How to Practice a New DJ Skill

This is how I learn a new skill. Pick one thing. Drill it slow with a metronome. Only speed up when it's clean.

1. 1

   Pick one drill

   One move, not a whole routine. A chirp. A clean 8-bar blend. One juggle pattern.

2. 2

   Start slow, with a metronome

   Set a metronome or a loop slow enough that you can do it clean. Slow is fine. Sloppy is not.

3. 3

   Get it down

   Run it over and over at that tempo until it's clean every time, not most of the time.

4. 4

   Speed it up

   Bump the tempo a little. Still clean? Bump it again. Falls apart? Drop back down.

5. 5

   Record it and listen back

   Your phone is fine. You'll hear things you can't hear while your hands are busy.

6. 6

   Ask for feedback

   Show someone who knows. Or send it to me.

Stuff to practice with

• 90 and 93 BPM loops in the free scratch pack.
• A follow-along drill: baby scratch in 10 minutes.