Believe me, I'm no expert myself but...I take it you know about phrases? That's somewhere to start.
In the beginning, DJ Recession's site was a bible for me. See what you can learn from what he says.
Listen to your music. Ram it into your head on your MP3 player but also set out "quality" listening time when you really pay attention to your music and imagine good places to mix.
Get out more. How does the DJ at your local club mess you about. When does he take you down and up? People think they want it that way but nobody can take 148 BPM all night. You've got to take them there.
Listen to mix tapes by the experts. Analise where they go with the music.
One thing I noticed too..I got a decent set going at home alone, I recorded it and was quite happy with myself but when I got 30 guys and gals round to my place to party, it bombed. Know what you want to do with the music/set. Listening to yourself chilling out with your MP3 is one thing, getting tight hotpants (I live in Brazil) jigging in front of you is another.
I'm no expert but....this is how I'm learning.
Above all, stick at it, experiment, practice and ENJOY IT!

quote:

Originally posted by khaele Know what I mean?

not exactly, but I think you mean, how do you get to know your tracks? Its just practice and listening to your tracks a lot (which comes with practice). As you listen to your tracks you'll learn what goes with what (or you could learn harmonic mixing, sticky at the top) and you'll also learn how the songs are structured. Theres no other way to do it apart from listen and practice.

Firstly learn about phrases, that will go a long way to helping you learn the structure of tracks (if you don't learn phrases you will suck as a dj, put simply).

And yes, keep practising because it will come. Some people learn quickly some not so quick, but even if you don't realise it you are becoming better every time you play as you pick up more and more. Don't expect to be Sasha after a week, thats what people selling TTs on ebay thought.

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**Man I'm Pretty**

Yeah I dont know crap about phrasing. I have another post and I tried to ask about such. We will see where that topic goes...

taking a class in music theory could really help...solves all the phrasing, harmonic mixing problems...plus, u'll develop a better ear for sound

People have touched upon some of the technical points but there is also a lot to be said for knowing when to drop a track.

It's sounds like you are new to this or at least relatively so.

Something new guys often get wrong is having the patience to allow a track to do what it was meant to and are just too eager to start mixing. Don't rush to mix. It's better you start off by mixing the ends of tracks with the begginings and then build on that. You will find that your mixes will improve and you will learn when the final phrases of a track starts.

As a rule (but not always) if you feel you have to mix out after the first break you probably shouldn't have played the track at all. There are creative exceptions but generally speaking.

Cheers
Nem

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https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/

It's been a while since I've been there and I've just remembered it's not DJ Recession but Recess. Link

http://www.recess.co.uk

I found it about the best site for beginners as had the patience to explain the elementary stuff in great detail. He even describes what "the point" to DJing is.

Good luck