Understanding Beats, Measures & Timing as a DJ
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2018
- Take your time with this. There's no rush man. There's no rush. You got time. There's all the time in the world to learn this stuff. Master it the right way. In a healthy way. Give yourself the proper amount of practice time to soak this up physically, sonically and I promise you man, when you start DJing out after you've really developed the knowledge, the technical approach to this art, you're gonna be a monster. You're gonna be shittin' on dudes.
The problem right now is so many people wanna be a DJ RIGHT NOW that they rush the process of mastering these subtle details like dropping on the "and" of "one". It's like "Ok you drop on the one? Ok I'm good! I have the equipment. Alright I'm good! I have the mp3s! LET'S DJ. LET'S GET PAID! i wanna fucking rock out! I want people to know who I am!"
And it's a process.
#beats #measures #timing #dj #brolicarmy - Hudba
This dude is paying for all of us to have a lesson.
🤣🤣🤣
Where do you get vinyl?
Mark Edwards From your local vinyl dealer, lol
There are non around who still sell vinyl dumbass LOL
Mark Edwards I just bought vinyl made this year. Vaporwave is having a huge vinyl boom currently.
"The laptop's not helping you, I need you to listen [to the music]," is hands down the best advice anyone could ever give a budding DJ. Respect.
That`s true
So Tru
I miss the days of two technics a mixer and a crate full of vinyls.
Awesome tip ....... 👌🏾
they just look at their screens these days, have no idea what the music is doing
I know this is an older video, but you are an amazing teacher
Yup
Student: "oh yeah yeah, yeah" (i'll just pretend I get it so you don't kill me)
LOL!!
Track: ONE and TWO and THREE and FOUR and ONE and TWO and THREE and FOUR and ONE and TWO and THREE and FOUR and ONE PUMP PUMP PUMP PUMP ME UP!
Student: That's FOUR right? Like and of FOUR?
Man I just learned more in 16 minutes listening to you then then hours watching other videos.
Thanks for making it clear.
Right on Bob 👊🏾
@@djrobswift Yeah and now we have plenty of time to practice
Yeeeehhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa its true!!!!
I just paid for a few lessons and even with these videos it’s sell worth it
@@djrobswift You are the best dudeee
Man I can only image how the man sounds when he’s trying to teach his kids math .
"People who teach DJing only tell their students to drop on the one. But their not telling their students that not every song starts on a one."
9:20 he does say not starting on a 1
Dance and pop music is in 4/4 time.
4 beats per measure.
Each beat is a quarter note.
4 quarters = 1 measure.
A whole note lasts a full measure...4 beats.
A half note = 2 beats...half a measure.
A quarter note is one beat as stated above.
The 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and , each are eighth notes .
If tap your foot to the beat of 1 2 3 4,
Every time your foot is in the up position it represents the "and".
I learned my shit on sl qx200's.
Couldnt afford 1200's @ 16 years old in 1983.
Wouldnt trade that experience for any controller.
Yawn
Controllers are just appealing, nice looking toys, nothing else.
I was one year older (and still am ;-)..) and actually had exactly the same experience back then :-)
thanks for the repetition
@nuff sed This is interesting when you get em post a pic on this comment please.
It's all mathematics. A true transition between songs has to be so seamless that the crowd keeps dancing and doesn't even realize the new song came in until after the fact. Thank you so much for this.
Big up to Pythagoras.
reminisce76 i do that without counting bars lol
Thats how i mix...
That’s the whole truth !
Yep that the secret is to mix 2 songs together to point the crowd dont know until u will in to the other song
Dude, this opened ears to what has been confusing to me for a long time. Thank you so much for posting this information. Good teaching.
When you have Parents that are DJ’s “IF THERE ARE 4 BEATS ON THIS RECORD” lol.
This made me laugh lol
As someone who grew up with hip hop in the tri state area in the early 70s, I'd like to thank you for carrying the legacy of old school down the line. This is all priceless information.
Grandmaster flash, Herc, Mario, Bambata and others all pretty much contributed to the quick mix theory back in the day, and look what it's become!
✌️
Disco King Mario!
Rob, you just humbled me with this one. I thought you were talking to me, personally. Thank You Sir for the insight.
This is a video that every DJ should watch… not rush the process. Just watched this today and I have followed you for a while.
This was the best lesson someone taught me early in my dj career. Breaking down the 32 bars helped me exponentially.
"How old are you?"..."36"...."dude you got time"
Being 37, this hits hard. Never too old to start that craft.
I sat down today and told myself "I'm going to learn something tonite" and there it it is, lots of information to process. Thank u man.
This is GREAT stuff. Like most young DJ's from my day we didn't have the luxury of these lessons. We relied on knowing the songs, how they sounded, different parts of the songs, how they matched with other songs and then used that information in our head to create our mix. No laptops, no buttons, no beat matching help, no masking what you were doing. Just two or turntables, a mixer, and records...actually a good way to learn before being distracted by all the tools eg laptops, software, effects, sampling, etc etc.
I just stumbled over here from "Basic Scratches"-Tuts and all I can say is, this kind of "tutorial" is so pure and on POINT! I like the way of "just" filming a studentlesson, cause that´s what it is!!! A Lesson to learn! I started Djing last year and my first lessons where exactly the same instead of using CDJs 1000 MK3. I recognize my first steps of Beatmatching by Ear...Oh my God, that was such a pain in the ass! But never wanna miss that way of learning the fundamentals of this art! Thank you for this, God bless U! And thanks to my teacher Thorsten Both, by the way! I am going to my decks right NOW!
Mark Gosia Respect!
Not gonna lie, this was incredible. When the student starts realizing his mistakes after a very clear lesson from the teacher... priceless.
Just finished watching your video, ice been DJing off and on since I was 13, I'm now 52 and NEVER had anyone tell me about 1/2 beats...I ALWAYS looked to drop songs on the 1 beat! And I KNEW the songs matched but I never tried top blend on the 1/2 beat... THANK YOU!! NAMASTE!!!
I never consciously knew I was counting beats I was taught to make sure I came in on time that’s why I love how Rob breaks this stuff down I just did what came natural to the ear it’s the same for all these terms like beat matching and back spinning doubles triples I learned all the these by ear and was like yo I got something new that’s why I’m so jealous of all the access and tools this generation has... Salute Swift
i only now found out i do this naturally in my head when mixing, thought it was just called counting
This comment is real.. same here my man. I taught myself. Thought I knew music, down to my soul. Bought turntables & realized I had zero clue what I was doing. Weeks of confusion on vinyl.. then one weekend it started making sense. Played the same two hip hop Instrumentals for 48 hrs didn't sleep for almost 30+ hours.. then all the sudden *magic* I started beat matching and blending. I remember it like it was yesterday. 15 yrs later even listening to this I had no clue.. those are the oldest of club hits. I just did it. LOL
I've been dj"ing for years and today I want to just thank you for probably the best lesson I never got! #humbled and incredibly #appreciated. MUCH RESPECT!!
I actually learned an unbelievable amount from this 17 minute video. I just started learning to DJ and the varying 4 count dropping thing is great.
I have never take DJ lessons but I have love to DJ since over 30 years ago and I got and knew everything you teach, keep it up, that's a good video bro!!!
I have been interested in DJing for decades...but I just recently found a new passion for it at almost 40. I also just discovered how to actually count bars and measures when it comes to mixing. This video just proved to me that I know how to count the measures and bars. This video just gave me so more confidence that I literally didn't just waste a G on tables and speakers and needles. But I still need a mixer but I'll have that on 2 weeks.
Pure gold here. I’ve dj’s for 15 years and I never knew how to articulate this foundational information.
That feeling when you listen somebody teaching something he loves. Great lesson man.
Respect!
If I had videos like these to learn from when I first started mixing records, It would have saved me a solid yr to yr and a half in the basement grinding it out. Made mistakes and learned by myself. Take advantage people. Especially with R. Swift instructing. Don't take this for granted.
I'm glad you found my tutorial helpful bro. Respect.
TThanks for teaching younger (and any generation for that matter), the original way to do this stuff. Much Respect!
his student was confusing me 😂😂
Rob, you are amazing! You are more than a DJ and teacher. You are at new level that you need to name so we can strive to reach it. Respect and love!💪🏾♥️
Rob you are such a Master and an excelent teacher... you break it all down exactly so everyone can understand you perfectly.like you said, noone will show you this stuff at other dj schools..mad props to you brother and the whole Xman crew and brolic army. Grandmasta Roc Raida R.i.p..🙏
Damn kid your hella blessed to get lessons irl I feel blessed rob made these.
This is such a great well broken down lesson. It took me such a long time to understand this and this perfectly breaks it down. Good work Swift.
Dude, you’re the best teacher ever! Also, you’re tough to please strict as heck. Anyone learning from you will be legit to the max.👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Man listen...this is the perhaps the BEST tutorial I've heard learning measures and timing. And I've been spinning for years! But I never got "super adventurous" and went beyond dropping on the one. Good shit man!!
This was one if the most difficult concepts for me to grasp and explain. I always kinda knew it but found it hard to explain but you made it so simple. Thanks a lot man
Wow, this is one of the best DJ tutorials I have ever seen.
This was not only helpful from a DJing perspective but from a dance instructor perspective. Love this bit of huge information. Thanks i really needed that. I'm a fan.
Rob you're such a good teacher. I'm so glad I found this video early in my DJ journey
I don't CARE what people say, cuz I can always lean from Rob's teaching, makes DJ learning simple :-)
If you know your music you will be more likely to know where to drop even if you are not conscious of yourself counting
I agree. Unfortunately, DJs today don't listen to music. So they don't truly "know" their music. They're aware of what's hot on the Top 40 Billboard but they don't KNOW their music. As a result, they're dropping songs from the "one" on the "DJing made easy" edited intro versions of the tracks provided them from the digital record pools they''re members of. All of the DJing is gradually being phased out of DJing and so we're left with DJs who lack a complete comprehension of the fundamentals of this art.
traum640 That's the way I learned. Know where to drop by just listening and feeling the music.
TRUE knowledge R!!! Saludos desde España
AND THAT"S JUST HOW IT IS !!!!!
Couldn't say it any better.
All those peole ''here'' who try to say how good they are in mixing and skills don't understand this video imo.
The video is great and peolpe can learn a lot from this.
25 years ago I started mixing ''the natural way''.I didn't count the beats or what so ever because I also mixed piano's,vocals,etc. over the beats (house mixing to say it short).
My friend and ''mixing mate'' did count the beats! and started the same way like shown in this video.
We both ended up pretty well years later and I didn't say I was the better DJ.
Some people said but others liked my ''mixing mate'' more.
Who cares !!!
The point is this video and the education.
Many Dj's are acting like a DJ but as you say,they understand a fuck about the real deal.
Good video and thumbs up !!
Cheers.
Well said!
Man I got my ipro DJ sitting around for a long time because I didn’t really understand the dynamics behind beats. but you explained it and now I understand it. Thanks for taking your time to compress your skills in such a simple way to understand. 🙏🏾
Rob reminds me of myself when I'm tutoring my students in math! You can hear how much he cares in his details! Thank you we're all learning from this!
I've been DJing for 20 years - for the first 5, Serato didn't exist. Having to learn to beat match on vinyl was such a great learning experience, but I truly trust my ears over anything the waveform on Serato may show me.
I was a amateur DJ in the 80's and never counted on the one's or four's....i just listened to the beat and dropped the record in on time just by using my ears. this is cool tho but to me it's just all about timing and using your ears
Some of the best info i've gotten in my djing time i'm blown away on this, the {and} makes a big difference.
This is so clear for me to understand. Cause I was already having issues with dropping a one when it’s a four, or the four and a half ( four and one, and two and etc). Also helping to understand how the four sounds compared to a one. Awesome dude. Passing on great knowledge of an art of true dj’ing to the next generation of dj’s. These days softwares are making dj’s. For a dj to have this skill these days is golden. Kind of like being able to drive a manual car well, in a world where everything is auto.
beautiful. Man. I love how you break it down.
Professor Swift dropping knowledge. Best DJ tutorials out there.
Yep
Agree
this video is the best DJ video i've seen on youtube: know your music and respect it... you'll get the full essence of it... and the result sound so good!
when I tell you I was GLUED to this. Hands down the most useful tutorial video I've watched so far
I've been DJing for 25 years; after a 9-10 year layoff I played a live set and I made *two* mistakes dropping my tracks in at the dead wrong point. Just embarassing how I forgot my own records; it also happens later on than just the first 4 bars, and that's where you really need to know what's what or listen carefully when cueing. Nice video, important content.
I love this i never was taught how to dj i learned by listening...in the beging never new what i was dropping on just blended the records in by listening...this was great
Same here. Always worked our well for me using my ears
It helps to learn how to read music or playing an instrument too.
Fantastic teacher!! Clear as clearest waters. Your video is in my list forever. I like the way you talk not looking for words in the pockets.
I just started my dj quest and this is a valuable lesson.. After i watched this i practiced day and night and it works.. Respect!!!
“You just dropped a 4... on a 1... you can’t do that” as a person who played music for 15 years before becoming a dj. That shits a no brainer for me. But it’s cool to hear you teach this to some one who is learning. I see dj’s do that stuff all the time in pdx. The better part of this video is when you do the sexy back transition. And explain the and of 4 drop. Cause people who teach it (that aren’t rob swift) do only teach to drop on one.
Anyone who teaches a beginner to only drop on the "one" isn't a teacher. They're a thief for robbing the beginner's money and time.
Agreed. I think he went too quick on him there
Yeah, this was a teaching mistake. It sets a rookie up for frustration and failure. One of the great things about 4/4 music like House is that it's really easy to learn how to mix. It would make more sense to start off with the basic mix first before more advance techniques like how to start a mix beginning on different beats. That's so confusing for a beginner.
@@djrobswift - I agree that it should be mentioned as a footnote for any beginner that songs don't only start on a "one", I disagree that it should be taught straight up to a beginner. As the guy above me stated, this just sets the aspiring DJ for frustration and failure. He should learn this later on, not from the get go. A simple info to make the student aware of this is enough for starts.
GPS08 Anyone who let’s the difficult aspects of learning how to DJ frustrate them shouldn’t be a DJ. The whole point is to grow better from your failures.
Brother Rob great video bro. Perfect Point "Use your ears" jocks today are so visual bro. #salute
I feel like im standing there with you. I love the hands on practice.
You just taught me so much about my rhythm, re-learning is frustrating, but the result is so rewarding, thank you brother, I learned so much today because of you
I think in addition to understanding where the bar starts, the key to good transition is to knowing your tracks through & through, down to every single intro and break.
One of the best advices I ever heard.
You’re a good Dood Kid. It’s hard to show folks how to mix vinyl. I have 0% patience. You just showed 1k% patience and that is a good gift to give to others.
God Bless You Young Man.
Best piece of advice a DJ ever gave me was when it comes to beat matching...you march the high hats and not the bass. That simple of advice made it so much easier for me to understand.
Learned something new today thank you sensei Rob Swift
GREAT VIDEO! GREAT FUNDAMENTALS THAT EVERY DJ SHOULD MASTER!!!!
Been learning to DJ since November. You are "Da Man!" Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I love the dialogue format you have going on here. You have someone from outside the expertise, and interested, asking questions. Good format for learning.
Just learned something new. Def now going to practice this now.
I think a good way to approach this for beginners is to understand the basics of music and beat and rhythm. Then once you understand that, you have to learn songs and understand the songs you are mixing. One way I learned was trying to do remixes with acapellas and instrumentals. When I would hear a song, in my mind I’d try to sing other songs to it to see what could mix with it and go home and try it out.
I couldn't agree more with Bob Owen, here. Grateful I've found you! Although I am not a DJ by any means, I pride myself in having a rather good ear, and your teachings here make a lot of sense. God bless, Brother.
This is PERFECT teaching!
I show folks all the time to listen for the DOWN Beat of a song... The down beat doesn't always start on a 1 measure.
So PRACTICE is key!
True!
Hello Mr ROB, there is really a problem of tempo, but with you rob I listen to the technique of times(weathers), and I noticed it rather often with my friends, for my part I always worked in the feeling and by listening to you I bring in the tempo in this way without knowing it which is why I am interested has to follow you and to be lucky enough(have the opportunity) to see you luck(chance) which I did not have in the 80s thank you thank you again to make continue and pass on(transmit) this art of the mix Hip-hop
Thank you. I’m teaching my self...after years of wanting to learn
I was recently asked to start teaching how to dj and had already been doing this kind of intuitively but since I mostly dj edm I don't have to think about it because almost everything starts on 1. Definitely just helped me think of a new way to teach the basics thanks to this. Appreciate it Rob Swift
A class act instructor, clear concise and patient thank you for sharing your wisdom of the craft.
You can tell this guy knows his rhythm (quarters eighths sixteenth ect ect) that's vital for any musician
U da man swift
🙏🏽💯 xmen the best djs on this planet ..
Elias26ny Mega Respect 🙏🏾
Invisible Skratch Piklz has entered the chat.
@@chasedownblocks1736 Where??
RIP ROC RAIDA
love this, from one dj to another best lesson to someone learning
it's the basics of mixing beats from different time changes
Been teaching my 11yo son to DJ. This was so great. Really reinforced my lessons and demonstrated these are universal methods. Thanks Rob!
prince and michael watching over this dopeness. thanks for the lesson
no they're not, they are dead and conscious of nothing. do yourself a favor and read the bible!
Dj BigheadMugg sorry, I typed while thinking of the music. Dj big head
I was doing this all the time but just didn’t know the explanation how mostly cause I know my music but now it makes sense
This is Essential Teachings right here!!!!! Every body wants to be a DJ but they don't want to learn music theory ! You gotta know this stuff!!!!!!
Excellent. It's a lot easier if you've formally learned music. A lot of times I find myself cueing a track in the headphones and looking for the drop without even realizing I'm counting. You're a dope ass teacher!
Respect Rob.Your a very good teacher man.Yo I'm dippin out to Medellin Colombia next week!Told myself if Rob drops any vids before my trip,I would def pass thru and let him know.Looking forward to it fam...Big ups/1 Love/Peace
Safe travels!
Rob Swift Appreciate it fam!
I have the same problem. This is hard, but I'm going to get it right.
Thanks for this magnificent tip helped out alot. Its good to know that someone else appreciate Jamaican music-money cah buy love, money cah buy respect- Mavado
This was absolutely useful not only for DJ’ing but for Beat Making also.. He explained what I felt when am creating music… knowing The timing, Drops & Breaks are vital to being a successful producer of music of any genre.. Thanx for the free hands on lesson ma guy I’ll never forget this session 😉
The Best Swift has dropped
Oh dam. I had trouble (no pun intended) with that last one. I thought I was on to this. Very nice info. Also looping the beats that don’t start on the one is a golden exercise now you mention it...... As always something new to practice. Thanks Rob.
ohhh dam. i can finally mix in Gangstar full clip thanks to this exercise. it always sucked having to mix it in on the one and missing that golden "big L rest in peace intro". I would always skip it and just go to the down beat. Cant believe i didn't man up and work this out years ago.thanks for the inspiration.
I just subscribed to your channel just after the first four minutes of this video. You sound like a tough teacher, but I like how straight to the point you are. I look forward to watching more videos.
Bro i Dj for home entertainment purposes, been doing it for 20 years and you just taught me so much i didn't know in 16 minutes. Thanks. Gotta like and subscribe
Your way of teaching is impeccable mate. Thanks for the knowledge I'm thinking about buying my first DJ gear, any recommendations I would like to learn the hard way with pieces of vinyl, but any advice would be taken with heaps of respect. Cheers from Syd.
Great Vid Rob
Finally a real DJ. Thank you Rob. All of you DJs that only know Serato need to pay attention and stop depending on your laptops. Learn to DJ and blend the right way by using your ears.
I have been DJing for almost 3 years I'm self taught I really appreciate this video I definitely learned something 🙌💯
This is a great video on a very complicated topic. Before this video I would not consciously think to drop or blend at whatever beat the incoming song would be on. But I would find the one and go from there to stay in flow, but that deletes some of the intro. I understand this is a confusing enough topic but i wish you could have gotten into the 'phrase' concept a bit, as well. Wheee do i sign I'll for your school!
It's a good idea to have 2 or 3 months of drumming lessons while starting DJing, it will help u A LOT.
I think the Piano also adds as that s one of the main instruments you can easily learn Music Theory from that so your e right but if you can integrate both,you have a competitive edge today and also it helps with Music Production... Blessings
Ross Mitchell agreed. In the mid 90s I was a drummer and within 6 months I was DJing. Beat matching came very naturally
another high school drummer that became a DJ in the late 80s through the 90s, then a fitness instructor, and also strongly believe drumming helped with the rhythm for the other things.
Good idea. Not so proud to say My drum lessons were making beats on the table at school during lunch!😂
eyy hell yeah
Thank you Rob Swift for sharing. This is something that is not taught by many. Your eloquent explanation made it easy to understand. I agree with Bob Owen comment.
@Rob...very cool for you to explain this. I learned by figuring it out by ear on two 1200s before digital display. We referred to NOT GETTING IT as "you got shoes in the dryer right now"! Fix that shit or you will be yanked off the tables. Life is about teaching, helping and inspiring others.
RESPECT bredda! Keep doing you.