Harvey Goldfinch
patreon
DJ Tutorial - Rekordbox Prep + Tempo & Key Fundamentals
🕑 Added 2025-07-30 20:39:42 +0000 UTCHere we gooo! My first DJ tutorial in 14 years. It's sorta mad that I haven't delved into this at all on the Patreon before but now it's finally time to get stuck in. This is part 1 of what will be a many-part series taking you through every step you need to take to become a quality-ass DJ.
As always feel free to shoot questions in the comments for me to get back to about anything!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:21 - Sourcing music
04:02 - Introduction to Rekordbox’s layout
06:42 - My keyboard shortcuts setup
10:41 - Difference between hot cues & memory cues + quantize explanation
16:02 - Discussing tempo + adjusting the beat grid
21:44 - Adjusting the beat grid for tracks the change tempo partway
25:20 - Exporting to a USB + why having a good USB is important
27:40 - What tracks will work well together? - Tempo
29:16 - What tracks will work well together? - Tempo: Use of “Master Tempo”
34:36 - What tracks will work well together? - Keys: The Harmonic Mixing Wheel
39:24 - What tracks will work well together? - Keys: Brief analysis of key jumps in Tokyo set
45:51 - How to determine the key of a track
51:19 - Outro + what’s on the next tutorial
As mentioned in the key section of the video, I've attached a folder of those simple piano notes, indicators and spacers to help organise your playlists too.
Comments
Harvey Goldfinch
I'm actually planning a tutorial analysing the Tokyo set since the full set is available on here with video. That way I can explain the setlist, transitions and what actually happened in real time
FloofTheFox
I have an idea for when you start making the set. idk if you would be able to but you could use the setlist you make in a future video, in an actual set so you can use it to show that it works and why it works. I love this tutorial idea and I hope it to both, get people into DJing and to assist people to become more advanced DJs!
Harvey Goldfinch
Thanks! I’m glad it was helpful. I’ll keep the thing about fakeouts in mind for those future vids
Brandon
Really great video! I seriously cannot wait until future parts where you show some mixing on decks. I would love to see you mention how to handle fakeouts. I have a lot of tunes that have fakouts before the drop that range from 2-8 bars. I seriously appreciate you being thorough and detailed with your videos, the quality does not go unnoticed. I really want to flex my DJ skills in front of my friends lmao. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to learn how to DJ and get good enough to play clubs! (after learning how to produce too)
