DJing is playing songs one after another so the music never stops, blending the end of one track into the start of the next. Modern DJ software does a lot of the hard work, so a beginner can sound good within a week. Follow these steps in order; each one builds on the last.
What you need (and what you don't)
| Item | Needed to start? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A laptop | Yes | Mac or Windows; the computer you already have is fine |
| Free DJ software | Yes | Serato DJ Lite or rekordbox's free plan |
| Headphones | Yes | Any wired, closed-back headphones to start |
| Music files or a streaming subscription | Yes | See step 3 |
| A DJ controller | Later | Buy one after a week of practice (step 7) |
| Speakers | Helpful | Any speakers plugged into the laptop or controller |
Part 1: Practise for free on your laptop
Step 1: Install free DJ software
Two free options are made by the companies whose gear most beginners buy:
- Serato DJ Lite: free, no licence or subscription. Its Practice Mode lets you mix on a laptop with just the keyboard and mouse, before you own any hardware. It works with more than 50 controllers, and includes real-time stem separation (pull out the vocal or drums of any song) and basic effects. It can't record your sets.
- rekordbox (from AlphaTheta, the maker of Pioneer DJ gear): the free plan covers music management and DJing with supported equipment; paid plans (Core from $10/month billed yearly) add more features.
If you're unsure, start with Serato DJ Lite because Practice Mode needs no hardware. Download it from the official site only, install it like any program and open it.
Step 2: Learn the screen
Every DJ program looks similar:
- Two decks (left and right): each one plays a song. You load a song on each deck.
- Waveforms across the top: the shape of each song, so you can see drums, quiet parts and drops coming.
- BPM (beats per minute) on each deck: the song's tempo.
- The library at the bottom: your music. Drag a song onto a deck to load it.
- Volume faders and the crossfader: control how loud each deck is in the mix.
- EQ knobs (high, mid, low): turn parts of each song up or down.
Step 3: Get music the legal way
You need songs the software can play:
- Buy downloads (MP3 at 320 kbps, WAV or AIFF) from DJ stores such as Beatport or Bandcamp. You own them and can play them anywhere.
- Stream inside the DJ software: Serato DJ Lite supports Apple Music, Beatport, SoundCloud, Spotify and Tidal, and rekordbox supports services such as Beatport, Beatsource, Tidal and SoundCloud. Availability varies by country, and streaming needs an internet connection and the service's subscription.
Avoid ripping songs from YouTube: the quality is poor and it breaks the platform's rules. For practice, choose 10 songs of one genre at similar tempos, for example house music around 120 to 126 BPM.
Part 2: Your first mix, step by step
Step 4: Prepare the two songs
- Load song A on the left deck and song B on the right deck.
- Look at the BPM of each. For a first mix, pick two songs within about 5 BPM of each other.
- On song B, find the first beat of the first drum hit: click on the waveform where the kick drum starts and set a cue point there (the "Cue" button). Pressing Cue now always returns the song to that exact spot.
- Turn song B's volume fader all the way down.
Step 5: Match the tempo and start song B on the beat
- Play song A out loud.
- Press Sync on deck B. The software matches B's tempo to A's. Using Sync is fine: learn mixing first, beatmatching by ear later.
- Put on your headphones and press the headphone (cue) button on deck B, so you hear B in your headphones while the room hears A.
- Count the beats of song A: "1, 2, 3, 4". Songs are built in groups of 4 beats (a bar) and usually change every 8 or 16 bars.
- Wait for the start of a new section in song A (often you'll see the waveform change), and on the "1", press Play on deck B.
- Listen in the headphones: the two kick drums should hit together like one. If they sound like a galloping horse, press Cue on B and try again on the next "1".
Step 6: Blend from one song to the other
This is the classic "bass swap", the simplest clean transition:
- On deck B, turn the low (bass) EQ all the way down. Two bass lines together sound muddy.
- Slowly bring deck B's volume fader up over 8 bars, so the room hears B's drums and melody joining.
- On the "1" of a new phrase, swap the bass: turn A's low EQ down and B's low EQ back up at the same moment.
- Over the next 8 to 16 bars, slowly bring A's volume fader down to zero.
- You are now playing song B. Load the next song on deck A and repeat.
Practise this until three transitions in a row sound smooth. That is your first mix.
Part 3: Your first DJ controller
Step 7: Choose a controller that fits
After a week of practice, a controller makes everything easier: real jog wheels to nudge songs, real faders and EQ knobs. For a first controller, look for:
- Two channels with jog wheels, volume faders, a crossfader and three-band EQ on each channel.
- Works with free software: check the box says Serato DJ Lite or rekordbox (many beginner controllers work with both).
- A headphone output on the controller itself, so you can cue.
- Bus power over USB: one cable to the laptop, no power adapter.
- Performance pads for hot cues and loops.
Popular beginner examples include Pioneer DJ's DDJ-FLX4 and Hercules' DJControl Inpulse range. Prices change often, so compare on the retailer's page; you don't need a four-channel or standalone model to start.
Step 8: Connect it and test
- Install the DJ software first, then plug the controller into the laptop with its USB cable.
- Plug your headphones into the controller and your speakers into the controller's master output (or keep using the laptop speakers for now).
- Open the software: it should recognise the controller automatically. Move a fader and watch the on-screen fader move.
- Repeat the bass-swap mix from step 6 using the real knobs.
Step 9: Record a mix
Serato DJ Lite can't record, so record the controller's output instead: connect it to your computer's audio input or use a program such as Audacity, or use DJ software that includes recording. Record a 20-minute practice mix, listen back the next day and write down the one transition you liked least. Fix that one next time.
Where to go next
- Learn to beatmatch by ear: turn Sync off and use the tempo (pitch) fader and jog wheel to keep two songs aligned.
- Learn phrasing: start transitions at the beginning of 16- or 32-bar sections so changes land where listeners expect them.
- Use our metronome and tap tempo to find a song's BPM.
- Start producing your own edits: see the best free DAWs.
- Playing in public? Venues usually handle performance licences, but ask; streaming services' DJ integrations are generally for personal use, so check the terms before streaming a mix online.
Questions people ask
Can I learn to DJ without a controller?
Yes. Serato DJ Lite's Practice Mode lets you mix on a laptop with the keyboard and mouse, for free. Buy a controller once you know you enjoy it.
Is it OK to use the Sync button?
Yes, especially when starting. Sync handles tempo so you can learn transitions, EQ and phrasing first. Learn to beatmatch by ear later.
What is the best free DJ software for beginners?
Serato DJ Lite and rekordbox's free plan. Serato DJ Lite needs no licence and includes a hardware-free Practice Mode.
Can I DJ with Spotify?
Serato DJ Lite lists Spotify among its supported streaming services, alongside Apple Music, Beatport, SoundCloud and Tidal. Availability depends on your country and needs the service's subscription.
