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Starting to DJ today no longer requires thousands of euros or a sophisticated studio. An affordable controller, a computer and an internet connection are enough to begin your first hours of practice. That said, learning how to mix is not just about lining up tracks or clicking the “sync” button. It is about understanding a culture, a history, a scene that was built in underground clubs, activist collectives, alternative parties, and communities that invented and sustained house, techno, disco and much more. Respecting this history means respecting the artists, the venues, the collectives and the audiences who carried these sounds long before they ended up on algorithm-driven platforms.
Learn about the culture
Today, there are many free resources to learn about this culture, including interviews, documentaries and articles that explain how these genres emerged, how they travelled through cities such as Chicago, Detroit, New York, Berlin or Paris, and how they became spaces of freedom and resistance. This is not an optional add-on to DJing, it is its backbone.
Choosing your gear without breaking the bank
For beginners, there are several DJ controllers that offer essential features without costing a fortune. A recent selection of beginner-friendly controllers under €250 shows that it is possible to get simple, portable and efficient equipment to learn the fundamentals of mixing, such as beatmatching, transitions and the use of effects. Among the most frequently recommended models are controllers compatible with popular DJ software while remaining easy to use.
English language guides on DJ controllers often recommend devices such as the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4, the Numark Mixtrack Pro or the Hercules DJControl Inpulse, which are cited as particularly accessible for beginners, offering jog wheels, faders, pads and integration with DJ software.
To choose your first controller, you can consult comparison guides such as those from MusicRadar or Stars-Music, which review options for beginners in 2025 and 2026 and explain the differences between models depending on budget and use.
When it comes to software, there are free or very affordable options. Mixxx is a free and open-source DJ software that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and supports many controllers, making it a solid choice if you want to avoid paying for a subscription or license right away.
Free resources to learn how to mix
The internet is full of tutorials that allow you to learn how to mix without paying for private lessons. YouTube, for example, offers dozens of channels that explain the basics of DJing, how a controller works, how to align tempos or how to use effects.
Specialised electronic music media also produce educational content. Resident Advisor publishes articles and masterclasses focused on DJ culture and technique, while Electronic Beats has released educational formats in which DJs share their approach to mixing. These platforms do not only explain how to mix, they also explain why. This helps put the music you play into its cultural and social context.
Many DJs you admire also share tips, breakdowns or glimpses of their techniques on social media or in videos. Observing how they select tracks, connect ideas and build energy is a form of free mentorship.
Practising first for your close circle, then for an audience
Before thinking about clubs or official events, practice should be humble and gradual. Mixing for your family or friends during a casual gathering or a private party is an essential step to learn how to feel a dancefloor, manage an atmosphere and react to what real people, not a timeline, express with their bodies and movements.
After that stage, you can look into whether bars or neighbourhood venues host nights where local DJs play, or whether some bars lend or rent their equipment for trial sessions. This kind of infrastructure exists in many cities, sometimes through music collectives that want to support emerging DJs.
We wrote an article about not skipping essential steps before your first big gig.
The importance of going out and immersing yourself in the scene
Reading about music is one thing, but being present in local scenes is another. Going out to clubs, attending nights organised by collectives you admire, dancing, allows you to understand how a dancefloor reacts to a selection, how a crowd experiences energy, and how a DJ builds, shapes and respects space. The scene is a living ecosystem, and engaging with it gives you a sensitivity that practice alone cannot provide.
Supporting the collectives or clubs you aspire to play for changes your relationship with music. This is not superficial networking, it is about becoming part of a community and understanding the codes, values and stories that matter to the people there. It is one of the deepest ways to learn how to play with others and for others.
Always credit producers
Every time you play a track, whether live or in an online playlist, clearly crediting the producer is not just a technical best practice, it is a way of recognising the artistic work behind each piece of music. On streaming platforms, in the tracklists you publish, in set descriptions, sharing this information shows respect and gives visibility to artists who often do not receive enough of it.
We invite you to read an article that goes deeper into the importance of crediting producers.
Keeping passion ahead of the urgency to make a living from DJing
Wanting to make a living from DJing is a respectable goal, but forcing things at the expense of your passion or your artistic identity can suffocate precisely what could make you unique. The current market is saturated with DJs who sound alike and play interchangeable playlists, making it increasingly difficult to break through simply by deejaying (and not producing..). Building a distinctive sonic identity, whether through your sets or potentially through your own productions, is often what truly sets an artist apart.
Over time, if you continue learning, digging for music with curiosity and acting sincerely within scenes that inspire you, opportunities can naturally emerge. DJing is both an art and a profession, and it is passion that allows you to last, not the pressure to secure gigs as quickly as possible.