How Do I Mix Music Without Knowing the Beats Per Minute?

To be honest there is no real way of knowing how to mix songs without at least having a sense of how fast the song plays. You might not know the exact BPM, but after trying to mix some different songs together and actually calculating the BPM of at least a handful of records then you don't have a reference point.

You need to at least calculate the BPM of some records in order to have a reference point so you know when you hear a record play you can estimate the BPM of it.

This really comes with knowing your records and the only way to know your records is to play them. If you don't take the time to get to know your records then there is no point in DJing.

What do I mean when I say "know your records"?

When you know your records I mean you know the song and can repeat it. When you know your records you also know the following:

1. The name of the record label

2. The artists

3. The producer of the song

4. The way the song begins

5. The way the song ends

6. How fast or slow the song plays

7. If the song is one that gets people to dance

8. If the song has breaks in it or the point where only the drums play.

9. If the song is only a quick transition song or if the song can be played for an extended period of time without getting boring.

10. Does the song offer the opportunity to scratch over it?

11. Does the song offer the opportunity to make a great mix?

This is what getting to know your records means. By definition a DJ is supposed to know the first three items on the list down pat.

1. The name of the record label

2. The artists

3. The producer of the song

People will want to know the names of the songs, who the artists are and sometime the record label.

You will find that when you play records people will come up to you and ask you. "What is the name of that song?" Your answer should roll off your tongue.

When you get to the point of knowing your records you will inherently have an idea of the BPM in order to mix just about any song you want. This, however, does not happen overnight and it will take some time.

I find that the best DJ's naturally have a sense of time and rhythm and can almost instantly pick up any record and mix it after they've listened to the first few bars of the song.

Fortunately for you this can be taught by simply listening to a song and clapping your hands to the beat.

This may sound basic but understanding this simple concept and applying it to other songs you will find that you start bobbing your head and then bouncing your whole body to the beat of a song.

Unfortunately from my experience even the most enthusiastic music lovers don't necessarily have a sense of rhythm and if this is the case with you don't despair. Read the earlier section on calculating BPM's for a better understanding.

Sterling is an article marketer and SEO enthusiast. He has been marketing online since 2003 in many disciplines. Visit his latest websites at http://www.discountkitchensinks.net which helps people decide among popular brands of discount kitchen sinks.