How to DJ Right

The Art and Science of Playing Records

Frank Broughton, Bill Brewster

• Publisher: Grove Press
• Year: 2007
• ISBN:
  9780802199744
• Topic: Medien & darstellende Kunst
• Subtopic: Musiktheorie & Musikverständnis

A "lucid, comprehensive guide" to becoming a club DJ "from beat matching to promotion to not going deaf" by the authors of Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (Rolling Stone). Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton wrote the definitive history of the DJ inLast Night a DJ Saved My Life. Now they share their extensive knowledge of the creative and technical aspects of DJing in this clear, accessible, entertaining guide for all aspiring jocks. How to DJ Rightcovers every aspect of DJing from establishing a music collection and a distinctive sound, to elementary record-spinning, to the complex skills of scratching, hot-mixing, and beat-juggling, as well as the unique art of creating an evening of sound that is perfectly timed, balanced, and unforgettable. Diagrams throughout make phrases, beat timing, and song structure comprehensible without a background in music theory. The authors also include recommendation lists on everything from the best (and most fun) songs to practice with, to the best sources for building a library of disks, CDs, and MP3s. For those who want to turn pro, the authors give sage advice on the vagaries of the club and music business. Enlivened by short quotes, anecdotes, and photos of famous DJs such as Grandmaster Flash and Derrick Carter, How to DJis the definitive book for anyone who has ever considered becoming a DJ.

The bedroom

1. How to use this book

Think of this book as a car manual for DJing. We made it tough so you can wedge it open next to your decks. Beginners should work through step by step - you’ll soon be mixing up a storm; if you can already mix, dip into the advanced chapters and master something new.

Is DJing for You?

Before you get started, answer these questions. We’d like to get a better idea of who you are and what the hell you think you’re doing.

Do you expect to get rich?

a) Damn, yes! Bling bling or bust.

b) Just a few bucks to buy records.

c) Of course not, music is my reward.

Hold on champ. There’s no fat paycheck just for finishing this book. While big-league DJs do very well, thank you, there’s more and more competition and fewer and fewer gigs at a basic level. Most DJs have to work it to the bone and live and breathe music before they get a sniff of green. But hold on, I think you might have something special …

Ever played music for a group of people?

a) Turn it down. I’m watching TV.

b) My disco CD rocked it at the end of that kegger.

c) Listen to this Dutch import. It’s amazing.

Sex comes close, but few things match the thrill of sharing music. Remember how you changed the atmosphere completely? How excited were you when they got into that old Q-Tip track (and how crushed were you when they didn’t like your Meters album)? DJing is just playing records in your crib but on a bigger scale.

Do you play an Instrument?

a) All the way to Carnegie Hall.

b) Smoke on the Water.

c) Just me and my Walkman.

DJing is about listening. Any musical training helps you to listen better. You’ll get a feel for how rhythm works, an ear for melody and harmony. If you’ve ever played an instrument, whether a drum kit in the garage or a cornet in the school band, you’ll have picked up skills that will be useful for DJing. And great news - in our book, even listening to a Walkman counts as musical training.

Do you own any music?

a) My vinyl collection has its own apartment.

b) A few CDs and (shhh …) lots of downloads.

c) My Sesame Street CD is scratched now.

DJing is about having the best music and showing it off to people. Do you regularly shop for music? Download tracks? Swap CDs with friends? If you don’t own any music at all, have a look at the gardening books on the next shelf.

Do you go clubbing?

a) I’m racquetball king at the country club.

b) Only to score girls/guys/drugs.

c) The nightlife is my life, son.

Let’s go out. Provided you’re old enough to get in, dance clubs are an essential part of your DJ schooling. You get to see how the atmosphere builds; how a good DJ chooses records to get things moving and keep them there; how a bad DJ bores people or does things in the wrong place … Get your coat on.

Do you dance?

a) Like a Nureyev ninja on ice.

b) Like an arthritic water buffalo.

c) Sorry, I’m not trashed enough yet.

Dancing is your end product. You better know what it feels like. As a DJ, you have to understand what makes people want to get up and move and what makes them run screaming back to the bar. A DJ who never dances is like a vegetarian rancher - it’s all too theoretical.

Got any friends who are DJs?

a) DJ Premier is my uncle.

b) My homey has some Technics.

c) I love Howard Stern.

DJ friends are great. You can test-drive their decks before you buy your own, they give you tips on hot tunes, they get you drinks tickets in clubs, and you can watch and learn from all their career mistakes. So stay close: carry their box, hang out in the booth, watch what they do … then stab them in the back and steal their gigs.

2. How to buy music

Your job starts in the record store, not on the decks. Your worth as a DJ begins and ends with what’s on your shelves and in your bag. For every overpaid hour in a club, a good DJ spends days, months, and years picking out tunes and learning about music.

The basics

Victorian critic John Ruskin said, “Have nothing in your home unless you know it to be useful or believe it to be beautiful.” He meant records.

Is it great music?

Will it work on a dancefloor?

Does it fit my style?

Some rules

Buy little and often

Regular shopping is the key to keeping track of things - and catching those elusive gems that are around for only a week or two. It also prevents you going on mad bulk-buying sprees that haul in quantity over quality. Visit your main store weekly.

Only buy records you can’t live without

You’ve picked out a pile of ten. Now force yourself to buy just five. This is the easiest way to buy better records. Remember: killer, not filler.

Don’t buy something you’ve never heard

… Unless you can get a refund. Even your favorite producer has the occasional off moment.

Records always sound better in the shop

Don’t be fooled by their booming system. And don’t buy records under the influence of drugs (or the day after) for similar reasons.

Check the condition

Look for warps, bumps, and scratches. If it’s a new record, buy a shrink-wrapped copy, not the one that a hundred customers have dragged a needle over.

Save your receipts

If your tax return includes income as a DJ (or music journalist), then you can claim the cost of records back against tax - they’re a business expense.

Where to buy music

In a big city with lots of dance stores, find the one...