Mixing between genres made easy!

Mixing between two different genre’s is a daunting task for DJ’s, the difference in BPM’s and energy can mean a simple beat match is often impossible. So how do you navigate between these genres?

Well in this video we break down three simple methods to allow DJ’s of any ability to play open format. Remember if you want to learn more about open format DJ’ing and master more complex transitions, check out our dedicated transitions course by clicking here!

Method One – Take advantage of the break downs!

Especially true in EDM and future house music, big break downs offer the DJ a golden opportunity to change the direction of the music. Often fading to a near silence, the music comes to a natural break. A perfect opportunity for the DJ to be able to change genre and play a song with a completely different BPM.

The key thing to do here is to find a song that almost fades in or starts with a nice build up. Playing a song on a huge drop will feel unnatural and slightly forced. Try to find a song that will fit in well, being in the same key isn’t a priority but certainly helps bridge the gap.

Then it’s just a matter of starting the new track in time with the original track. By setting the track off where one of the bars would have started in the original track the listener is naturally expecting a sound to start here, even if it changes the BPM.

Method Two – Use the effects

If your track doesn’t feature a break down to give you a natural break to start your next track, you can always use the effects to create your own. Any effect that tails off will work here but we find the classic echo usually sounds best. Setting the beat value to one beat is advisable, and then it’s about finding the best place to create the transition.

We recommend at the end of a phrase of a track, usually every 16 bars. The listener is already expecting a change at this point, so it won’t be jarring when you create the transition.

When you echo out, make sure you press play on the next track in time with the old song. Again this just helps the transition feel smoother to the listeners ears who will be expecting change on beat.

Method Three – Wide BPM changes

The most complex of the three methods shown here but still easy enough to perform, the wide BPM technique can produce the cleanest sounding transitions. The first thing you will need to do is locate the pitch range button on your decks.

These vary from product to product and sometimes are hidden under a shift button with a controller but you can usually locate them above the pitch fader. Set this to wide and be careful not to catch the fader by accident as even small adjustments will now vary the BPM by large amounts. Now the tempo fader is set up, we need to find a section of the track to loop.

A four beat loop is usually best but you might want to change this to suit your track. Set your loop on a suitable part of the track, try to avoid vocals or anything that will clash with the next track. Once the loop is active, let it play a couple of times at the normal BPM, before smoothly and gradually reducing the BPM to that of the next track. When the BPM is close enough, you can start the next track underneath and manually beat match them. Try to hit play on the new track at the start of a new phrase for the best results.

Video Guide

Want to learn more about mixing between genres?

How do you get from the latest pop music into some energetic house? How do you seamlessly transition between music that is a totally different BPM? How do you DJ a wide range of genres confidently to a crowd? Inside this course are the answers!