DJs: Better to be Great at One Style, or Just Good at Some?

**Connor** · 07-06-2012, 12:08 AM

My problem is I tend to genre hop so much that I want to try all sorts of genres because I love so many but never end up getting good at them. I'm a * hardcore DJ and that's what I truly love and what I actually stick with, nothing else I actually mix other than that to be honest.

**b.c.** · 07-06-2012, 01:02 AM

for me its not about mastering a mixing style but keeping up with the new releases. i am only a hobbyist and work a regular job, so sometimes it's hard finding time to listen to the new stuff from the labels i follow, much less explore all the genres i love. i need to start taking 4 day weekends i guess

**AdrianR** · 07-06-2012, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by propertrax

It's not all that difficult to be good at many styles. The biggest problem with the majority of DJs these days is that they are one-trick ponies that can't go beyond their tiny little slice of sub-genre. They're scared of beatmatching, they're scared of scratching, they're scared of not being able to see the music, and they're scared of their own shitty inability to select a wide variety of music. They don't understand tension, pacing, builds, or troughs.

In other words, excelling at one particular "style" does not stop you from excelling at multiple styles, even within the same set. 99.5% of dance music, especially electronic dance music, is made with a 4/4 time signature (no, I don't mean a straight four-to-the-floor beat). If the tracks are the same tempo, it doesn't matter if one is a straight kick and the other has a broken pattern...if you know how to match with other sounds, and the tracks rhythmically and harmonically fit, then you can make it happen. And even if it is an odd time signature or changes tempo, if you're good, you can make it work.

Just excel at being a DJ, first and foremost. There's a million "prog house," "dubstep" or "techno" DJs out there, what is going to make you stand out doing the same shit as everyone else? You're "exceptional" (in your own mind) taste and selection of a relatively limited pool of tunes in that style, or your ability to cross boundaries and mix the unexpected (on top of having exceptional taste)?

Don't be a pony, be a DJ.

I was thinking exactly that! ... I think what Medium and what period in time you started as a Dj also plays a big part in the path you take. I remember having a mix jam with an American Dj once and, it was proper old school "Lets out do eachother" mix jam! And I fucking LOVED IT! ... That was 2 years ago. Since then the only Dj who will have that kind of
session with me is my friend Arron. Both are over 30 years old! New guys, forget it! .. They can't handle it. They are so, sheltered!

Different genres have different sounds and grooves and vibes. Because of this they have different skills and techniques that play to the benefit of those sounds and vibes and help acheive the desired groove. Eg: A smoothe, beat matched, long fade in and out for that realllly deep house, laid back, drift out of your mind styled set, as opposed to the many ins and outs and drops of say a Psy Trance set designed to get you rocking along. Now, if you learn techniques from both you can apply them to eachother until you develop your own sound. Furthermore, you can apply them to your overall set and intermix these genres so that your no longer just playing a set at a 'night', but you are playing a PARTY. There is a huge difference between a night and a party. Shit Dj's will always be stuck in the confides of 'nights'... Saturday Night. Another Minimal/ Prog set with 3/4 of the same songs you played last week to the same people at the same time slot saying the same shit on Face book the next day. ... Compared to, Saturday night. Your mate plays a prog set, you're playing Prog and suddenly theres some breaks slammed in, your mate picks up on it, he's not afraid, he breaks out his breaks, pumps some electro into it, set times have gone out the window, it's a big free for all with every Dj involved out doing the last, crowd picks up that they are hearing experimental shit and loving, and you REMEMBER it, as a party.

**Bassline Brine** · 07-08-2012, 05:22 AM

As others have somewhat stated, I don't think setting yourself as a "specialist" in a genre makes you, or really breaks you. I'm writing this in the eyes of a club kind of DJ, as I'm sure mobile DJing is a different ballgame altogether, and I'm not honestly that familiar with it. But I'm sure many of the same tenants hold true.

The thing is technical skill wise, you should always be pushing your boundaries and trying to do your best. Be it any style of music, you should be pretty decent at mixing it if you give any effort if you consider yourself a good DJ. Personally, I honestly love a lot of different genre's. And so I like to spin a lot of different genre's, because to me spinning is the epitome of being able to enjoy the music I like to listen to, more. Technical skill wise, spinning tunes of any given type should be second nature to someone who is really passionate about DJing. You should be able to step up to any kind of set, even if you're not super familiar with the tracks, and do a decent job. At least with EDM if you understand the phrasing and how the tracks are structured... which you probably should, if you're spinning EDM.

The "specialist" thing really comes down to the selection aspect of what you play.

For instance, one of my buddies is an absolute DnB fanatic, and knows more than I could possibly ever hope to know about it. And the depth that he can dig or just know tracks, works out really well in his favor. Selection is such a huge part of DJing and it's overlooked by so many people who just play "what's hot" I feel. Whereas I'm pretty sure I'd outmatch his knowledge in breaks or dubstep honestly. Does it make me a better DJ than him? Not at all.

It just means that we're both suited for spinning different things because of our knowledge of tracks.

A lot of time and effort should go into track selection. And it's really is what makes one DJ stand out above another, besides some technical tricks some folks can pull off (turntablism or controllerism for that matter). When someone really knows their music well, and has a deep pool to draw from, it shows. And some of the best DJ's are masters of this, being able to put together and make connections with awesome tracks that a crowd might not have thought of, and just really kill it.

Just putting yourself into one specific niche is fine if that's really what you want to be playing out. But I would like to think that a lot of people like to branch out. If you have a residency, that's one thing if it caters to a specific clientele. But most of the better DJ's I know (whom aren't celebrity producers) can and do play different stuff depending on what's needed. It may be specific to the evening they are playing at, and they probably have a few genre's that they prefer.

It's an interesting concept

**moyo wilde** · 07-08-2012, 09:46 AM

the question is horribly biased/framed.

**djshire** · 07-08-2012, 06:54 PM

Originally, when I got into djing, I was focused only on uplifting trance. Then I did some research, heard other genres and sub-genres, and branched out. Now I'm also into house, techno, hard dance, hardcore, rave, dnb....its a long list.....but my main focus is still trance.

**Buddy McKarthur** · 07-09-2012, 12:06 AM

Personally, it would be more convenient for me to be just good or at least experienced in many genres instead of the best at one...and of course it depends on the genre. I would like to be able to play acid house at a night club and then turn around and play happy hardcore at a rave and then go to a festival and play dubstep (although I usually don't play dubstep)...I just prefer a well rounded DJ over one who is ridiculously good at only one genre. However, it wouldn't be hard to be great at most genres...I'm sure there are DJs out there who can mix all genres perfectly and work well with all types of EDM or hip hop or whatever it may be

**disparate** · 07-09-2012, 04:19 AM

Just depends on your style and what you're into to be honest.

As an example 2 of my favourite DJs are two Bens - Ben Klock and Ben UFO. The former one can be relied on to play a set of exceptional, solid techno and the latter plays right across the board going between house, garage, techno, "bass", dubstep, etc. I like each for their own reasons.

Personally I tend to play house and techno first and foremost but it's certainly not the only music in my crate.

**Austin GoGreen** · 07-09-2012, 07:47 AM

Being good at everything will def make you more well-rounded, particualry as a club dj. Your average club dj should be able to play popular music plus have his own style of selection/crowd control. You're going to stay busy this way and make more money (unless you're a phenom like guetta lol).

If I could start all over, I think I would try to master only one genre - For me, funky house.