Top Beat Matching Tips for Beginners

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

To ensure success in beat matching efforts, an individual can utilize the best beat matching tips. The tips can offer insight into areas where one may face problems when learning beat matching. The tips can make it smooth to learn beat matching techniques in minimal time and without too much stress. Beginners looking to become proficient DJs can not only enhance their beat matching skills but also discover other tips and tricks. Overall, these top tips can help an individual focus on what to do to get it right.

Beginners can quickly start learning how to beat match two songs if they first practice with two of the same songs in both decks. The learners should be familiar with the two songs. The style of music should not be hard either. This can help in minimizing the confusion one may suffer when learning to listen and synchronize two tracks.

Use regular speakers instead of headphones when learning. This can help in familiarizing with how the tunes sound like when beat matched. The individual can also learn to rely on his or her senses such as the ears and tune them well by paying close attention to the mix.

Learn to count the beats naturally to get into the music avoid being thrown off the beat. To manually calculate the BPM, listen to the song and isolate the drums from the vocal track and other instruments. Once the individual gets the rhythm of the song, he or she can count the number of beats per 15 seconds and multiply by four. Most modern mixtures have in-built beat counters.

Use the ear to match beats first instead of using the BPM counters. This is because one needs to train the ear to identify a problem or a perfect mix. Using BPM counters can be considered an extra measure used by DJs who are already proficient in using the ear. The counters may end up cheating a learner in the long run. This is because the upcoming DJ may find it difficult not to rely on the counter while performing in front of a crowd. Moreover, the DJ may not perform with equipment that lacks in-built counters.

It is impossible to beat match tracks with too much speed difference. Songs that are 5 or more BPM apart can be hard to beat match. Opt to mix songs with similar tempo.

An individual can slide the fader all the way to the end then scale it back if he or she does not know the speed of the record playing. This stops the individual from performing little nudges and saves time.

Mix two tunes in the same key to avoid clashing. This can create a pleasing impact that can help a learner hear how a good blend is supposed to sound.

Other beat matching tips include using the tempo control instead of squeezing the turntable control nipple stud to change the tempo of a track that is moving slightly faster or slower than the other. The tempo control gives a smoother change.

Quick beat matching tips:

Practice repetition, patience and discipline
Set short term goals
Evaluate the progress periodically