Here’s something you don’t hear a lot of people asking but is certainly on their mind: how can I get motivated to start DJing and stay inspired until I’m successful?

Getting Motivated to Learn to DJ

The ‘secret’ to motivation really isn’t a secret, at all. The main point I’d like to convey is that it’s really all about getting into the right mindset so you can focus on the essentials that will push you further than what a lot of people fail at.

Here are a few ways to get motivated to learn to DJ:

Set a Goal – Get definitive with your goal of learning to DJ; tell yourself exactly how many weeks or months you’re going to push yourself for learning mixing and getting a promo mix out there. Set something like 6 months (something reasonable) and then mark down how much you’ll be working toward learning to DJ within that time frame. Having a definitive goal will push you hard toward completing what you want instead of lazily working toward something that could stretch years.

Get Hyped – Get hyped about starting DJing; look at a couple of videos of your favorite DJ’s playing a crowd our head off to a club or music festival so you can not only get in a good time but see how fun DJing can be – all of this can help get you hyped up and charged to start DJing.

Do Something, Everyday – Don’t take days off when it comes to practicing your DJing. Do something every day that will get you closer to understanding what it takes to be a DJ or put in some time to practice your mixing or putting together mixes. Motivation is a lot about momentum; the more you can put toward doing something the better you’re off at keeping up with it.

Get pumped about DJing, ya know? Take a look at how fun DJing can be and where it will take you if you become successful; imagine traveling the world, playing music and going to clubs as your job. Keep thinking this all the time so you’re always in the good mindset of getting it done.

Get Inspired to Learn to DJ

Being motivated works well for keeping up with DJing and getting beyond the basics but those just starting out may find it slightly difficult to feel inspired because, after all, DJing takes a lot of work and time. So, I’d like to share a few things that will get you inspired to DJ …

Watch DJ Videos – Take a look through Youtube and find videos of DJ footage; these videos can do wonders when you’re feeling a little stressed about DJing because you’ll not only get the music you love but see the kind of lifestyle you could have.

Read DJ Stuff – Browse around blogs, like this one, or pick up a book about the DJ life. Sure, you’re reading a book and not really DJing but it can bring on great inspiration when you read about the wild times a DJ had while partying and traveling around.

Have a Talk – Talk with DJ’s around your area on Facebook or Twitter. Ask them questions about DJing and the lifestyle they live; their words can spring up a lot of inspiration for you to get started as well. Keep up to date with what’s going on in the DJ world by asking those that are also interested; do it every day and you can pick up a lot of inspiration from the people around you.

Inspiration really comes from getting off your ass and telling yourself that you’re going to get started. I can’t say for sure that you’re going to ever get around to DJing but there are a lot of ways that can lead you to doing so. The real point I’m trying to make, with this post, is to simply get started above anything else – pick up gear – get the basics down – rule the dance floor.

So, how does one become a Youtube DJ? This article will share a few tips on how to get started from recording your mixes to getting your Youtube videos promoted to the point that they help land you DJ gigs – sound good? Let’s get started …

Part 1: Get the video gear

There are two good options for you when making Youtube DJ videos and that is:

• Recording yourself mixing using a video camera

• Recording your mix using a piece of software and then editing a video

I’d recommend you go with the first because you’d be able to show your mixing skills off and people will be able to recognize who you are rather than just your name but I know there are many of you that are a little camera shy so recording your mix, editing it and uploading it works too.

For cameras, I’d recommend the Flip Mino or Kodak ZI-8 because each of these is high definition cameras that will certainly get the job done. They let you easily hook up the camera to the computer and some of them, like the Flip, come with editing software. You can pick up either of these for under $150 which is a good investment when you consider you can make your Youtube DJ videos AND take it to parties and festivals later on.

Once you’ve got these, you just need some video editing software which is generally installed on computers like Windows Movie Make or iMovie on Mac; otherwise, check out Adobe Audition or Sony Vegas which will easily handle your video editing.

Part 2: Get to mixing

awwwww yeah

What’s a Youtube video on DJing if you’re not actually mixing, duh. The next part of doing Youtube DJing is to … make a mix. Since you only have about 10 minutes (until you get more time from Youtube), you’re kind of limited which means that each song and effect you put into your mix needs to be really mind blowing to catch people’s attention.

Do what you would normally do when creating a DJ mix. Choose a great selection of songs or even theme your Youtube DJ videos by playing certain genres of music, music based on released dates (such as the new song mix format) or some classic tune mixes.

Bring the best that you can so the Youtube video helps with promotion. If you need additional help, check out this other post on how to build a better DJ mix to bring out the best in your abilities.

Remember, you only have a limited amount of time so bring the ruckus.

Part 3: Get the video on Youtube

Once the video is created, edited and looking good, you’ll need to get it onto Youtube. If you don’t have a Youtube account than you can sign up at http://www.youtube.com/create_account; fill in the information that matters and setup your account, easy enough.

Quick note: When you’re editing your videos, be sure to add your Youtube channel name and contact information so if people embed the video on other websites, people still have a way to easily figure out who’s mixing and how to get in touch.

Okay, get your video up on Youtube and do a bit of work to make sure that it’s looking good such as adding a title that perfectly describes the video, choose something like “10 Minute Dubstep Youtube Mix” or something akin to that. Fill in the description with the tracks that you’ve used because people always ask for the songs. Add in your website link or Twitter name or some kind of contact method so people can get a hold of you which is perfect in the event that someone wants to book you for a show if they really liked the video.

Also, get people to subscribe to your channel and build up a Youtube following by just flat out telling people in the description.

Part 4: Promoting your Youtube mixes

Alriiiiight, now you need to get your DJ video found on Youtube. Well, that’s easy because if you optimized the video it will show up in search engines but besides doing that, you can begin sharing it on Facebook, forums, Twitter and other social networks you’re on.

If you have a website, you can embed your video onto your website. You could also send your video out to people on your email newsletter if you have one. Do what you would normally do when sharing video. Submit it to sites that you’re always on (maybe Reddit?) and just be conscious that you have a video (or a dozen) out there that people could be interested in.

Check out other people’s channels and leave a link to your video if they’re also doing mixes in your type of music – network yo!

Part 5: Getting gigs and earning a few bucks

Finally, sit back and keep pushing you video out wherever you can go; build up that view count and subscribers to your channel. It might be completely random but you may land a few gigs based on your videos. If you have a website offering DJ services, you could have your video to show off your skills for when people are thinking about hiring you – think of it like a sales video of some sort.

If your video starts to take off than Youtube will let you monetize it through Adsense and video ads. Depending on what you want, you can agree to the terms and have it there to make a bit of money if people click on your ads. You could make a nice bit of money off to the side for your mixes, cool enough.

Don’t rely on your Youtube DJ videos to land you gigs though; you still need to be actively promoting your DJing by going to parties, handing out DJ business cards, setting up a website and more.

Bonus: Youtube Video Resources

In case you’re still a little bit confused about online video and Youtube in general, for DJing, here are a few resources that will help you get started and up to speed:

• ReelSEO – This is a website that talks a lot about video production and how to promote Youtube videos online; there’s a lot of good tutorials but you have to dig around a bit because there’s a lot of news on there too.

• Youtube and Video Marketing: One Hour a Day – A book on how to get started with video marketing; don’t let the name scare you, it’s just the practice of creating videos to promote yourself which is basically what you’re doing with your Youtube DJ videos.

• Video Sharing Websites – A list of other video sharing websites that you could list your videos on if you want to extend your reach besides Youtube.

Those should get you started with promoting your Youtube DJ videos and understanding it a bit more.

Conclusion

So, hopefully you’ve found this guide helpful. Youtube is huge, you know that and you’ve probably seen quite a few DJ’s showing off their skills on the video site – get started too! You can really make a name or yourself if you do mixes on Youtube so why not tap into it for your promotion – it’s smart, that’s what.

Today, getting started with Digital DJing is a fraction of the cost compared to vinyl and CD’s; with a couple hundred bucks you can get your gear and find all the information you need online to get started.

This post attempts to collect all those resources into one place so you can learn how to be a Digital DJ.

The Basic Digital DJ Equipment

For vinyl and CD DJ’s, you would have been looking at piecing together your gear from the turntables to mixer to headphones to cables. Digital DJ gear, on the other hand, lets you get away from having to mix and match by giving you everything you need in one place. Midi equipment and built in software has cut the price of DJ equipment down to the bare minimum. You used to save your summer job wages but today, you can get started off a single paycheck.

Here is some of the digital DJ equipment that’s notable for getting started:

• Numark Mixtrack Pro – The Mixtrack Pro comes with everything you need to get started with Digital DJing. The controller is well built, bundled with Virtual DJ and can be used with any of the other software listed later in this post. Right now, the Mixtrack Pro is one of the better options for Digital DJing, in my opinion.

• Hercules DJ Console RMX – Not far behind the previous, the RMX is another great midi controller that comes bundled with all the features you need to get started from the jog wheels to mixer to effects and more; this also gets a copy of Virtual DJ with it and can be used with the other software as well.

• Vestax VCI-100 (or 300) – The Vestax unit is the major player for digital DJ equipment. This controller is extremely well built and is quickly becoming one of the essential pieces for those that are taking up the digital format. You can find a massive amount of tweaks and mods for this thing which makes it one of the more versatile pieces of digital DJ equipment.

There’s a lot of great gear that minifies the DJ equipment all together. You can get equipment now that’s nothing more than a few buttons. You’re literally DJing straight off your laptop. Although there has been much debate on whether this push toward full midi equipment is real DJing we have to remember that it’s the people on the dance floor that matter the most; if they’re having a great time than let’s put aside the type of equipment you use and stay focused on mixing some really great tunes.

I’ve previously put together a couple gear guides which can be found below:

• Top 5 Digital DJ Controllers under $300
• Top 5 DJ Headphones under $150
• The Beginner DJ Equipment Guide

Now that you know the basics of Digital DJ equipment, it’s time to move on to some of the tips and tricks to this style of DJing …

Digital DJ Tips and Tricks

In this section, I wanted to provide a few tips and tricks for Digital DJ’s. Many of these roll over from the different styles of DJing but I feel they need to be reiterated because they are so important no matter what gear you’re playing on. Here are a few off the top of my head …

• Don’t rely on the BPM counter – Don’t rely on the built in BPM counter in your digital gear because you’ll get trapped into an endless cycle of referencing it every time that you’re mixing. There will be times when you won’t be able to use the BPM counter in which that point you’re really screwed. Learn how to count beats using your ears and you’ll be a much better DJ.

• Learn your DJ Software – Learn the in’s and out’s of your DJ software, spend time figuring out the UI and all of the little features included in the package because if you understand how to effectively use the software you’ll understand how it can best be used for your digital DJing.

• The music is still the most important element – DJing isn’t about just the gear, it’s about being able to read the dance floor and deliver great tunes to your audience. Focus on finding great tunes and how they can mix together rather than spending all your time trying to figure out some new effect or tweak for your software and gear. Focus on the music and you’ll always win.

Digital DJing isn’t all that different from the different styles of DJing but it does have its own approach and culture. Instead of mixing with vinyl you’re going to be using MP3’s but, in the end, you’re still using a jog wheel in place of a platter. You’re still going to be using the mixer and effects. In a lot of ways, you’re simply replacing the analog with the digital; if you can get good at one style of DJing you can pick up the other with ease (but it will take time).

In the next section, I’m going to share a few different digital tools and software for DJ’s …

Tools and Software for Digital DJ’s

The gear is only one part of the equation; the software is the other half. A digital DJ without software isn’t going to get very far especially if they’re using midi equipment. You can find some pieces of equipment that have built in screens and software but for the most part you’re going to be hooking up to your computer. Below, I’ve collected the most popular and best overall Digital DJ programs for you to take a look at when starting.

• Virtual DJ – Virtual DJ is a bit basic and gets a bit of flack within the DJ community but it’s a great piece of equipment that gets the job done. This DJ software seems to be bundled with nearly every piece of digital equipment these days and is excellent for getting the basics down.

• Traktor Scratch Duo – Traktor Scratch Duo is a midi crossover where you can use older equipment like vinyl and CD’s with time coded vinyl and CD’s in conjunction with the DJ software. Traktor has a TON of features and is widely used in the DJ community.

• Serato Scratch Live – Serato made a huge splash with the ability to use time coded vinyl and CD’s with your DJ software. Now, Serato is making its own push in the market and is still one of the favorites for digital DJ’s and other old school DJ’s.

• Abelton – Ableton may not be a direct piece of DJ software but you can use this midi software to create mash ups and live mixes. The software is really easy to use and lets you tweak just about every setting to make some really great tunes.

The programs like Traktor, Ableton and Serato are covered in a previous post called the top 3 computer DJ programs. You can find many of these programs out there for purchase; I highly recommend you going straight to the source because there’s a lot of quality information provided by the companies. You can also find a lot of people regularly talking about tweaking, updating and getting the most out of these programs on a lot of DJ forums and websites (listed below).

For the most part, your first entry into Digital DJing is probably going to be with Virtual DJ. I used this program for a little while because it came bundled with a few pieces of midi gear that I purchased a while back. In time, I upgraded to Traktor Scratch Duo and haven’t looked back since.

Resources for becoming a Digital DJ

In this section, I’d like to share some of the best resources for becoming a Digital DJ. The items in this section are a hodge podge of websites, books, online videos and courses that are free and paid. This section alone is pretty much all you need to get started …

• Ellaskin’s Youtube Channel. Ellaskin has nearly 3,000 videos covering every aspect of DJing from the very basics to product reviews. Ellaskin does a great job at teaching a variety of DJ styles like mixing with vinyl to using digital DJ equipment. If you really have a lot of time and want to get started with DJing than this is the channel you need to be watching.

• DigitalDJTips.com – DigitalDJTips.com is a massive resource for finding all kinds of tips and tricks when it comes to learning how to start Digital DJing. There are tons of product reviews, tutorials, reader Q&A’s, guides and more.

• DJForums – The biggest DJ forums on the net, DJForums.com is probably the best place to run into other budding DJ’s on the web. There are thousands of threads that you can dig through to find all kinds of tips and tricks related to digital DJ’s.

• How to DJ Fast Video Series – The How to DJ Fast video series is a great starting point for anyone that wants to become a DJ. There’s hours of video that goes from the very basics of DJ equipment to even landing your own gigs. Much of the gear detailed in this video is digital so this is perfect for you.

• The Laptop DJ Handbook – This is one book of a (planned) laptop DJ series that covers most of the basics when it comes to DJing with a laptop.

• Dance Music Manual – I picked up the first edition of this book and I must say it was a great read. This book goes through the various genres of electronic music, gear and some back story to it all. If you’re a big fan of electronic music than this would make a perfect book for your collection; I definitely recommend it.

• DJTechTools – DJTechTools is one of the best resources for Digital DJing and gear. There are hundreds of extremely informational articles about every element of DJing. Dig through the archives for a few hours and you’ll have more than enough information to understand it all.

In reality, all of these resources will certainly help you get started but DJing really comes down to putting in the time to practice. You can read and chat about learning all you want but it’s until you just dive right in that it really starts to count. I suggest you try to find time to practice every single day, much like you would with homework or some kind of job. Even an hour a day is better than nothing. Use these resources as tools to help you get started but remember that it’s up to you in order to become the DJ.

Conclusion

I know this post has a lot of information that seems overwhelming but I wanted to make it a great starting off point for those that want to become a Digital DJ. If you have a couple hundred bucks and free time on your hands than you can easily get started. Invest in a proper set of equipment, learn all that you can about DJing through some of the great resources listed and practice every day. In a short while, you’re going to be rockin’ the dance floor.

Sure you have; that’s why you’re here on BeginnerDJ. I’m sure you’ve had a lot of thoughts about DJing which may have stemmed from going to a few parties, maybe a festival or just listening to your favorite mixes.

You know that feeling: after you hear a really stompin’ set you tell yourself that it’s time to start DJing. You want to play the music in front the crowd, travel, do what you love and have a time of your life.

But, did you know there are other little benefits that could further give you a reason to start DJing? Check these out and see if this finally gives you a nice kick in the rear to start…

#1: For the love of the music

The first thing that should come to your mind is the fact that you’ll be able to play your favorite music to the crowd. Seriously, how many people can say that they can get paid and travel the world by listening to music? You can.

If you’re not DJing than you’re probably listening to music all day already so why not make the jump and make a career out of it? Once you learn the basics of DJing you’re well upon your way on being able to do what you love.

#2: Travel the world

Been out of the country? If you haven’t been bit by the travel bug than you may not fully understand why people strive to travel as passionately as they do. The main reason why travel is so hard is because of the expenses but what if you can overcome that hurdle? Well, if you become a DJ you will be paid to travel, see the world and play at clubs from all over!

Just think: all those places that you want to see can be done if you got started. Of course, you’ll need to work your butt off to get to that point but it’s a big goal that’s certainly worth striving for.

#3: Meet incredible people

Think of all those awesome people you’ve met at parties. Now take those same experiences but multiply it by a thousand because now you’re going to start running into all of your favorite DJ’s, promoters and the hardcore party people.

You’ll be backstage, VIP areas, anywhere on the dance floor. The club world and festivals are yours; you’ll be able to run into some of the most interesting people from around the world!

#4: Get into events for free

You’ll be able to start getting into events once you’ve made a name for yourself. You’re sort of like a celebrity in the club world; if people know you’re going to be at a club, even if you’re just partying, they will turn up and that’s what promoters want so they have no problem with letting you in for free.

Awesome perks, eh?

#5: Make some decent cash

DJ’s can make quite a bit of cash. Some of the biggest names can command up to $100,000 for a single gig although it may be a little out of your league at this time (but it’s still worth trying for).

Once you get notice you will begin to set your own rates. You could play a single festival and have no need to work for the rest of the year (although it will be hard especially if you love what you’re doing).

#6: Design your own lifestyle

Since you’re not required to show up and clock into work you will be able to set your own goals, do what you want and design your own lifestyle. Think of all the time you’ll now have and that you’re self sufficient.

Don’t want to drive in traffic? No problem; your gig is later in the night. Want to just listen to music all day? Awesome, you’re finding new tracks. Want to just party? You’re getting some great connections for the later night.

#7: Always have something exciting to do

The DJ lifestyle will never be boring. Sure, you may have a residency that may not be the best but the regular clubbers that come in will always make for a good time. There will always be something exciting to do once you make friends with other DJ’s, meet all the interesting people, create the connections and having the ability to travel.

So, there were several different reasons why you should become a DJ. There are surely other reasons that are going through your mind so just keep thinking of all the benefits and go for it!

This guide will be broken into the “essential” topics and information you must learn in order to get started with DJing. Remember, this is a crash-course guide which means that you will certainly learn the basics of how to become a DJ but it’s up to you to take action and put this information into full effect (along with seeking additional information to learn the small nuances of it all).

Let’s begin, shall we?

Phase 1: Choosing the Right Gear

The most essential of all choices you will make when you are learning how to become a DJ will always be your gear because your equipment will be everything that you work from. Mixing, scratching, collecting music, you name it and your gear dictates virtually every aspect of where you’ll be going as a DJ.

When starting, you’re going to have three main choices for your type of DJ gear:

• Vinyl
• CD
• Digital

The lines are blurring between each of these formats as midi controllers and software lets you bridge each together so it’s much less about your type of gear as it is more about personal preferences and your style of play.

So, with your choice out of the way there are a few items you will need regardless:

• A pair of turntables
• A mixer
• A nice pair of headphones
• Some speakers (generally monitors for listening to your mix)

Vinyl you will need to pull together multiple pieces as CD and Digital has made the push to generally include all of them in one package or facilitate it through software programs.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $2000 for your setup; digital DJing is much cheaper to start out with overall and I actually encourage going with a controller first because if you find that DJing isn’t for you than you didn’t just blow a ton of money, ya know?

Phase 2: What Music will you Mix?

Next up is going to be the music that you plan to mix. I can’t make the decision for you because most DJ’s are generally going to start out with their favorite (mine’s Psytrance). You’ll probably play your favorite because you already know a wealth of artists in the genre which lets you get up and running no problem. Additionally, you probably already have a great collection of tunes that you may end up playing so you’re already off on a good foot.

Some DJ’s do go a little more “business” side and will eventually play music which is going to land them their gigs; this is fine if you’re going to make a straight business out of it otherwise just go with what’s going to be fun for you.

You can find music all over the web; you probably already know where to get all the tracks you plan to play but incase you need a little guidance than I suggest you check out another BDJ article on how to find new music.

Once you’ve got your music you’re ready to start playing or at least practicing…

Phase 3: Practice, Practice and uh … Practice!

I could probably write thousands of words just talking about how to get started with DJing but it’ll always come down to one thing: beatmatching.

Beatmatching will be the core skill you’ll need to learn as a DJ because this is what’s going to get two songs to match up and sound like one long one; it’s the basis of your DJ mix. Learning beatmatching will take you the longest but it’s absolutely essential when you’re starting. Don’t cheat and just use autosync on your gear (if you have it) because you’re only going to hurt yourself in the long run.

The best advice I could give you is to simply practice as much as possible. Check out another BDJ article on how to beatmatch and then put it right into practice. Spend hours at your decks trying your best to get the tracks synced up. Once you get the hang of beatmatching than keep at it and see how long you can go by adding in new tracks.

As you get comfortable with your gear and skills you can begin to check out others like scratching, harmonic mixing and maybe even through in some effects. Keep at it at this point.

Phase 4: Getting your Name out There

So now you’re up and running with your gear, you’re getting a little comfortable with playing and you may have event sent your buddies a few demos of your mix. Nice. You’re doing it. But what you need to do now is start getting your name out there.

Luckily, we’re in the age of the web so you won’t be doing some massive flyer distribution and sending out mix tapes to producers. Today, it’s much more about getting yourself setup, online, and letting people come to you.

There are plenty of ways to promote yourself as a DJ but what I believe is the best is through websites like Mixcloud, Soundcloud, Youtube, Facebook and forums.

You’ll want to record the best possible mix that you can. Put as much effort into your mix as you would a serious job because this is going to be what people judge you upon. Bring out all the tricks but don’t make it too gimmicky. Show off your skills but more importantly: make sure you show your music selection because this is what will get people dancing on the floor.

Start asking around your local club district if there are any nights with open decks. Buddy up with fellow DJ’s and talk to the promoters. Hang around the clubs and attend the festivals. Get on the radar of people and eventually you’re going to get noticed.

Phase 5: Landing your First Gig

Okay, so you’re getting awesome at your gear, you’re really starting to dig the whole DJ thing and you’re seeing it as something you could totally do for a living. Great. Now you’re going to need to land that all important first gig.

Much like how you were doing with promoting yourself before and landing fans; you’re going to basically do the same for landing that gig.

Remember when I said you should mingle with fellow DJ’s and event organizers? Well, after you have a good friendship with them let ‘em know that you mix and see if they’d be willing to put you on a slot for one of their shows.

You could also take an alternative route by doing a few smaller gigs such as weddings, parties, school events and more. Your first gig is probably going to suck but that’s because you’re fresh to it. You’re going to be reading people and watching how they react to you; this is a time to learn about how you present yourself in front of the crowd.

Finally, get your friends out there too. Event organizers want people filling their venue so if you can pull in a large group of people that are ready to buy drinks than you’re going to have a pretty good shot at landing your first gig.

Phase 6: Doing it Again and Again

This part is a little self explanatory but just keep doing what you’re doing over and over again. Find out what works for you and make it a good habit to do it every day.

Regularly practice, promote yourself, talk with DJs, find new music, try out new tricks and effects, attend festivals and parties. Absorb the DJ life; you’ve earned it. Keep at it and you’re going to be burning up the floor.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far that you’re more than on your way to becoming a DJ. It’s going to take a lot of work, a bit of an investment in gear, a lot of practice, promoting yourself and sometimes going out of your comfort zone but if this is something that you truly want to do than it’s going to be a wild ride in the process.

You can totally do this. Bring something new to the dance floor. Be unique. Get out there, land some gigs, take DJing to the next level!

The Internet has collected DJs from around the world to share their knowledge with any person that wants to listen. There are many websites available on the net which teach you how to DJ.

Each of these courses have been created with one thing in mind: teaching you how to become a DJ. Although you may be beyond the scope of many of these courses, a beginner DJ may find them very helpful in learning their new hobby and potential career.

The Club DJ Guide

The Club DJ Guide is a comprehensive guide created by JP Coupe. This guide goes beyond the basic scope of of just learning to mix with tutorials on how to build your fan base, landing gigs and actually getting residency at clubs you want to spin at.

The Club DJ Guide is aimed at those who already have a foundation of what they are doing but just don’t know the steps to take their DJing to the big leagues.

Learn How To Be A DJ

The Essential Guide To DJ’ing is perhaps the most well known course on the subject.

Danny Rampling has been DJing for over 20 years and has now put together a massive ebook on all of his knowledge. This guide covers everything in DJing from learning the very basics to playing in international clubs.

The Essential Guide to DJ’ing comes with extras like creating your own website, a collection of tips from many other great DJs and it’s cheap as well: only $16.43.

How To DJ Fast

How To DJ Fast is a combination blog and newsletter with tons of DJ tutorials and suggestions.

The blog covers a range of subjects on DJing tricks, gear and some opinions but you’ll notice right away that it also pushes for people to sign up for the newsletter.

Even if you don’t sign up for the newsletter the blog still has articles worth checking out in the meantime.

DJ Resource Online (Offline)

Learning how to DJ with The DJ Resource Online takes a step away from ebooks and blog posts to bring you a collection of tutorial videos.

The scope of this course is mainly tailored in teaching you how to learn your gear and start mixing.

Although the price is a little hefty, $47, the videos should be easier for you to follow than reading the theory and trying to explain the motions via text.

How2DJ

How2DJ is a DJ course by DJ Shortee. This course is beginning to become dated (they are offering VHS?!) however this isn’t to say that the information in the course isn’t worthwhile.

The How2DJ course is another guide for those who are just starting DJing as it covers the basic mixing methods, scratching and finding equipment. The overall price is $28.

TurntableU

For those of you that is more interested in learning how to scratch, TurntableU is oriented towards you.

The TurntableU course covers the basics of scratching to many of the intermediate and advanced scratching techniques.

TurntableU attempts to bring you high quality videos taught by dozens of DJs and turntablists. The cool thing about TurntableU is that you can purchase these courses in packages so if you already know the basics of scratching, you could pick up the advanced stuff for a few bucks.

Dubspot

Should Dubspot be included on this list? I’ll let you decide but it is worthwhile mentioning. If you don’t know, Dubspot is an official school where you can learn DJing and music production.

For a hefty price ($695 up to $1,695) you can learn everything you need to know about DJing using turntables, Ableton and other pieces of gear.

For those of you that have a ton of money to drop and can afford traveling up to the school, Dubspot is your best option if you are really serious about learning how to DJ through courses.

DJ YourNameHere

Out of all the DJ courses available online this is the one I’m a bit sketched out about.

Right up in the headline it says that it will teach you “how to be a pro in 2 weeks”. Really? I highly doubt you’ll be able to go “pro” and be able to play in clubs after only 2 weeks of learning. You may be able to get very basic beat matching down in that time but this course seems like it’s just one of those ‘too good to be true’ type deals.

Perhaps you should avoid this one although it’s still worth noting.

iDJOnDemand

IDJOnDemand comes across as a bit amateur but there’s plenty of good info from the guys at IllVibe.net.

IDJOnDemand is a bit more focused for people that want to know about scratching although the videos cover mixing basics, equipment guides and info on how to land gigs and talk to the people at clubs.

This course has a relaxed atmosphere and doesn’t come across as this high budget thing, kind of a raw set of tutorials. You can snag it for $77, not bad but there are cheaper alternatives.

DJ Tutorial

Don’t let the website fool you, the DJTutorial site does offer you courses on how to DJ that are fairly current to what’s going on today.

What’s cool about DJTutorial.com is that it doesn’t come across as some douchy product because the tutorials are being taught by people like us, the regulars.

The prices are moderate and divided into tutorial packages so if you don’t care to learn how to scratch, no problem just pick up the basic DJing courses.

Before you buy

Like most set of skills there is always going to be the fundamentals such as mixing, scratching and using the various pieces of equipment. What you’re really paying for in these videos are the expertise, quality and teaching style.

Most of the basic techniques can be learned through online videos you find already or by reading blogs such as BeginnerDJ.

If you do spend money on one of these DJ courses make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Take a look at the testimonials and the guarantee, if it looks too shady for you just move on to the next one.

The most important thing about picking up one of these guides is to ACTUALLY DO IT. How many times have you bought a book or some motivational piece and just let it sit on the wayside (guess that motivational book didn’t help after all). If you’re spending money on these items at least go through it and try to learn something.

You should also know your learning style. Some people learn better through reading while others with videos. You may not be able to sit down and read a 300 page ebook but you could easily watch a 30 minute video.

Just use common sense before you drop any money on a course.

If you picked up one of these courses, please let me know. Did you learn anything from them?