound can be the difference between good and poor beatmatching, making decent mixtapes, and ultimately, your DJing enjoyment and success. Let this handy guide show you what you need to know about DJ monitors and setting them up.
Start here: A Beginner DJ’s Guide To Monitors, Part 1: Choosing Your Speakers
Beginner’s Guide to PA Systems (four parts)
How does sound get from your computer onto a sound system’s speakers? What’s the difference between powered speakers and passive ones? What is it that you’re expected to know about a venue’s PA system as a DJ – and what should you do if it goes wrong in your set? In this series, we demystify the often complex world of PA systems and narrow it down to bring you only the information you need to know as a DJ. Whether you want to buy one or just understand what happens after the signal leaves your gear, this is for you.
Start here: Beginner’s Guide To PA Systems, Part 1: Basics
Lighting: A Guide for DJs (three parts)
Thinking of adding lights to your set-up, but don’t know where to start? Proper lighting and the use of appropriate light effects create an atmosphere during your DJ sets that combine to create an immersive experience for your audience. If you’re a mobile DJ, you’re probably considering buying a lighting rig of your own one day, but even if you play in venues, you’ll often be expected to at least know how to switch the lights on and off and work some basic functions. We show you the basics of doing just that in this batch of lighting articles.
Start here: Lighting: A Guide For DJs
Bluffer’s Guide To Traktor’s Remix Decks (three parts)
Wondered what Traktor’s Remix Decks are? Thinking about trying to incorporate this cutting edge technology from Native Instruments into your own DJing? This series is all about using Traktor’s Remix Decks in a practical manner during your DJ set. No fancy stuff or technical expertise required, these are just plain and simple tips to get you started using them today. Whether you haven’t touched Remix Decks yet or whether you’ve tried them but couldn’t get them, this will help you get back on track, with videos to show you exact what the articles are talking about too.
Start here: Bluffer’s Guide to Traktor’s Remix Decks
Your First Day With… (three parts)
Itching to get started on that new piece of DJ software you’ve been dying to try out? Whether you’re an absolute beginner, or you’re just curious as to what it’s like DJing with other DJ software in the market, this series of articles covers everything you need to know about your first encounter with Virtual DJ 8, Traktor Pro 2, and Serato DJ. From downloading and installing the software, connecting your DJ controller, and even executing your first mix, these articles will get you on the right path.
Choose your training: Virtual DJ 8 | Traktor Pro 2 | Serato DJ
Get Started With The Traktor Kontrol S8 (five parts)
This entire tutorial shines the spotlight on Native Instruments’ revolutionary jogwheel-less controller the Traktor Kontrol S8. It’s got onboard dual displays, meaning you can DJ on the controller itself without having to glance at your laptop during your entire set. We take you through its basic features and functions, and in the end we show you how Stems work, which is Native’s brand new multitrack music file format that harnesses the power of all those fader and button controls on the Traktor Kontrol S8 for a comprehensive #futureofDJing experience.
Start here: Video Training: How To Use The Transport On The Traktor Kontrol S8
Dive Into Traktor (seven parts)
This is a new video tutorial series that’ll get you started on the right foot with Traktor: We walk you through downloading and installing the free demo version of Traktor on your computer whether you’re on a Mac or a PC, show you how to set up your audio outputs using your laptop’s built in sound card, and show you how to execute your first DJ mix without using an external DJ controller. If you want to find out if Traktor’s the right DJ software for you, this is the series you need to check out right now.
Start here: Dive Into Traktor Video 1 – Installation And Set up
Getting DJing Success
• Check out all of our free Getting Success training in the Getting Success section of the website.
Creating Killer DJ Promotional Materials (six parts)
You’ve spent countless hours practising in your bedroom, and you know it’s time to take the next step. But how do you get booked at the gigs you want? How do you start getting your name out there? Is it about mixtapes? Or the music you play? Or having a big social media following? Or knowing the right people?Truth is it’s a combination of all of those things… but one thing all good DJs have is decent promo materials. So check out this series so you can equip yourself with the tools you need in order to promote yourself effectively as a DJ.
Start here: Creating Killer DJ Promotional Materials
Facebook 101 For DJs (three parts)
Facebook is the most widely used social media site today, but if you think it’s just a place to post family photos and party snaps of you and your friends, you’re mistaken! If you don’t have an active presence on it as a DJ, you’re missing out on potential connections and gigs. But as with all such things, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it, and go about it wrong, and you’ll probably do your DJing more harm than good. So find out how to leverage the power of Facebook to further your career the right way in this mini-series.
Start here: Facebook 101 For DJs, Part 1: How To Get Fans
Get Your DJ Podcast On The Cloud (three parts)
A podcast can be your voice in a crowded DJ world where social media is the de facto platform. While creating podcasts used to be a rather technical affair, it’s never been easier to make one these days. In this series, you’ll find out the basics of what you should be doing in order to get your podcast from an idea in your head into a living, breathing mix show available to your audience in all the right places. There is specific, step-by-step information here to show you exactly how to do it, to help you decide if it’s a regular effort that’d be something good to do in your own DJing.
Start here: Get Your DJ Podcast On SoundCloud, YouTube & iTunes: Part 1
How To Promote Events & Throw Your Own Parties (six parts)
These days, DJs do more than just keep the dancefloor happy: Marketing and promotion are key skills to have in your toolbox that will make clubs and bars love you even more! Further, throwing your own parties can help establish you as a DJ backed by a solid following, regardless of where you perform. In today’s “DIY” world, smart DJs are realising that the best way to get Dj bookings can sometimes be to “book yourself”, at parties you promote. Find out how to effectively market and promote your own shows and parties in this in-depth guide.
Start here: How To Promote Events & Throw Your Own Parties: Part 1
How To Book Guest DJs for Your Club Night (two parts)
So following directly on from the previous series, once you’ve got a party or two under your belt, one of the quickest ways to build your club night’s brand is to feature a guest DJ with a solid following, someone who complements your own musical style and helps to show the world through their own reputation what your night is all about. You don’t have to book an EDM superstar or a house music legend to do just that; there are many “tiers” of DJs that can help you get your own events established. Learn how to up your club night’s prestige in this series, and get “on the map” ASAP with these proven tips!
Start here: How To Book Guest DJs For Your Club Night, Part 1
How To Organise A Festival-Style DJ Event (two parts)
Music festivals are at an all time high, with heavyweights like Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival drawing tens of thousands of people and bringing in megabucks for their organisers, but also in small venues, stadiums and parks in cities and towns the world over. As a DJ, you might want to gather your friends and people in your community to throw a small-scale festival of your own, as there are few better ways of getting a “scene” going in your neighbourhood than getting everyone involved in a huge, fun musical day out. Find out how you can set up your own festival-style gig in this guide.
Start here: How To Organise A Festival-Style DJ Event, Part 1
Finally…
Remember, we publish scores of beginner-focused DJ training articles each year. To see more useful training articles, head on over to our Tutorials section, and to see our (and your) answers to the many questions DJs ask us, check out our Ask The Experts section.
Any training you’d like to see that you can’t find here or in our DJ Training Courses section? Feel free to drop us an email at info AT digitaldjtips.com and let us know…<