Understanding Beats, Measures & Timing as a DJ
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- Опубліковано 13 лип 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
"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
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.
I know this is an older video, but you are an amazing teacher
Yup
Youre everywhere
Politics, programming, djing huh?
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
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
Rob, you just humbled me with this one. I thought you were talking to me, personally. Thank You Sir for the insight.
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.
This was the best lesson someone taught me early in my dj career. Breaking down the 32 bars helped me exponentially.
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!
When you have Parents that are DJ’s “IF THERE ARE 4 BEATS ON THIS RECORD” lol.
This made me laugh lol
"How old are you?"..."36"...."dude you got time"
Being 37, this hits hard. Never too old to start that craft.
That feeling when you listen somebody teaching something he loves. Great lesson man.
Respect!
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!!!
Not gonna lie, this was incredible. When the student starts realizing his mistakes after a very clear lesson from the teacher... priceless.
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!
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.
Professor Swift dropping knowledge. Best DJ tutorials out there.
Yep
Agree
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.
You know what makes me happy about this video? Its the 21st century; this dude is mentoring this brotha on the governing laws of spinning; the art was founded in THE BRONX in the 70’s - is now global. It’s even taught at university! Making Frankie Knuckles proud❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Pure gold here. I’ve dj’s for 15 years and I never knew how to articulate this foundational information.
“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.
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!
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 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 don't CARE what people say, cuz I can always lean from Rob's teaching, makes DJ learning simple :-)
Damn kid your hella blessed to get lessons irl I feel blessed rob made these.
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.👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
his student was confusing me 😂😂
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!!!
Wow, this is one of the best DJ tutorials I have ever seen.
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.
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.
You can tell this guy knows his rhythm (quarters eighths sixteenth ect ect) that's vital for any musician
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.
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.
Rob you're such a good teacher. I'm so glad I found this video early in my DJ journey
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
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.
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.
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 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.
beautiful. Man. I love how you break it down.
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.
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!
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
GREAT VIDEO! GREAT FUNDAMENTALS THAT EVERY DJ SHOULD MASTER!!!!
This is why understanding the concepts of beats, bars and phrases, is crucial to djing. Having a musically trained ear rather than solely relying on software, will not only make you a more well rounded musician, it wll also allow you to better adapt regardless of the tools utilized.
love this, from one dj to another best lesson to someone learning
it's the basics of mixing beats from different time changes
Thank you. I’m teaching my self...after years of wanting to learn
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.
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!!
Learned something new today thank you sensei Rob Swift
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
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 had the opportunity at Stonehill College in 1998 or 99, to meet Rob Swift and watch him do things on my set of turntables that i didnt think was humanly possible. To be able to witness skill and ability at that level is inspiring. I immediately became a fan. To have his one on one instruction is amazing.
One of the best advices I ever heard.
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
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!💪🏾♥️
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. 🙏🏾
Dude chill... he is following you as fast as he can.
He just needs to try it a few times to feel it from himself (if you let him)
I felt sorry he barely touched the turntables, poor fella haha
Anyway, great teachings! Good video!
Not saying youre wrong here but i learned more on vinyl by watching my mentor than i did from actually mixing
No doubt this guy is not a very good teacher . He is impatient and gets frustrated really easily. That and he is not doing a good job explaining it to the guy. The teachers short temperament is making the student nervous which is making it easier for him to mess up. This dude should not be teaching because he is discouraging not helping
You cats are trippin! You must not realize this kid is working with Rob Motherfuckin' Swift. He's a steal wheel perfectionist and bonafide master of the art. If the kid was dead serious on developing his own turntabalism skillz, his phone would have been shut-off and he would be more engaged in the lesson and who's teaching it. Dope on Plastic, Q's Turkey Kutz, and Rec's Frosted Brakes were the 1st in the milk crates in 1999/2000. Learning how to play basketball by getting dunked on by Jordan would only better your game (or send you home with your tail between your legs). This kid will appreciate his time with Rob if he truly wants it.
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
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!
“You just dropped a four on a one...” 😂 Such a great fundamental lesson, “not every song starts on a one.”
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
The Best Swift has dropped
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!!!!!!
As a Drummer I totally get this ...some shud take or listen to basic music compositon timing and understanding where notes go in Measures ..awsome vid thanx
I never count, I use my ears and feel it.
You would need to count at some point . It's not just beats, but bars then measures etc
People always say this kinda thing but if you aren't counting at all then you're probably not a very good DJ.
@@tobietera I disagree, I can anticipate just what a song/track is going to do, after listening consecutive times, for example knowing where and when the break is coming up, when 🤔 I should bring the next record in, when you have the pitch deadbang you can really get creative.
@@tobietera It also depends on the style genre of music, you are referring to hip hop right? 4, 8, 16 etc so you are dealing with phrases/lyrics which can throw untrained ear 👂 off, so in the nut shell counting would help then, but still mixing with Pop music you gotta be quick.
Yeah it's a feeling thing for me too. I never think to myself "ok I have to drop this on the one and". On the "pump it up", I just kinda know where that sample makes sense in the beat. I just never think about the actual 'number' when I do it.
@tobietera -- you're right about the bars and measures too...but you don't have to count the actual "numbers" to be good at being a dj. You just have to know your records. :)
" Use your ears"
Let that be a lesson to all them self proclaimed laptop DJs
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..🙏
you are so patient rob! The goal is to establish alignment with both tracks
Just learned something new. Def now going to practice this now.
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.
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.
Not going to lie, I was getting frustrated at first.. but this is money. I just started a few months ago and I did not realize how much I was relying on Serato's visuals for my timing. time to get back to practice counting and matching. Thanks bro
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
I have the same problem. This is hard, but I'm going to get it right.
There's no 'just' anywhere in the song except where Prince says '...cause you treat me just like a child', otherwise it's just called 'I Wanna Be Your Lover' lol...anyhoo remember that song 'The Roof Is On Fire' where Charlie Prince says 'you gotta rock the house right and know what to play'? That IS a very important fact to learn this informative skill to also know HOW to play and having a good ear to listen for 'the one' that JB taught George Clinton and all of us old school folks in the days of wayback and teaching the younger generation is very important as well so having said that, I started DJing in 1985 and I learned that skill by ear early on before I started skipping school in the 5th grade to listen to 45s at home learning that 'one' on THAT beat...top job on point like a needle in the groove bro!
of all the dj videos i have watched i havent heard anybody talk about not dropping on the 1. this blew my mind!
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!
As a musician (percussionist especially) I appreciate this.
when I tell you I was GLUED to this. Hands down the most useful tutorial video I've watched so far
Finally....Great vinyl mixing tips...I'm practicing this the coming days.... Thank you Mr Rob Swift.
Great Vid Rob
I remember when i was like 15 walking up to record store and the xcuetioners stepping out of a 4 door accord. They did a set. Then asked people in the crowd who wants to come up. I was quick to run up and show my skills. Cool dudes. This was like 20 years ago.
This has been the best tutorial I have seen so far.
The legendary is looking out for the future, respect is due
As a longtime turntablist, you’re trying to teach someone who can’t count measures accurately, how to loop/sample/drops on 3’s 4’s, instead of teaching him to mark his vinyl/tracks on the 1, so he can learn the proper way to keep the flow going, mid-set. Once he learns how to physically get the songs in sync. Not to mention that if the song he drops is a bit off, he can needle spin or deck drag to get the songs in perfect sync. To all future turntablists, set your 1200’s up at the house. A place you can leave them set up and ready to play. Practice-practice-practice. Even after I had become a full time professional DJ, I’d spend 4 hours spinning on a Friday Night, but I’d spend 20-30 hours M-Th, practicing. New chops. Different type intros (prep scratch/baby scratch...etc). Remember this most of all. You are NOT just playing somebody else’s song. Your turntables, mixer and headphones are your instruments. You put your mark on everything you play. DJ’s are musicians. You can’t learn to play the guitar professionally, in 6 months. The same goes for DJ’ing. Much Love, from ya boy, The Twist’d One on the 1’s & 2’s, DJ Twist.
You can drop or blend anywhere. What makes one a good dj is being able to blend and being on cue. As a beginner, all you really should know is base & snair. Any sound in between can be whatever you want to identify or as (1,2,3,4), (base, snair, base, snair). Always stick to the concept of base & snair. I got into DJ back in 1994 when I was in 7th grade and now I still DJ at age 39. Keep on practicing everyone!! Best of wishes!!
This is one of the best DJ tutorials I’ve come across on UA-cam
I like the student “that’s big information” right there with you bud