The short answer: To beatmatch by ear, start the new track on the beat in your headphones, then compare its kick drum with the track that's playing. If the kicks drift apart or sound like galloping, adjust the pitch fader. Use the jog wheel to nudge it back in line, and repeat until the beats stay locked.
Before you start
- Pick two tracks with a similar BPM and a clear, simple kick drum. House or techno tracks with a plain intro are ideal.
- Turn sync off and, for practice, cover the BPM numbers on screen if you can. You want to train your ears.
- Put your headphones on one ear and leave the other ear free to hear the speakers.
Step by step
- Play track one out loud through the speakers.
- Cue track two in your headphones. Find the first kick drum and set a cue point on it.
- Start track two on a beat. Press play on the cue point exactly as a kick lands in track one. You can also let go of the jog wheel in time with the beat.
- Listen to both kicks. With one ear on the headphones and one on the speakers, compare the two beats.
- Work out which track is faster. If the new track's kick starts creeping ahead, it's too fast. If it falls behind, it's too slow.
- Adjust the pitch fader. Move it a small amount in the right direction. Small moves are better than big ones.
- Nudge with the jog wheel. The pitch fader fixes the speed, but the beats may still be slightly apart. Touch the outer edge of the jog wheel to speed up or slow down for a moment, pulling the beats back together.
- Keep listening. If they drift again, make another small pitch adjustment. Repeat until the kicks stay together for several bars.
What does galloping mean?
When two kicks are almost, but not quite, together, you hear a double hit: a quick "ba-dum, ba-dum" like a horse galloping. That sound tells you the beats are slightly apart. When they're perfectly matched, the two kicks merge into one solid thump.
| What you hear | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One solid kick | Matched | Keep listening |
| Galloping double kick | Slightly out of phase | Nudge with the jog wheel |
| Kicks slowly drifting apart | Tempo is different | Adjust the pitch fader |
| Kicks clashing completely | Badly out | Restart from the cue point |
Common beginner mistakes
- Moving the pitch fader too far. Tiny moves make a big difference.
- Using the pitch fader to line up beats. The fader sets the speed; the jog wheel sets the position.
- Grabbing the top of the jog wheel. On many controllers, the top surface stops or scratches the track. Use the outer edge to nudge.
- Watching the screen instead of listening. The waveforms help, but your ears are the real test.
Practice tip Use the same two tracks for a week. Once you know them well, it's much easier to hear when something drifts.
Get feedback as you learn
The hardest part of learning alone is knowing whether you're hearing it right. In our Starter course, a working DJ sits with you, at home or online, and helps you hear the difference. Not sure which course fits? Try the course chooser.