making a tune selection

[Hircine]

easy.

I just started mixing, still learning how to make smooth transitions, riding the eqs and faders et coetera. Question is, how do you choose tunes when playing a set? Do you play tunes that mix well into each other, tunes that you like, tunes that you feel that will get the crowd moving? Should I plan my set earlier?

tldr need advice on how to choose tunes for sets.

big up and thank you in advance!

[Maxxan]

The best thing is obviously not to plan a whole set, rather maybe a couple mini mixes. It might turn out that the place you're going to is a completely different crowd and you have to switch styles. A good trick is to practice a couple mini-mixes of 3 or 4 tracks that go well together and transition smoothly. So if the set goes to shit and you need to switch it up you can have a couple of quick mixes in different styles you can try out. get a few minutes to breathe and think about your next tracks etc, and see how that goes down. It's different if you're not playing a club though and doing a gig as yourself, then I guess you can be a bit more picky about your tunes but if everyone leaves it's not a good show even though you did the worlds greatest mashup haha.

And I don't know if you noticed but a lot mixes have pretty sloppy transitions at times, even in professional mixtapes. Doesn't always have to match up perfectly with pitch etc, most people won't mind that much imho.


Other than that though I'm a shit DJ so don't listen to me, lol.

[Huts]

It's hard to say where to 'start' when learning to mix, I'd honestly just say start with your favorite tunes. The more you mix the more you'll build up knowledge of certain tunes that work well together (your go-to double drops etc) and tunes that don't. The only thing that is for certain during a set is having a tune or two to slow down the dance floor, and a few tunes that you know will kill it to pack the floor again. Aside from that try and read the crowd and see what they react to to determine where your set will go.

Know your music inside and out that way you can know which tunes to go to next when you see a reaction from the dancefloor. Know the crowd your playing for as well. Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment and take sets in directions that you wouldn't expect (this is also why having a go-to dancefloor filer is nice when no ones feeling where you're trying to take the set lol).

[bl0rg]

Think about the tunes i want to play, then establish key, then how to best make them flow.

[adover]

Play what you like, practice hard - the rest pulls itself together

[dublerium]

Firstly it depends if your playing out or not. If i'm playing out i'll have a few tracks I know i'll play, some blends I know will work but then I think it's good to just decide there and then. I don't always pick tracks I think will work together tonally or element wise, sometimes picking contrasting tracks like this can reap good results; I think you naturally get a feel for when you can make things work and when they just won't.

I've never bothered with key or anything like that, I just pick things I know i'd personally like to hear mixed together, sounds simple but that's my approach. I have in the past had a basis for a mix laid out so there is going to be more energy in some sections that others, then just pick some tunes spur of the moment in between.

Best thing to do is just keep doing it, just keep mixing and you'll gradually grow an ear for what sore of thing you enjoy hearing in the mix and this will lead you to an effective selection process.