What Does "Good at DJing" Mean?

The author shares an opinion on the elements that make up DJ skill.

When people hear "a good DJ," many may picture someone who can mix tracks smoothly or who has techniques like scratching.

But what makes a DJ good or impressive is not decided by a single ability.

Broadly speaking, there are the following elements.

Track selection

The most basic thing for a DJ is "what to play."

It isn't just about knowing good songs. It also includes decisions such as:

  • choosing tracks that suit the crowd at that venue
  • watching the reaction of the floor and changing the next track
  • adapting to the time slot and to the DJs before and after you
  • thinking about the order in which to line up tracks
  • creating moments that lift the room and moments that bring it down
  • balancing well-known tracks with unexpected ones
  • changing the tracks you had planned to suit the situation on the spot

All of these fall under track selection.

Even DJs who own the same 100 tracks end up with completely different sets depending on "what they play, when, and in what order."

Transitions and mixing

This is the skill of moving from track A to track B.

  • Matching the beats
  • Matching the phrases of the tracks
  • Using EQ so the sounds don't clash
  • Bringing tracks in and out at the right timing
  • Choosing between long mixes, cut-ins, and other approaches

These are some examples.

In this textbook, we first aim to understand this "mechanism of how tracks connect."

Controlling volume and sound quality

A DJ doesn't only choose and mix tracks.

It is also important to keep the sound pleasant to listen to on the floor by adjusting the volume differences between tracks and balancing the low, mid, and high frequencies.

Not pushing the volume so high that the sound distorts is also one of a DJ's basic jobs.

Techniques

Beyond ordinary mixing, DJs have a variety of other techniques.

and so on.

Not every DJ necessarily needs all of them, but depending on how they are used, they can become that DJ's own individuality.

Performance

DJing is also a job of standing in front of people.

  • Body movement
  • Facial expressions
  • MC
  • Communication with the audience
  • Costume and appearance
  • Presence on stage

These also affect how impressive the audience feels a DJ is.

On big stages in particular, not only the sound but also how you look to the audience becomes part of the performance.

Individuality and style

Being good isn't enough. To make people think "I want to see this DJ," your own individuality matters too.

Track selection, mixing, techniques, performance, and more combine, and

"This DJ would play tracks like this."

"Only this DJ has a build-up like this."

a style like that emerges.

Opinion (the author's view)

80% of "being a good DJ" is track selection

DJs are sometimes described as "Music Selectors."

True to that phrase, I believe 80% of "being a good DJ" is decided by track selection.

No matter how good you are at scratching, or how well you can do difficult tone play or fader play, if you play tracks that don't suit the moment, it won't be a good DJ set.

I feel this strongly precisely because I spent a long time on the floor side myself.

People on the floor aren't dancing while analyzing each of the detailed techniques a DJ uses.

In many cases,

"I like this song."

"This flow feels good."

"I wonder what's coming next."

they enjoy the DJ set with feelings like these.

Of course, this doesn't mean techniques have no value.

If a technique itself becomes a DJ's signature, like James Hype's fader play, audiences may come to see it because they look forward to it.

But that isn't simply "impressive because they can do a difficult technique." It's because, technique included, it has become an experience that only that DJ can create.

That is why I think people who have just started DJing should first sharpen their track selection rather than their techniques.

What to play.

In what order to play it.

When to play it.

I believe that is the essence of DJing.

Summary

  • A DJ's skill is determined by track selection, mixing, sound management, techniques, performance, and individuality
  • Being able to do advanced techniques is not the only thing that makes a DJ good
  • The author believes that track selection accounts for 80% of it