Fundamentals
Everything you must master before calling yourself a DJ.
Beatmatching, EQ, track structure, reading the crowd: the basics are non-negotiable. This pillar lays the foundations — the ones the VYBZ-CERTIFIED exam will ask you to prove.
★ Test yourself — the pillar quiz →Courses — live
How do you become a DJ?
Gear, budget, how long it takes, first gigs: the honest guide to becoming a DJ in 2026, by Dirty Swift, professional DJ and author of "Culture DJ" (Larousse).
9 min read · Updated 2026-07-02
How do you build a set that holds a room?
A good set isn't a pile of bangers: it's a story, with an energy arc and phases. Structure, reading the room, prepared vs improvised, by Dirty Swift, author of « Culture DJ » (Larousse).
8 min read · Updated 2026-07-03
What DJ gear do you need to start?
Controller, vinyl turntables or CDJs? The honest guide to DJ equipment for beginners in 2026: what to buy, what to avoid, and the 10 dates that shaped modern gear — by Dirty Swift, author of « Culture DJ » (Larousse).
10 min read · Updated 2026-07-03
The DJ glossary: every term you need to know
Anti-skating, cue point, drop, dubplate, white label, beat juggling… The reference DJ glossary, adapted from the glossary of « Culture DJ » (Larousse) by its author Dirty Swift. Every term defined in plain language.
8 min read · Updated 2026-07-03
What is harmonic mixing — and should you use it?
Mixing tracks in compatible keys with the Camelot wheel: what harmonic mixing is, how to use it, and when it's useless. By Dirty Swift, author of « Culture DJ » (Larousse).
7 min read · Updated 2026-07-03
What is beatmatching?
Beatmatching — locking two tracks to the same tempo, by ear — is the DJ's number one skill. Definition, step-by-step learning method, the SYNC button debate and harmonic mixing, by Dirty Swift, author of « Culture DJ » (Larousse).
9 min read · Updated 2026-07-03