This was very clear, concise, and easy to understand. This in turn makes me more excited to practice now that I know what to focus on. Thank you Sensei Swift ?
It has been great to hear things explained in this way.
I have been DJing for a long time and wanted to start this course from the beginning so i am in the correct place for the parts I want to learn.
I am loving the fact that I already understand this lesson! Still, I sat and soaked it up like it was my first time! I can’t wait to move further!!!
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This was dope information, I like how you turn on light bulbs instead of just giving the answer which is better, it forces people to think providing those missing pieces of the puzzle.
So I’m listening to some of my music and I am having a hard time knowing if they are 8th or 16th notes to know when to drop. Do you have a quiz or something with songs that you know that I can test my ability to figure it out. Thanks a ton.
Sometimes counting backwards helps. You really have to engage your instincts and listen with laser focus to the melody/drums of the particular song. If you’re listening the right way, your ears will spot where to drop!
This brings me back to when I played tenor sax. Treating the setup as an instrument helps me to bridge what was dormant. This is an awesome lesson and I am starting to understand what I was lacking as a beginner.
Right on Calvin. I always remind my students, just because you’re using turntables it doesn’t mean you don’t have to be conscious of notes, timing and rhythm. When you embrace that, you embrace true DJing!
Is it okay if I just intuitively know where to drop songs, or is counting something I must learn and practice, because it will come into effect later down the road? I’m asking because when I don’t count, I drop correctly every time, but when I DO count, I screw myself up. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s how my brain works, I guess. Lol
Counting takes multitasking and sometimes the brain just wants to focus on one thing. I think dropping off intuition is much better, so long as you’re actually dropping on time. In my lessons, I review counting just so students understand the theory behind the process of dropping.
The simple idea of pulling back from 11:30 to 9 always leaving you in a position to attack the full sound…mind blown. Never even noticed that specific detail. Not to mention that a full on drop mix executed with the correct alignment, regardless of BPM changes sounds dope if you land everything on point. Day 1 and I’m stoked for this journey!
Rob, this was a dope lesson. Thank you very much. I really appreciate the descriptions of your hand mechanics. I think I have been making dropping much more difficult by sitting on the beginning of a sound and trying to let the record go and push it just enough to get a clean start. I really feel a huge difference when trying this out. Also, this lesson is really helping me to be a lot more methodical when rewinding. I am really excited about this.
How i know which song has to choose which type of couting? Is there a technique to distinguish eightnote, sixteennote? for a people with weakness music basic.and How i know when acapella start up beat or down beat?
Thank you
This was great knowledge.No matter where you are in the game. What I found interesting was, giving that slight mm pull back before the drop(cue). It helped clean up on some juggling sounds full.
Really glad I came back to revisit this tutorial. It is so clutch to pause these videos and try out exactly what you just taught. Remind ourselves that it takes repetition to build these muscles. Then the next day, start off by recreating what was learned the previous night before moving forward in the tutorials.
Peace Rob! Quick question pertaining to dropping songs that don’t start on a one. When I have the same song loaded on both decks it takes me a few try’s before I’m able to find the pocket of where to drop. Like you mentioned I just mouth to myself where it should go and it fits almost every time. My question is being that I’m doing this intuitively with the same song and not actually knowing the count mathematically how would I know where to drop if both songs aren’t the same? Would I have to actually figure out what note the song drops on instead of relying on feeling? If so I’m having a hard time with figuring out when I should be counting 1234 vs 1and2and vs 1e&uh 2e&uh. Thanks in advance!
48 Comments on Basic DJing Lecture B: Listening