Free DJ Lesson: Complextro Ableton Live

Check out our latest free DJ lesson on DJ Courses Online, the leading online DJ school. In this lesson we review follow actions and legato mode in Ableton Live.

For those who are audio impaired, here’s a full text transcript of the lesson:

Hey so today we’re going to go for Follow Actions and Legato Mode in Ableton Live, so brief review on a follow action, a Follow Action basically is an instruction that you want a clip to do after it finishes playing for a predetermined amount of time.  For instance if I want this first clip up here to go into the second clip after two bars, I can select it and go down to my clip inspector and I make sure the launch settings are up, you can show them using this button right here and I want it to happen after two bars, so enter two for when the Follow Action engages and the Follow Action I want is next meaning it that will play the next clip in the series.  The probability that will happen is down here, so let’s set it to one, if it’s set at zero it mean that it won’t happen at all and a positive number in this case will mean that it will happen a 100% of the time, so let’s take a listen to that, you’ll notice after two bars it’s goings switch to the next clip.

So that’s a basic follow action.  Now an advance mode in Follow Action is called Legato and what Legato does is if you noticed in this first example when it switched to the next clip, it started the next clip from the very beginning of the clip at bar one.  Legato Mode what it does which is different is that instead of starting the next clip at the very beginning it will start it where the last one left off.  So this first clip we played for two bars instead of starting the next clip at bar one, it would start the next clip at bar three, let’s take a look at it again with Legato Mode engaged, so let me just select the clips and make sure that’s turned on and if you keep an eye on the wave forms and the curser on the wave forms in the sample editor window you’ll see where the cursor picks up when it switches over, so let’s take a listen.

As you can see the second clip picked up from bar three and that’s what happens when you’re in Legato Mode.  Now using Legato Mode you can create all kind of interesting musical combinations and arrangements that are automatic and let’s do that for all of these clips in this series, but before I do that, let’s make sure that these are all in the same key, this loop pack I have, I luckily names the key in the file name so it’s, these first five are on the key of F, this second to last one is in the key of G, so if you know your music, you know that the G is two semitones higher than F, so if I select the clip go down to my clip inspector and go to transpose, move it down two semitones, that means it will put it in the key of F, do the same thing for this one which according to the file name is in the key of E and we know that the key of E is one semitone lower than the key of F, so let’s select it and move it up one semitone to get it to the key of F.

So now let’s apply our Follow Action to all of these, I’m going to select all of them, hold down shit and click on the first one and then the last one and it should select all of them for you, go down and make sure Legato Mode is engaged, we want our Follow Action to happen, for this first example let’s just do it after one bar and let’s just do next for now just to keep it simple on the probability of 100% happening.  Now let’s take a listen to that.  So are you see it cycled through all of those, every bar, but instead of starting each clip from the top it started them from where the last one left off.  Let’s do that again but this time lets change it from happening every one bar to every half bar just to see how much crazier it can get.  Make sure select all of them and let’s listen to this.  And let’s even go quicker than that, let’s do it every quarter note, so you can see a really fast switch between the clips.

So that’s cool, we got all these clips playing in order every quarter note, what if we were to randomize it though, instead of it playing predictably one after the other, we could randomize it to give us an even crazier musical combination, you can do that and follow actions by selecting all of them and changing the Follow Action from next to other, other means that it will play any other clip after the Follow Action is engaged and the difference between other and any mode down here is that, any mode could conceivably also play the current clip again, meaning retrigger it and we don’t want that, we want it to go to a different clip every time the Follow Action is engaged.  So let’s set that to other and then let’s do it every three quarter notes and let’s take a listen to that.  Let’s add some drums to that.

And just for fun I got three drum loops here, I’m going to add a simple Follow Action, not Legato but just one so I want these drums to cycle through each other under these different drum loops.  Select them all, let’s do it after every two bars and I just want a simple one, so I want it to be next and then a 100% probability of happening and let’s take a listen to that.  So that sounds pretty cool, what we can do next is actually record what’s randomly being triggered by these Follow Actions and hopefully maybe we can capture something that we actually want to use over and over again, so the way you do that is, basically just hit record here in your transport and let’s take a listen.  So as you can see here in the arrangement window we have recorded our Follow Actions and it is a random pattern all throughout, it’s a cool way in case something actually caught your ear as something that you actually really liked as far as an arrangement and a loop, you can always go and extract it, and build a song off of it.  So that’s Legato Mode in Ableton Live, it’s a very powerful feature and I hope you guys all use it to your creative advantage.

Sign up for a membership to DJ Courses Online to view more DJ lessons covering all DJ topics including Serato, Traktor, Ableton, Mixed in Key and more!

Stop struggling as a musician and learn how to DJ once and for all

Anyone that has ever tried to master a new skill, even learning how to DJ, will tell you about plateaus. Plateaus are those times where even though you keep working hard, persevering, and shedding your blood, sweat, and tears you just can’t seem to make progress, whether it be at work, in the gym, or your hobby.

I’ve experienced plateaus many times in my life. In 2005 I was living in France and was trying to learn French. There would be times where things would just click; all the sudden I would find myself being able to communicate much more effectively with people. I would make huge leaps in my skills very quickly and be able to talk about subjects where I before I had lots of problems.

Then other times I would experience the exact opposite. I would feel like my abilities hadn’t improved in months. I would still get stuck on the same vocab, or have the same difficulties in certain subjects. It was extremely frustrating. “I’m studying hard every day. Why am I stuck? I feel stupid!” I would think to myself.

This has happened in other areas of my life too, from lifting weights in the gym, to playing sports in high school, to learning web design, mechanics, marksmanship, and any other skill I’ve tried to master. It can be frustrating but it’s just part of the learning process.

Whenever I’ve been stuck in a plateau there are two things that have always helped me smash through them and reach the next peak.

First is simply patience and determination. Perseverance. Like they say, when the going gets tough the tough get going. Don’t let yourself get discouraged, just keep pushing through. Realize that the plateau won’t last forever and while other people might lose heart and fall away from the pursuit, if you keep pushing forward your hard work will eventually pay off and you’ll reach the next level.

This happened all the time while I was learning French. When the going got tough, many of my classmates would take their foot off the gas. They’d start hanging out with more English speakers, spending less time studying, and making it easier on themselves. I’d start studying more grammar, literally read the dictionary, and spend more time around my French friends immersed in the language. I admit I was a bit of a nerd, but by the end of the year I spoke fluently and was able to go several months without speaking a word of English.

I 100% believe in that piece of advice yet the second thing I’m about to say is kind of contradictory. To break through plateaus you should try something different. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

This means that if you keep doing a certain action but the results don’t ensue, quit! Find a new action that works. Trying something new might provide that creative spark, that extra push, that helps you break through your plateau.

If you’re learning how to DJ and have been struggling through a plateau, I’d like to share something that might give you the chance to try something new. It’s our online DJ school and lets you study under expert DJs.

Most people I know learn DJing by teaching themselves, by reading DJ magazines and by copying their favorite musicians. Online DJ classes is a new idea but I think it might be just the thing to help you break through plateaus and reach the next level of your DJ skills. If you’re ready to step your game up, take a look today.

How to become a DJ that mesmerizes the entire dance floor

A few months ago I went to watch my little brother play in a high school football game. As we walked into the stadium Michael Jackson’s Thriller came on the sound system. That song is nearing 30 years old yet all these years later, as soon as it hit people’s ears, everyone had a smile on their face and started dancing. Even if it was in subtle ways; I spotted parents tapping their feet or almost imperceptibly bouncing their shoulders. Even for a metalhead like me that song is timeless and just gets inside your body.

The reason it does that is because even if you’re not into electronic music, even if you’re one of those parents who is embarrassed to bust too flashy of a move, it’s part of human nature to dance. It’s ingrained in us and since the dawn of time dancing has be a fundamental part of what it means to be human.

The next time you’re at a sporting event or even the grocery story- any crowded place that plays music- watch what happens to people when a song with a great beat comes across the speakers. The beat starts manifesting itself in people’s bodies in funny little ways. They start tapping a finger. Their head nods ever so slightly. It’s like the music seeps into your body and as strict and stoic as you might be, the tune will find some way to make your body move as it escapes. It’s like a kinetic parasite.

That’s exactly why I love being involved in electronic music. Say what you want about it, but it’s a style that resonates with people.

It’s not uncommon to hear people criticize electronic music. How many times have you heard a rapper crack jokes about techno, or rockers quip that they’re not real performers because all they do is push buttons? The truth is that like it or not, EDM speaks to that timeless human aspect in us.

There’s part of our DNA that remembers what it was like to be caveman, pounding out percussions on sticks and logs and creating primal music with whatever would make a sound when you hit it. When the electronic drum and bass hits your ears it awakens that genetic memory and you can’t help but dance along. Sure a ripping guitar solo or a complex melody is a beautiful thing to, but it’s hard to argue against a catchy drumline or some awesome percussions.

The point of all of this is that you shouldn’t let anyone dissuade you from pursuing learning how to DJ. No matter what anyone says it’s a fantastic style of music to learn, and on a primal level it’s an amazing style to perform live for people.

If this makes you think you’d like to learn how to DJ, a fantastic place to start is our online DJ school where expert DJs teach you their craft right in the comfort of your own home. It’s by far the easiest way to get started today.

Want to learn how to DJ but don’t have a lot of free time? Here’s one fantastic solution

Have you ever heard of the ten thousand hour theory? It says that in order to become an expert in something you need to invest ten thousand hours. Really it’s just a fancy way of saying that if you want something- to get great at an activity, to master a skill, to acquire knowledge- you have to work hard. It’s a great message and I’ll tell you how it applies to learning how to DJ.

In today’s world people always want the quick fix. Just look at the infomercials advertising the latest weight-loss pill or ab-sculpting device. In the era of something-for-nothing, it’s an important lesson that if you want something you have to be willing to make the investment. Put your money where your mouth is.

At the same time though I hope you’re doing some math in your head and asking yourself “10,000?! Really?!” By working 40 hours per week, the average American spends 2,000 hours a year at work. That means by using this logic, if you treated your hobby as a full time job it would take you five years to become an expert in it!

Does that mean that unless you treat your side pursuit as a second job you have no hope of becoming an expert? Does that mean the waitress can’t start a consulting business on the side? Does that mean the cubicle-jockey can’t launch a successful blog on nights and weekends?

There’s a growing group of people, many who identify as “life hackers”, who would say of course not. The ten thousand hour believers embody hard work, but life hacking is all about working smart. They constantly ask themselves “How can we maximize our time to make the greatest progress? How can we use minimal inputs to achieve maximal outputs?” That’s just a complicated way of saying how do you make the most of what you’ve got?

Life hackers would argue that rather than focusing on the number of hours spent, it’s more important to focus on how the hours are spent. Sure, 10,000 hours will bring you closer to mastery in any given pursuit, but are those all productive hours? Are you spending your time on the most important things?

The best gameplan is to figure out what the most high-value activities are. What is the one biggest bang for your buck? Spend your time doing that first to achieve the greatest improvement in the littlest time.

For example, learning a second language is high on many people’s to-do list. Just look at how popular Rosetta Stone is. Unfortunately though most people give up quickly and say “I’m just not a natural language learner.”

Did you know though that in Spanish, if you were to memorize the most common 300 words you would be able to understand 75% of spoken conversations? Add 700 words and memorize the most common 1,000 and you’ll be able to follow almost 90%! But, if you want to understand 95%+ you will have to memorize the 5,000 most common words. It’s called diminishing returns. So the point is, it’s not about learning the most words possible, it’s about learning the right words.

Let’s apply this to learning how to DJ. Sure you could buy some equipment and some software, start playing around and try to mimic the sounds of your favorite artists. This is the equivalent of stumbling blindly in the dark though. It would be like picking up your Spanish dictionary and memorizing words at random. You need someone to show you the most important things to focus on first.

That’s where DJ Courses Online comes in. It’s run by expert DJs who have learned how to DJ the hard way so that you don’t have to. They’ve broken their skills down into easy-to-learn courses so that you can make huge improvements extremely fast. If you want to hack your way to becoming a great DJ, there’s no better way!

Online DJ school helps aspiring musicians build skills fast

I recently read a quote that said if you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.

I think this is a fantastic piece of advice. When there’s something that you really want you have to be courageous and take a leap of faith. Anything worth having won’t come easy; you have to think outside of the box, leave your comfort zone, and work hard.

It almost makes me think of the Hero’s Journey, an archetypal structure that shows up in famous stories throughout history from Homer’s Odyssey to Lord of the Rings. When the hero accepts his calling he realizes he needs to leave the comfort of his own home, set out on his epic quest, and confront challenges and take risks that that average people wouldn’t.

I know it sounds like hyperbole, but when you’re setting out to accomplish something difficult like get in shape, get a promotion, or start a new business you need to treat it like your own Hero’s Journey. Take it seriously.

The only problem with this idea is that if you’ve never done something before, how are you supposed to know it’s an option, that it even exists?! How do you learn how to accomplish it?

Here are some of my favorite methods:

Study what other people have done.

Whatever you’re trying to accomplish in your life, I guarantee someone has done it before. And someone has overcome even bigger obstacles to do so.

Want to climb one of the world’s tallest peaks? Kyle Maynard summited Kilimanjaro with no arms and no legs.

Want to break into a difficult career, like an actor or musician? Sylvester Stallone was turned down literally thousands of times before he became Rocky. (Listen to the story here, it’s amazing.)

Need guts to break through a difficult roadblock? Antonio Nogueira was run over by a truck when he was ten, spent four days in a coma and was hospitalized for eleven months, lost a rib and part of his liver, then went on to become one of the greatest martial artists the world has ever known.

Just head down to your bookstore and start browsing; there are motivational stories and how-to books on just about anything you can imagine.

Make a gameplan.

In today’s world we’re incredibly busy and distracted. We’re always being bombarded with text messages and emails. The TV is always blaring at us. At any given time several things are competing for our attention. It makes it hard to calm down and concentrate.

If you’re trying to accomplish something important but don’t know how, try this: just sit down with a pad of paper and a pen. If you had to make a gameplan of how to get from A to B, what would the steps look like? Ask yourself “What is one step I could take right now to bring myself one step closer?”

If you just shut out the distractions- turn off the TV and silence your cell phone- you’ll be shocked at how much you actually have inside of you. Give your brain the opportunity to think and reflect and you’ll be surprised at what it will tell you.

Have someone else teach you.

This is the simplest thing yet incredibly powerful. Surprisingly very few people do it. If you’re setting out on your own quest you realize how hard it can be. Like we said before if it was easy everyone would do it. That means that those that have come before you know how tough it is too, and believe me they’ll love passing on their knowledge and sharing the lessons they’ve learned.

Simply by approaching someone and saying “I look up to you and I want to follow in your footsteps. Teach me how you did it!” you’ll be surprised how many people will be willing to pass on their knowledge.

If you’re reading this and you want to become a DJ, a great example is DJ Courses Online. The instructors were just regular guys who started out knowing nothing, learning from scratch how to make a living as DJs. Now they offer all of the lessons they’ve learned online. From your laptop you can tap into all of that knowledge and they’ll help you reach similar heights.

So if you’re own quest involves learning how to DJ, try something new. Check out our DJ programs and being your journey.

The biggest secret behind learning how to DJ

Want to know the biggest secret behind learning how to DJ? Surround yourself with the right people. The famous entrepreneur and speaker Jim Rohn once said you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

It makes total sense. If you’re around people who are motivated and driven they’ll inspire you to work hard and succeed.

If you’re around creative people you’ll have conversations that give you ideas and encourage you to create things yourself.

If you’re around intelligent people they’ll teach you new things and share ideas that cause you to think of things in unique ways.

With this idea in mind, one of the simplest self improvement techniques is to find ways to be around people you want to be like. If you want to be a businessman, hang out with businessmen. If you want to make art, hang out with artists. If you want to make music, hang out with musicians. Simply changing your environment will subconsciously cause you to step your game up.

Some people might hear this and think that it sounds slightly manipulative, like you’re using people just so they’ll rub off on you. It’s like you’re stealing their mojo.

Really though it’s not manipulative at all. If you wanted to become an outdoorsman, what’s wrong with finding a group on Meetup.com and hiking with other nature enthusiasts? If you wanted to master Spanish, why would it be deceitful to find a local language club and spend time talking with other Spanish speakers?

It makes perfect sense to spend time with people that share your interests and ambitions. After all that’s what most relationships are built on anyways.

So what does all of this have to do with DJing?

Obviously what I’m saying is that if you want to become a DJ you should hang out with DJs and other people involved in EDM, but the kicker is that for some of you this might be easier said than done.

I live in a small town. We only have a couple places that occasionally feature live music, and exactly 0% of the time the musicians play electronic music. I don’t know anyone that makes EDM in my area.

The good news is that since technology is an inherent part of electronic music, finding people online and around the world to spend time with and learn from is easier than ever.

One great example is our online DJ school, which allows you to learn from DJ experts from the comfort of your own home. It’s not quite the same thing as sitting in the same room with your own DJ friends, but it’s a great first step and will definitely lead you towards plugging into your own community of like-minded music makers. So if you’re thinking about learning how to DJ, go to DJ Courses Online and surround yourself with these experts today!

Class is in session! Sign up for DJ school today

When I was in college I knew a guy named Truckin’. I have absolutely no idea how he got that name. As awesome as it was though it didn’t really fit. He didn’t look like a trucker, didn’t wear flannel or suspenders like you might expect, and wasn’t particularly big and burly- although during junior year he did grow a respectable beard.

Truckin’ was extremely…interesting. You could call him either unique or weird, depending on your perspective. He was incredibly intelligent, had traveled all over the world, and was always full of surprises.

One Monday morning Truckin’ came into class and sat down next to me. “How was your weekend?” I asked.

“Great!” he responded. “I wrote a techno song  a while back and it just broke into the top ten on the electronic charts in Brazil!

I hadn’t even known that he made electronic music. It turned out that he collaborated with a few people from around the world and they made music together online.

Truckin’ was always a fairly strange guy so I have no idea how true this was, but the story still highlights one of my favorite things about electronic music, and that is how international it is.

Take any style of music: Rock, Pop, Rap, Jazz, you name it. That style might be really popular here in America but not very well-liked in Asia. Another style might dominate the airwaves in Europe but be almost unheard of in Africa. One thing I’ve found though is that electronic music is the opposite: it’s incredibly international. I’ve traveled to 27 countries and EDM is the one style that you can find in absolutely every single place. It might not be the most popular style in any given country, but if you go out at night or search the radio dial you’ll undoubtedly find it.

It’s like the soccer of music. It transcends borders and it’s an easy way to connect with people from other cultures. Also like soccer, it’s been slow to catch on here in the United States but is quickly building momentum.

That’s one of the reasons why I suggest people get into electronic music. If you want a way to plug into an international community, if you want to be able to travel to other countries and easily find people who share a common passion, or if you just love feeling like part of something that transcends nationality, EDM is for you. It’s really exciting when you’re constantly interacting with musicians from around the world.

If this sounds enticing to you, the best way to start learning about how to DJ might surprise you. Rather than slowly dabble in it, check out our online DJ school – it will help you jumpstart your career as a musician and make massive strides very quickly.

DJ school takes the trial and error out of learning how to DJ, saving students time and money

My brother will be graduating from college in the spring and he’s trying to figure out what he’s going to do next. Obviously college is the expected next step. Or maybe DJ school?

Being almost eleven years ahead of him I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve learned in that time, what I would have done differently, and what is the best advice I can give him. In my own experience, I went to college and to grad school, racked up huge student loan debt, and now I make a living doing work I’m passionate about yet is completely unrelated to either of my degrees.

I’m not alone, either. Studies show 40% of all college grads today work in jobs that don’t require a college degree. Unfortunately few of them can say they’re doing something they’re passionate about. Is this what I want for my brother? Am I going to encourage him to rack up massive debt to get a job he hates that he’ll be overqualified for?

It’s hard because college is still part of the script that society feeds us, but my answer is no.

Instead I’ve been encouraging my brother to explore the idea of apprenticeship. Rather than spending tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to go to a university for four years and hope that somewhere along the way he’ll stumble across what he’s passionate about, why not put himself in an environment where he’s much more likely to find it?

I told him to find someone he looks up to that is working in an industry he’s interested and ask what he can do for them. Go sweep the floors at night. Do the dirty work. Pitch in wherever you can. Simply be in the environment, learn as much as possible, get involved, and see if it’s for you.

In my brother’s case he really likes fashion so we found a few custom suit shops in our city and simply emailed them saying “I’m a high school student thinking about going into the fashion industry, can I come in after school and find a way to pitch in?” It’s not a fool-proof plan for a career, but it’s a foot in the door that will bring him one step closer to finding out what he wants to do.

The cool thing about apprenticeship and this hands-on approach to finding your calling is that we are so connected today that possibilities are endless. You can email or tweet just about anyone. If you have an offer or an idea that is compelling enough, you can get the attention of nearly anyone.

This includes the DJ world. If you think that you would like to become a DJ, the absolute best way to do so is to learn from the people who have already done it and are currently doing it. Find people that you can ask questions to, people that you can study or imitate. Once again, in the digital world we live in this is easier than ever.

DJ Courses Online is the perfect example. For a low fee you can plug yourself into a network of professional and experienced DJs. You won’t be sweeping floors and cleaning the bathrooms like a grunt apprentice, but you will have expert instructors on your screen right in your own living room. It’s an amazing leap forward that wasn’t possible just a few years ago.

Now you don’t have to toil for years to get to a level where you can start hanging around a club to meet other DJs. Instead there are people that will begin coaching and guiding you from day one. If you’re serious about learning how to become a DJ it’s unbeatable.

How could a DJ school help you meet your music goals?

I’m reading a book right now called Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield. I’m not done with it yet but I already highly recommend it. It’s fantastic, and there are countless gems in here that apply perfectly to musicians.

The premise is pretty simple: people fall into two categories, amateurs and pros.

Most of us are amateurs. We have our jobs or careers or ambitions or whatever it may be, but we’re not 100% committed to it. We get distracted. We question ourselves. We take days off. We don’t push through to the very end.

Pros on the other hand take their craft seriously. Whether you’re a nurse or a student or a writer or a marketer or anything else, a pro doesn’t mess around. They are disciplined. They are determined. Just like a professional athlete or a professional soldier that realizes they’re playing for all the marbles, a pro treats their work and their life with the same level of gravity.

Pressfield talks about how it’s not easy to become a pro, but it’s free and anyone can do it. Anyone with the vision and the will can cross over from being an amateur to being a pro, and he says it will be the best decision of your life. You’ll never look back.

One of the best things someone can do to turn pro is simply surround yourself with other pros. Pressfield talks about how amateurs will subconsciously try to bring a pro down. They’ll try to distract them. They’ll try to get them to ignore their work and goof off.

Other pros though understand the importance of doing the work. Being around people who take their craft seriously will enable and inspire you to do the same. Watching people elevate their games and succeed will motivate you to do what it takes to follow suit.

This same principle works for DJs. There are so many Djs that dabble with music. It’s a side project. It’s a hobby. It’s a way to unwind. And these are totally are totally fine reasons to DJ.

If you want to take your DJ game to the next level though, you need to be around pros. You need to be around people who aren’t messing around but are committed to learning, improving, and crushing it.

Now as you read this you might be realizing the painful truth: there aren’t many pros out there. At least they’re massively outweighed by the amateurs. There is one great place to find a whole community of pros though, and that’s djcoursesonline.com. It’s fast and easy and you’ll have pros right on your computer screen teaching you how to become a DJ and take your game to the next level.

What every beginner ought to know about how to become a DJ

When people start the journey to learn how to become a DJ, they often ask the question “what is the first thing I need to do? Buy turntables? Buy certain software? Begin building a record collection?”

The first lesson I would share is actually way more basic than that. For some people this might go without saying, but I think it’s a simple yet important point that the rest of your musical career will build upon. And that is the question “what is music?”

Don’t laugh. Don’t skip ahead. Really think about it.

How often do you hear people rag on certain styles- whether it be metal, reggae, electronic, punk, or anything else- by saying it’s not “real” music. “It takes no skill! Anyone can play that kind of music!” people will say.

Let me use a different example to illustrate the point. I’ve always been an avid reader, and when I was in middle school I loved Dean Koontz books. If you’re not familiar, Dean Koontz is like Goosebumps for adults; they’re suspense books, he’s always got a new one out, and they’re sold at grocery stores.

I remember once when I was a freshman in high school my English teacher asked me what I liked to read and I told her Dean Koontz. She rolled her eyes and said “Ohhh, you like to read pulp literature.”

I remember being kind of offended. First of all, I thought I should get at least a little credit for reading at all, but most importantly who was she to judge what is or is not good literature? Books are above all a form of entertainment, and just because a novel isn’t 200 years old and is sold in the same isle as the greeting cards and party supplies has no bearing on it’s ability to entertain. As long as it captivates you and keeps you turning pages, that’s a good book.

Anyways, that’s the way we need to approach music as well. Sure some music, just like literature or paintings or any other kind of art, can be beautiful because it makes you think about things or challenges you in some way. But more often than not it’s simply good because it’s entertaining, because it puts a smile on your face and makes you move your feet.

So who cares if a certain song or style doesn’t have complicated scales. Who cares if it’s not super technical or if the musician studied at a prestigious school. If it sounds good, it’s good music. It’s “real” music. And by using that criteria, it’s irrefutable that EDM is good music. There’s not many genres that can come close to EDM’s ability to get people out of their seats and moving, and that’s why I love it.

That’s also why learning how to DJ is so much fun. To be able to enjoy creating music for the pure pleasure of making something that sounds great, not to impress anyone or flaunt anything, but simply for the love of music, is a beautiful thing.

If you’d like to see what that feels like and you think learning how to DJ might be for you, the absolute best way to start is our online DJ school. Learning directly from experts from the comfort of your own home will speed along your process, saving you time and money.

DJ school makes it fast and easy to learn how to DJ

I’m about to make a really abstract argument in favor of electronic music and DJ school.

Recently I started reading lots of biographies of archetypal figures in history and studying some of those timeless lessons that appear over and over again. I’m sure all of these things are simply a function of growing up, but I realize they were all an extension of figuring out where I come from and finding my place in a larger picture. Knowing that I’m part of a lineage.

So what the heck does this have to do with EDM, you’re probably asking.

The other day I was listening to Breakbot. I absolutely love Breakbot. He’s heavily influenced by Disco and Funk, and when I listen to him I often find myself looking up the songs that he samples and listening to the originals. It’s crazy hearing a song that just fires you up and then realizing that it’s 40 years old, and in some cases the DJ has barely altered it if at all.

If I was still 15 I would probably look at Breakbot and think “this guy is just stealing other people’s music! People think they like Breakbot when really they should say they’re fans of insert 70’s funk band here.” But now I see him in a totally different way.

Breakbot is like a bridge to our musical ancestors. When you look at the spectacle that pop music today has become, and the absolute train wreck that is our most popular pop stars, it kind of makes you yearn for a time when musicians were more talented. And that’s what I love about EDM.

Obviously it’s a huge genre and not all musicians sample old acts the way Breakbot does, but I think it’s a powerful thing to be able to take songs from past generations and turn it into something new that at the same time pays homage to our musical roots.

So while some people might not understand the art of electronic music, and might see sampling as a kind of plagiarism, it really is a great art form that in my opinion fulfills our natural curiosity to figure out how we fall into the bigger picture that stretches back generations.

If you’re like me and are interested exploring your own ancestry, especially in a musical way, learning how to DJ might be a great tool. The absolute easiest way to do it is simply to learn from the experts, and that’s where DJ Courses Online comes in, so check out our DJ programs today.

Could learning how to DJ help you live the life you’ve always wanted?

When I was a teenager I was obsessed with music. I spent all of my free time playing guitar (badly) in my bedroom, and I scrawled AC/DC and Metallica all over my school supplies.

In hindsight, I think I was more fascinated with the life of a rockstar than the actual music itself. I loved the idea of traveling around the world, living a unique life on my own terms, and playing for screaming crowds every night.

I remember seeing a music video for Judas Priest and watching singer Rob Halford strutting around the stage, bellowing “you’ve got another thing coming!” as an entire arena of hysterical fans shouted it right back. I remember thinking how amazing it is that one man could pour out that kind of raw energy and emotion into a sea of people, and that all of those people would go home with a high-pitched ringing in their ears and a huge smile on their faces and be on an emotional high for days to come. It’s a beautiful thing for one person to have that kind of impact on so many people.

Of course like most wannabe high school rock stars, the dream slowly faded and a myriad of aspirations followed, like CIA agent, international economist, and Ernest Hemingway. The unfortunate truth is that for every 10,000 kids dreaming about being the Next Big Thing, there’s about one actual Big Thing.

But that’s where DJing comes in. For people out there who are drawn to the idea of entertaining crowds, giving your energy to the audience, and boosting people’s moods if only just for a night, then being a DJ might be just the thing you’re looking for.

I’m not saying that it’s easy or that it’s a shortcut to fame and fortune. Skrillex works just as hard as any other musician today, and contrary to what some haters might say electronic music is not simpler to master than any other style. The point though is that if you were to get a rock band together it might be a long time before people would come to your shows, whereas right now there are dance clubs, bars, and lounges in your city that need talent to entertain their patrons. They won’t be chanting your name and buying your t-shirts, but it just might be a shorter road to performing in front of people who want to have a good time.

If this is an intriguing idea to you, one of the best places to start is DJcoursesonline.com. It’s an online school where expert DJs will teach you how to DJ. They’ll teach you everything you need to know about tips, techniques, equipment, and behind the scene industry knowledge that will save you tons of time and money.

So if you’ve got music in your blood and the desire to perform, consider becoming a DJ and check out DJcoursesonline.com

The smart man’s way to learn how to DJ

There are two ways to do anything in life: the hard way and the smart way – including learning how to DJ

The hard way involves using brute force. It requires struggle, sacrifice, toil, and bull-headedness. Often times you’re going against the flow, or battling uphill; everything is inherently set against you. Success is not impossible. In fact if you achieve success it’ll feel incredibly satisfying because you earned it.

But there’s a much easier way to accomplish things in life called working smart. Working smart means leveraging relationships to achieve bigger things than you normally could by yourself. It means learning how to go with the flow, but gently directing it at the right times to accomplish your aims. It means replacing brute force with cleverness and strategy, applying just the right pressure at the right spots to achieve the greatest possible results. It means doing your homework so that you can make the best possible decisions.

In the world of DJing these two paths are present, just like any other area of life.

If you want to learn how to DJ you can do it the hard way. You can get on Craigslist, buy some turntables, and start messing around. If you stick with it you’ll slowly start to learn a few things. Once you’ve oriented yourself you’ll be able to browse through YouTube and pick up a few tips and tricks to slowly start building your skillset. If you’re observant you can study your favorite DJs and try to emulate their style and learn by example.

There’s nothing wrong with this approach; this is the same thing music icons like Eric Clapton did when they were young kids digging through their parents record collection (minus YouTube of course). Just make sure you understand it won’t be easy. At many steps along the way you’ll get frustrated, bored, confused, and disheartened. Your dedication will be tested and you’ll have to struggle to push through the roadblocks. If you succeed though you’ll have the pride of having poured out your blood, sweat, and tears.

But then there’s the smart way to learn how to DJ. Why stumble blindly in the dark and learn everything from scratch? Why reinvent the wheel? If there was a place where people who have walked down the exact same path could share their knowledge and experiences, wouldn’t you tap into that? Learning from their mistakes would be like greasing the rails; everything would go so much smoother for you. Not to say that it would be a cakewalk, but you’d make things so much easier on yourself.

That’s exactly what DJcoursesonline.com is here to do. It’s an online DJ school that puts a wealth of DJ knowledge right at your fingertips. There’s never been a smarter way to learn how to become a DJ.

Are these 3 things holding you back from learning how to DJ?

I recently read an article in Psychology Today called “8 Mistakes That Hold You Back From The Life You Want.”Even though it was written in a broad, generic sense to apply to any reader, it really struck me how most of the items were incredibly relevant to those learning how to DJ. I’d like to share a few of these obstacles from the article and the lessons I took away because I think it could provide that extra little push of inspiration some of the new DJs out there are looking for.

Thinking you need to be “ready” or perfect or the best

This is so pervasive in the DJ world. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to who don’t take those first steps to becoming a real professional DJ because they’re worried that they’re not good enough. The DJ world is full of countless people who just play in their basements and bedrooms but don’t reach out for gigs, or who won’t even perform for other people, because they’re worried that they’re not ready.

They compare themselves to their DJ idols and criticize themselves for coming up short. News flash: of course you come up short! These people have dedicated years to their craft. But guess what? They started off on the ground floor, just like you. They had to work hard and sacrifice and claw their way towards the top. There’s no shame in not being as good as you want, because everyone has to start at the bottom. The only shame is not starting today and giving yourself the opportunity to improve. And that’s the best part: by starting today, you WILL improve!

Worrying about money

This one is huge. How many times have you heard someone say “I love DJing but I’ve got bills to pay!” Or how many of us have parents who say “You should go to law school and get a good job!” Money is quite possibly the biggest barrier that prevents us from doing the things we’re truly passionate about.

Ten years from now, a lot of your friends are going to have good jobs, nice homes, and happy families…and feel totally unfulfilled. Just last night I was speaking to a friend with a good corporate job who wishes that he would have become a carpenter because he loves working with his hands. He realizes now that while everyone used to tell him that he would make more money by getting a suit-and-tie job, today he would gladly trade in the higher paycheck to be able to do what he truly loves.

So for all of you aspiring DJs out there, take my advice: allow yourself to do the work that you truly love.

Thinking you’ll have to do it all yourself

Many beginning DJs look at the path towards success and get intimated. It looks like such a long and difficult journey. Plus, since DJing hasn’t been around for very long, at least not as long as other instruments like the guitar or piano, we still have the voices of the original pioneers who invented the art. We hear stories about how difficult the early days were when these guys were creating a brand new art form, and it wasn’t that long ago.

The fact of the matter is it’s never been easier to learn how to DJ. Whereas our DJ heroes had to teach themselves and stumble blindly in the dark, today we have some amazing tools at our disposal that can help speed up the learning curve. Check out DJcoursesonline.com. It’s an online DJ school where you can get world class instruction over the internet. It’s education, inspiration, guidance, and accountability all wrapped into one. For anyone who is nervous about starting the DJ journey alone, this is the easiest way to plug into a team that wants to help you succeed.

These were just three things that jumped out at me from the article, but the other five are great too, and I think they might offer some great advice for all of the aspiring DJs out there. In any case, I hope I’ve been able to share some inspiration with you, and I hope this article has encouraged you to do at least one thing today to bring you closer to fulfilling your DJ dreams.

The smart man’s way to learn how to DJ

There are two ways to do anything in life: the hard way and the smart way – including learning how to DJ

The hard way involves using brute force. It requires struggle, sacrifice, toil, and bull-headedness. Often times you’re going against the flow, or battling uphill; everything is inherently set against you. Success is not impossible. In fact if you achieve success it’ll feel incredibly satisfying because you earned it.

But there’s a much easier way to accomplish things in life called working smart. Working smart means leveraging relationships to achieve bigger things than you normally could by yourself. It means learning how to go with the flow, but gently directing it at the right times to accomplish your aims. It means replacing brute force with cleverness and strategy, applying just the right pressure at the right spots to achieve the greatest possible results. It means doing your homework so that you can make the best possible decisions.

In the world of DJing these two paths are present, just like any other area of life.

If you want to learn how to DJ you can do it the hard way. You can get on Craigslist, buy some turntables, and start messing around. If you stick with it you’ll slowly start to learn a few things. Once you’ve oriented yourself you’ll be able to browse through YouTube and pick up a few tips and tricks to slowly start building your skillset. If you’re observant you can study your favorite DJs and try to emulate their style and learn by example.

There’s nothing wrong with this approach; this is the same thing music icons like Eric Clapton did when they were young kids digging through their parents record collection (minus YouTube of course). Just make sure you understand it won’t be easy. At many steps along the way you’ll get frustrated, bored, confused, and disheartened. Your dedication will be tested and you’ll have to struggle to push through the roadblocks. If you succeed though you’ll have the pride of having poured out your blood, sweat, and tears.

But then there’s the smart way to learn how to DJ. Why stumble blindly in the dark and learn everything from scratch? Why reinvent the wheel? If there was a place where people who have walked down the exact same path could share their knowledge and experiences, wouldn’t you tap into that? Learning from their mistakes would be like greasing the rails; everything would go so much smoother for you. Not to say that it would be a cakewalk, but you’d make things so much easier on yourself.

That’s exactly what DJcoursesonline.com is here to do. It’s an online DJ school that puts a wealth of DJ knowledge right at your fingertips. There’s never been a smarter way to learn how to become a DJ.

One essential mindset change you need to make to become a DJ…

I have a lot of different interests that I’m really passionate about, and I love sharing those things by teaching other people. Over the last several years I’ve started a business consulting company, I ran a firearms instruction business, I had a resume writing service, I worked as a French tutor, and a bunch of other random endeavors too.

Through all of these different pursuits there is one big lesson that I’ve learned in each and every one: you don’t have to be the best, you just have to be better than the clients you serve.

So for example, I’m not the best French speaker in the world. I speak close to fluently, but native speakers will realize pretty fast I’m not French. With that being said, I was the best French speaker at my university and I knew I had valuable knowledge to pass on to other people, so I felt confident working as a French tutor.

The same was true for teaching firearms. I compete in shooting sports and while I’m far from the best shooter, my business was tailored towards women who wanted to learn how to shoot but were intimidated by the firearms world. For this specific group of people, I had a ton of valuable knowledge to teach and they cared less about me being the best in the world, and more about the fact that I made the information comfortable and accessible for them.

I’m sure by now you’re wondering why I’m sharing all of these personal stories. The point is tons of DJs today look at people like Deadmau5, Tiesto, or Justice and say “well I can’t work as a DJ because I’m not as good as those guys.” It’s so sad when I hear people say these things and give up before really even making an effort.

The fact of the matter is that you’re not competing against Tiesto or Deadmau5. On any given weekend, people are going to go out to dance and have a good time and somebody has to entertain them. No one is going say “That DJ was good but he’s no Tiesto. I think I’ll stay home until Tiesto comes to town.” Once again, you don’t have to be the best DJ in the world, you just have to be the best DJ in the room, or the best DJ who applies for the gig.

Now that’s not meant to be a cop-out. Obviously, you always strive to provide the highest value possible and you must constantly be honing your craft, but the point is you don’t have to be the best right out of the gate. Everyone starts at the bottom and works their way up.

The great news is today there are some amazing ways that you can speed up your progress and learn how to DJ incredibly fast. Check out our online DJ school at DJcoursesonline.com. It’s a website that offers extremely affordable lessons from expert DJs that you can follow along with right in your own home. They’ll show you everything from the right gear to buy, essential tips and techniques, to the newest trends and tricks, all to save you time and money on your journey to becoming an amazing DJ.

The point is, don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Focus on building your own skills. Work hard to become the favorite DJ at a local venue, then work towards becoming the most highly demanded DJ in your area. Then you can worry about being as good as Justice.

Did you hate studying? You won’t have that same problem in DJ school!

You might not be aware of it, but there is a revolution happening today in the American education system. You see, there is a huge problem in the way we approach education in our country. Most people divide their lives into two sections: learning and working. For the first 20 years or so of our lives we dedicate ourselves to learning things, then once we graduate from high school or college we close the school chapter of our lives and then look for a job. This now begins the work segment of our lives and we no longer think about education.

There are two huge problems with this approach to education. First of all, and most obviously, we’re never done learning. Secondly, it completely detaches people from the information that they’re learning. When people accept that their education is in the hands of their local school district or their university, they surrender ownership over what they’re learning. They accept that someone else decides what is important to study without ever really engaging on a personal level and saying “I would be fascinated to explore XYZ subject.”

The implications of these two problems are pretty horrifying when you think about it; there are a ton of people in this country who look at education as one short chapter in their lives and they don’t even play much of a personal role in the process. (Please tell me if you think I’m wrong…I hope I am!)

The great news is this is changing right in front of our eyes. The internet is literally putting all of mankind’s knowledge right at the tip of your fingers. For people who are passionate and curious, you can literally study anything that captures your imagination.

More importantly, our economy is going through monumental changes. It’s no longer a surefire bet to go to college, get a degree, land a secure job with a big company, and live out the American dream.

Young people are starting to learn that instead of following these socially accepted patterns, we have to start forging our own paths instead. We have to invest in ourselves and create our own track to success, and part of that is becoming lifelong learners. We must now be people who pick a craft and spend our lives practicing and honing our skills, not just the four years it took to get a degree.

For some people this might be an intimidating prospect, but for people out there with imagination, a spirit of independence and strong drive, and a sense of adventure, it’s fantastic news.

An awesome example of new possibilities springing up is DJcoursesonline.com. Ten years ago you would have never thought about going to school to learn how to become a DJ, but now in this new information age you can do just that. DJcoursesonline.com lets you learn from experts right from your computer, giving you the tools to create your own path to success and happiness in life. So invest in yourself, study something you’re passionate about, and blaze your own trail to becoming a DJ today.

If you want to learn how to become a DJ, this post can save you hundreds of dollars

I have a friend who started listening to electronic music because of Deadmau5 and Skrillex (don’t we all) but doesn’t know anything about DJing or how to become a DJ. Together we watched a YouTube video demoing the Ableton Push. It’s a cool video showing how modern producers create and perform music, and for people who aren’t familiar with this world it’s pretty awesome to see a grid of random lights and buttons turn into entrancing sounds right before your eyes.

That’s exactly the effect it had on my buddy. With every new progression in the song his mouth hung a little further open, and by the end he was staring wide-eyed at the screen. “That. Was. Amazing!” he exclaimed. “I want one!”

Now I’m obviously happy to see someone become interested in the DJ world and performing electronic music, but at the same time I’m a little nervous about my friend’s enthusiasm. You see, without guidance and direction I’m worried that my friend is on a dangerous path.

It’s true that the Ableton Push is a great device, but it’s six hundred bucks. For someone just starting out, that’s six hundred dollars worth of power and performance that they don’t know what to do with.

It’s kind of like when you watch a snowboarding video and see a guy on a top-of-the-line Burton board do a graceful backflip off of a thirty foot jump. People see that and think “Wow, if my snowboarding heroes ride Burtons, I better get one too.” But obviously owning the same gear won’t yield the same results without the years of practice and dedication to go along with it.

The same is true for the Ableton Push; without the knowledge to use it, it’ll quickly turn into an expensive paperweight.

A far better approach is to buy something simple, cheap, or even used so that you can build your skills while making sure that this is something that you truly have the passion and desire to pursue. As you get better, you’ll understand exactly what your needs and preferences are so that you can buy more expensive equipment that fits your tastes, and you’ll be able to get the most out of it.

Another way to make sure you don’t waste money on gear that you’re not ready for is by learning from people who have gone through the same learning process. Guys who have been there and done it can tell you what essential equipment you should invest your money in. “Skip this device, skimp on this controller, splurge on this software.” They can help you avoid the pitfalls of enticing gear that you simply don’t need while knowing when to spend money on things that you can grow into.

One great resource that does just that is our DJ training videos at DJcoursesonline.com. It’s an online DJ school that will teach you everything you need to know about how to DJ. It’s very affordable, but if it helps you avoid buying just one piece of equipment that you wouldn’t have needed, it’ll more than pay for itself.

Forget law school. DJ school can help you make a living by doing something you love

Wondering how DJ school can transform your life? Here’s a story that I’m sure many of you can relate to:

I graduated from college with a degree in International Relations. In Spokane, Washington. At the height of the economic crisis. So there I am with an IR degree in a city with no international business in an economy where no one was hiring.

So, of course I did the logical thing and went to grad school. I figured I’d wait out the recession and graduate into a better economy with an MBA and therefore greater earning power.

It wasn’t until after I earned this second degree that I stumbled across this fantastic article by Seth Godin. To summarize, he pretty much says that rather than going into more debt to get a degree you don’t really want in hopes of simply making more money, why not invest in yourself by learning skills that you’re truly passionate about? He gives a list of things you could accomplish in a year in lieu of law school, and I challenge anyone to look at that list and not daydream about how awesome their life would be if they could say they’d crossed similar things off of their own bucket list.

The underlying philosophy is really inspiring. I think we all have a hypothetical “best self,” meaning if we were to live to our fullest potential, and we could make all of our wildest aspirations come to life, what would that person look like? The idea that we might have the power to do exactly that, and that we don’t need a university to give us permission to do so, is very empowering.

The great thing about this do-it-yourself approach to learning skills and building qualifications is that it’s never been easier to get good at the things you’re truly passionate about. Today you can go to TeamTreehouse.comand get a better coding and web design education for less money than you could at a four year college. You can sign up at Mixergy.com and learn real world business skills from today’s best entrepreneurs for a fraction of the cost of going to business school. And you can go to Udemy.com or Khan Academy and learn just about any subject you want from the comfort of your own home.

And now for the first time, if you want to learn how to become a DJ, there’s DJcoursesonline.com.

It used to be that people would watch their favorite DJs on stage entertaining and mesmerizing their audiences, and they’d say “Wow, I want to learn how to do that.” They’d rush out and buy some equipment, play around with it for a while, but just as quickly they’d get frustrated or lose interest and then move onto the next thing. This is how it goes with all musical instruments; just think about how many of your friends have a dusty guitar sitting in the corner.

With DJcoursesonline.com though, you can learn from expert DJs from day one, not to mention in the comfort of your own home, and at extremely affordable prices. So, if like me and like countless other young people across the country, you’re trying to figure out what to do with your future, why not invest in yourself and make your wildest aspirations come to life? If you dream of bringing crowds to their feet as a DJ, don’t settle and get a degree you don’t need, set yourself up for success, get expert training online, and make your dreams come true!

This one thing is absolutely essential to learn how to become a DJ…

There are so many different aspects of learning to become a DJ that you need to master: skills, style, equipment, performance, personality.

There’s one more thing that belongs on this list that I rarely hear people talk about, and that is mentorship.

I’m not really sure why I don’t hear more people talk about it because for other instruments it’s an absolute necessity.

Take the guitar for example. Ask any famous guitarist how they learned to play and nearly every one will rattle off the names of their teachers over the years. While all of us know friends who teach themselves how to play guitar in their living room, it’s actually very rare that guitarists get to the highest levels of the music industry without having a teacher somewhere along the way.

Unfortunately, this is an approach to learning DJing that many people completely miss out on. Most aspiring DJs go to shows and watch their favorite artists or see awesome performances on YouTube and are inspired to stumble their way through the world of DJing too. That’s great, I love seeing people’s passion as they learn the ropes on their own.

It’s frustrating though because I know that if these people would take the time to seek out DJs that could take them under their wing, a lot of these folks could accelerate their progress by an enormous margin.

Some of you might be reading this and thinking “That sounds great. I’d love to find a DJ mentor, but there’s not a big DJ scene in my town.” Or for others maybe you’re not sure how to go about connecting with these people.

The good news is that today it’s easier than ever.

Take forums for example. Two great forums are DJTechTools.com and DJforums.com. These are places where you can meet like minded people, ask questions, and learn from DJs who might be a few more steps down the road than you are. It’s a great way to share knowledge, make friends, and even get inspiration. Tapping into a network of people who are seeking to accomplish the same things you are is incredibly empowering.

And of course, there’s our online school for learning how to DJ – another great resource to tap into knowledge, but more concise and powerful than forums. Once you sign up you’ll have access to tons of classes on just about every subject that a DJ would need to know. If you think that mentorship could help you take your DJ game to the next level but aren’t sure how to find it, DJcoursesonline.com could be just the answer you’re looking for.