Music Is Everything
How To Build an Effective Music Collection
The most crucial element of DJing is Music (usually to make people dance.)
As with any creative art, there are no rules and only tools.
Building your music knowledge and music collection library is where the creative work really happens.
Without well-organised, high-quality music, there is no chance that a DJ will succeed.
The very existence of DJ culture exists at the junction between music and technology.
The universal musical language touches us on a deep emotional level, creating unique experiences.
DJs listen to a lot of music.
The ear of a DJ hears songs differently from the general public because they will analyse the music and break it down into smaller chunks.
DJs know how to use standard music structures to improve mixing by mastering the art of counting beats/bars, anticipating a change in musical phrase and finding the downbeat.
Everything that the DJ does is "on beat", from pressing the play button to engaging effects.
DJs can categorise their songs by tempo, key, and music style/genre.
The DJ's job is to let people dance and have fun while playing and combining music that will mix well for that desired audience. Listen to other DJs to see how they are creating a musical playground.
DJs Organise Their Music Collection
Professional DJ will collect and create active playlists/crates.
Beginner DJs can build your first playlist using 20-30 similar songs.
In the digital age, it is best practice to keep a central music folder with logical playlists.
Backups of your music library and metadata can then be easily recreated, and other programs can reference the songs central location.
DJs Go Digging In The Crates for New and Underground Music
DJs have different style preferences, but most will play a combination of top-chart hits while also introducing new uniques songs based on the audience.
Most pro-DJs buy their music from music stores, including iTunes and Bandcamp.
Record pools are another source that DJs use to find high-quality tunes.
Thanks to Services Like Soundcloud Go+ and Tidal and a fast internet connection, streaming music started to become popular.
Some DJs also download music samples from YouTube, a grey area in terms of copyright and music quality.
Tips To Master Your Music
Practice with music you love and makes you feel good.
The most incredible tool a DJ has is their ear. So the question to ask as you practice is, "Does it Sound Good?"
Recording your mixes is a great way to hear where you can improve.
There are no shortcuts, enjoy the ride, use music as your vehicle to have fun and express yourself.
