CGFA DJ Video Course

From your first controller to a recorded mix and your first paid gig

Level: From scratch
12 hours including exercises
10 lessons in 3 levels
2 free lessons

Start the first lesson Unlock the course

Who it is for

Complete beginners, music lovers, bedroom DJs ready to play out, anyone who wants to mix like a pro

What you need to start

A laptop (Windows, Mac or Linux) with a free USB port
A pair of closed-back headphones, even a cheap pair to start with
A good ear and plenty of curiosity: you do not need to read music or play an instrument
Time to practise: twenty minutes a day beats three hours once a week

What to install

Mixxx (free, open source)Download it free from mixxx.org. The stable 2.5 series is the safe choice for live use at the time of writing; a 2.6 version was in testing, so always check the download page for the current release

rekordbox (free to start)Pioneer DJ's software can be downloaded free and used for preparing your library; some performance features need a paid plan. Check the official page for what the free tier includes today

VirtualDJ and Serato DJ LiteVirtualDJ has a free version for home use. Serato DJ Lite is free and works with many beginner controllers. Always read the licence terms before you play a paid gig

A 2-channel DJ controllerAny beginner controller with two decks, a mixer section and a headphone output. Many come with a software licence in the box

Closed-back headphones and speakersClosed-back headphones so you can hear the next track over the room. Small powered monitor speakers or a Bluetooth-free amplified speaker for home practice

What it is for

Resident DJ in bars, pubs and restaurants
Club and warm-up sets in cities like London, Manchester or New York
Weddings, birthdays and private events
Radio shows, streaming and mix series online
Content for social media and your own events

Course syllabus

10 lessons in 3 levels. Every lesson: video, explanation, exercise with solution and quiz.

Beginner

Gear, software, music structure and your first beatmatch

1What is a DJ and what do you need to start?Understand what a DJ really does, where DJs work, and choose a minimum setup and free software to begin.Free20 min 2Your setup: decks, mixer and libraryConnect your gear, understand decks and mixer controls, and build a clean, legal music library.Free25 min 3Understanding the structure of a trackCount beats and phrases, recognise the sections of a track, and know the typical tempo of each genre.25 min 4BeatmatchingMatch the tempo of two tracks by ear and with the grid, and know when to use sync and when not to.30 min

Intermediate

Levels, EQ, transitions, cues, loops and effects

1Levels, gain and EQSet the gain correctly, keep the meters out of the red, and use the three-band EQ and the bass swap.25 min 2TransitionsUse five types of transition and always mix phrase to phrase.30 min 3Hot cues, loops and effectsSet hot cues on key points, extend an intro with a loop, use a loop roll and add tempo-synced effects with taste.30 min

Advanced

Harmony, live sets, recording and working as a DJ

1Harmony and planning your setUse musical keys and the Camelot wheel, shape an energy curve and prepare more tracks than you need.30 min 2Playing live and reading the roomPlan warm-up, prime time and closing, handle requests, prepare for problems and use the microphone, while protecting your hearing.30 min 3Recording, publishing and working as a DJRecord a clean mix, publish it legally, understand music rights in general terms, and start promoting yourself.30 min

Final project: Your 30-minute recorded mix

Record a 30-minute mix with 8 to 10 tracks, a planned energy curve, a tracklist with BPM and key, and at least three different types of transition.

The steps

Choose a style and a mood (for example warm house for a Friday night in a bar).
Pick 12 to 15 tracks you own and analyse their BPM and key.
Choose the best 8 to 10 and put them in an order that builds an energy curve.
Set hot cues and check the beat grid on every track.
Plan at least three different transitions (for example a long blend, a filter and an echo out).
Record the mix in WAV, keeping the meters out of the red.
Listen back, write the final tracklist with times, and note what you would improve.

Exam and certificate

At the end of the course you take the exam: 15 questions, you need 75% correct answers. Pass it and you get a printable certificate with your name, hours, score and a verification code anyone can check.

Go to the exam

Glossary: DJ · English

BPM: Beats per minute: how fast a track is.
Bar: A group of four beats in most dance music.
Phrase: A group of bars, usually 8, 16 or 32, where changes in the music happen.
Cue: A marker on a track, or the function that lets you preview a deck in your headphones.
Hot cue: A saved marker you can jump to instantly with a pad.
Loop: A section of a track that repeats until you release it.
Gain: The input level of a deck before the channel fader.
EQ: Equalizer: controls for the low, mid and high parts of the sound.
Crossfader: A slider that blends between the left and right deck.
Beatmatching: Matching the tempo of two tracks so their beats land together.
Key: The musical key of a track, used to choose tracks that sound good together.
Drop: The moment when the beat and bass return strongly after a break.

The first 2 lessons are free

For the full course, schools and companies: ask for terms.

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