If you talk to most old-school DJs about how they learned to perform, the most common answer you’ll hear back is “I taught myself” or even, “I watched a couple of videos online”.
And while this is certainly a legit and viable option that many still take up to this day, the reality is that it’s also a bit of a needless venture.
Unless you simply can’t afford to, looking into an online course to give you step-by-step lessons and instructional how-tos not only grants you actual structure, but it helps you know when you’re doing something right and when you’re doing something wrong without needing to go on stage and embarrass yourself.
Of course, not all online courses are created equal for aspiring DJs, there is no singular best DJ course and there are a ton of them out there with very little actual value or benefit.
Below, we’re going to break down and go over 7 of the best online DJ courses available to transform you, wherever you are, into a legit expert who can go out and perform in front of an audience.
Our best DJ online courses list runs the gamut, with some options being priced higher and lower than others. Consider where you’re at in your respective DJ journey and see what option will be the right one for you.
What is The Best Online DJ Course?
The one platform that has pioneered DJ courses and that has remained at the very top of the pecking order are the courses developed by Digital DJ Tips. If I were to be venturing into the world of DJing courses as a beginner I would definitely start with them, followed closely by the courses that Crossfader has on offer. But Digital DJ Tips definitely represents the gold standard of online DJ courses/
Best Online DJ Courses Uncovered
1. Digital DJ Tips
Created in 2010 by Phil Morse in Manchester, UK, Digital DJ Tips is our best DJ school. This well-established online DJ learning school has already helped over 30,000 beginner DJ students around the world.
As a former DJ, Phil Morse designed the online school for both DJs and producers as a way to get them to a professional level by teaching them all of the essentials.
These include the expected options like scratching, mixing, and beatmatching, but also things like starting your own DJ business or learning how to use DJ software.
There are at least 25 different courses, with each ranging between $297 and $497 based on their overall complexity.
The courses are based on 5 different categories: Mixing, Production, Software & Hardware, Complete, and Specialized.
The “Complete Courses” are the most expensive, being priced at $497, and are regarded as the premier flagship courses that all new and rusty DJs should invest in.
It goes over techniques and music as well as understanding your DJ gear as well and knowing how to properly promote yourself to your audience and potential clients.
One of the great things about Digital DJ Tips is the fact that, while their courses are certainly on the pricey side, they have a very wide range of options.
Seriously, there’s something for just about anyone and everyone, no matter if you’re a complete beginner or trying to get specialized training in a particular area.
One thing that’s cool is that, in addition to Phil Morse himself, some of the partnered teachers include famous DJs like DJ Jazzy Jeff, James Hype, and Laidback Luke just to name a few.
Again, the only real setback here is going to be the price. Honestly, there are other options on this list that are similarly priced with more benefits and others with similar benefits at a much more affordable price.
While I like a lot of what they’re doing, unless you want to see James Hype or feel that their courses are more tailored to what you want, I think their prices are just a bit too much to justify as a number one pick.
What We Like:
- Has Some Great DJ Teachers Lined Up
- Comes With A Stellar Industry Reputation
- Has A Ton Of Options
- Both The Specialized and Complete Courses Are Very Good
What We Do Not Like:
- Despite Having Industry Recognition, There Are No Certificates Upon Completion
- Price Is Just A Bit Too High Compared To Others On This List
2. Crossfader
Crossfader is a UK-based online DJ school that was founded in 2014 by Jamie Hartley. The online dance music DJ school is said to have a communal aspect to it that makes learning more fun and accessible compared to other online learning platforms.
This is because, in addition to going over general lessons on how to DJ, Crossfader offers both DJ equipment and software-specific DJ courses based on the type of setup you’re using and where your skills currently are.
Jamie and his team of DJs are not only experts in the field but also actively “gigging” DJs who still do performances. This shows that they know what they’re talking about and are constantly growing and improving – something that can’t be said for every other DJ course out there.
Meant to make DJing as simplistic and easy to understand as possible, Jamie and his team focus on creating very small bite-size course lessons that anyone can jump into and learn from without feeling super overwhelmed.
The lessons are also chronologically placed, meaning you’re never going to accidentally end up in a more complicated section than you’re ready for. This helps to build up your foundational skills before later getting into the more involved areas of DJing.
Crossfader comes with around 18 different lessons that, while not meant to be the end-all of your DJ journey, are meant to ensure you walk away with a real understanding of how certain DJ devices work as well as how to effectively operate them.
There are also numerous free tools and downloadable music packs available, which simply makes the experience that much easier.
For example, they offer several beatmatching tools as well as “Crossfader scratching loops” tools for those interested in beatmatching or scratching.
Some of the most popular classes include the following:
- Serato DJ Course
- Pioneer DDJ-400 Course
- Complete Scratching Course
- Pioneer XDJ Course
Overall, I think Crossfader offers a very real amount of quality for where it’s priced.
It doesn’t promise you anything extravagant but at the same time is certain to move anyone who is just getting started and doesn’t know anything about their controller, CDJ, or mixer to a competent DJ who can perform for an audience.
The only downside I see with Crossfader is that their prices are a bit steep. Unlike many of the other options on this list, Crossfader doesn’t use a subscription model for users.
Instead, you’re expected to pay for each of the lessons which can be an issue if you don’t know if the lesson itself is too easy or difficult for you.
There are around 18 courses in total with the cheapest lesson going for $80 and their most expensive priced at $125.
What We Like:
- Tons Of Controller & Device-Specific Lessons
- Perfect For DJs That Are Just Beginning
- Has Some Useful Tools Available
What We Do Not Like:
- None Of The Classes Are Particularly Thought-Proking
- Can Be Pricey If You Plan To Do Every One Of The Lesson
3. Point Blank Music School
Considered a relative staple in the DJ world, the Point Blank Music School was started originally as the Point Blank London commercial recording studio back in the early 1990s. Since then, they have grown into one of the world’s foremost music performing schools.
Unlike others on this list, Point Blank Music School has physical locations as well as online courses. Located in LA, Ibiza, Mumbai, and China, you can get a real hands-on physical lesson in addition to just going online.
While easily the most expensive option on this list, the music school offers expert-level teachers and staff that are meant to support students whether you’re at one of their physical locations or are enjoying their online services (which act very much as an online university).
The courses included going over more than just Point Blank DJ skills and DJing. They also teach students about singing, radio production, sound engineering, and the music business in general.
Simply put, though you will certainly pay more for this than any other course, you’re also getting a thoroughly holistic and in-depth course that spans the entire music industry rather than “just” about DJing.
The DJ-specific courses focus primarily on helping beginners grow and start their careers, touching on many introductory and high-level DJ techniques as well as going over things like music theory. They also make a point of teaching students about many of the industry standard tools including Pioneer DJ and their software, Rekordbox.
For more advanced lessons, Point Blank has a “Creative DJ Skills” course which is around 10 weeks long and is focused on building up creativity and experimentation while going more deeply into the different aspects of harmonic and acapella mixing.
They also have a whole section of scratching techniques as well as teaching about how to compile and edit your DJ mixes, using audio effects, and a bunch more.
Both courses can be taken either separately or as a full 6-month package known as “DJ Skills in Depth”. This goes over everything, effectively turning a complete beginner into a legitimate professional who can immediately find themselves performing in front of an audience.
If there’s any area that gives pause, it’s going to be the price.
Even though I’d argue that this is probably the best in terms of quality and what you get overall, the fact that it’s nearly $1,000 (£765 to be exact) is going to price it out of just about anyone’s range unless they already have enough money to hire a personal DJ instructor.
Still, while I can’t say it’s the absolute best due to the price, if you do have the money there’s no reason not to opt for this. Without a doubt, this is probably the option that is the most serious about transforming you into someone who can perform at the upper levels without any additional or supplemental work after the fact.
What We Like:
- Best In The Industry
- Tremendous Testimonials & Reviews
- Offers Some Incredible Music Production Crossover
- Offers A Complete Understanding Of Music, Rather Than Solely DJ Content
What We Do Not Like:
- Price May Be Too High For Most Beginner DJs
- Since It’s So New, There Aren’t Many Testimonials (Yet)
4. Pete Tong DJ Academy
One of the newer additions to this list, Pete Tong DJ Academy was launched in early April of 2022. Also known as PTDJA, the academy is regarded as one of the first actual comprehensive course structures centered around DJing.
Not only does it come with a host of proven DJ performers acting as tutors and trainers, but the course itself has been highly curated and tailored to get every student from beginner to expert.
The course includes DJs like Pete Tong himself, Carl Cox, Nicole Moudaber, TSHA, and Jamie Jones, all as instructors with incredible DJ pedigrees. It’s been regarded as “the most complete DJ course” due to just how extensive their training lessons are.
The PTDJA operates as various training modules, with initial beginner lessons going over the fundamentals of DJing such as beatmatching, setting up your gear, etc.
As you advance through the modules, they understandably grow more complex, with others touching on the use of effects and loopings as well as scratching, mixing, and sampling. There is also a focus on some non-technical aspects of DJing, like getting gigs and networking as well as going over what “DJ etiquette” is.
The course is broken into two separate options. The full course runs for just under $450 at $447 while the advanced units option is $397. It’s kind of clear that the PTDJA is most geared towards absolute beginners and taking them to proficient DJ performers.
Not only does it make the most financial sense (literally only about $50 more) but completionists are put into a “talent pool” where the very best are selected to play at partner clubs and on affiliate radio stations.
No matter how you slice it, that’s pretty incredible.
Not only are you getting trained by the best in the field, but you’re even given the option to perform in front of actual clients in an actual club, effectively skipping the line (provided you’re good enough).
Ultimately, the only real downside here is “maybe” the cost, but even that is really not that inappropriate when you consider everything you’re getting. All in all, if you’ve got the money, I say go for it.
What We Like:
- Top Tier Teachers & Instructors
- Very Comprehensive Program
- Designed To Make You An Expert By The End Of The Course
- The Top Students Have The Ability To Perform In Clubs
5. Club Ready DJ School
Starting our best online DJ course list, we have Club Ready DJ School. Based out of Sydney, Australia, the Club Ready DJ School is run by Andrew Duffield, a 15-year DJ veteran who has more than proven his stripes in the field.
In fact, not only is he a renowned DJ in his own right, but Andrew has helped countless students on the local and international level get to the professional level and perform at actual bonafide clubs and events. The school is online and has a strong focus on getting his DJ students “Club Ready”.
Some of the courses and modules include:
- Learn To DJ
- Advanced Performance Pack
- Club Ready DJ Course
- Marketing 101
Speaking strictly one the flagship, “Club Ready DJ Course”, Andrew and his team focus on a guided 4-week step-by-step program that works to transform your mixing skills while also giving you a strong sense of confidence when in front of the crowd and performing.
The students are given video lessons with homework every week and are tasked with hitting certain goal assignments to improve their skills.
These lessons are meant to build off of each other so that, in the end, students are able to mix any genre at the professional level.
Once you pass the course, students are given a graduating certificate, and while it doesn’t have any intrinsic value in the real world, it does act as a way to substantiate Andrew’s confidence in his ability to perform.
While just about anyone can go into the course, it’s very obvious that this is meant for beginners and those who are honestly interested in becoming professionals.
This is because much of the initial assignments are geared around the fundamentals and getting the student acquainted with their gear as well as teaching some basic skills like beatmatching or using effects.
There are multiple course bundles available, with some of the more advanced options giving you access to Andrew for direct feedback. They also have a free mini-course to give potential students a taste of what goes on though you should expect it to be highly limited in comparison.
Overall, there’s a reason we have this as number one.
Not only does the academy online school offer some incredible value (including a graduating certificate as well as the option to get direct feedback from Andrew himself), but they balance it off by having most of the courses and packs at a super affordable rate.
The courses themselves are priced at $135 each while the individual lesson packs are around $95. This is really impressive when you consider that each of the lessons is fairly in-depth.
Even if you can’t afford these, the schooling has a free mini course to at least get you started.
If there’s any place that you should start, it’s probably here.
Things We Like:
- Very Affordable Prices
- Comes With A Completely Free Minicourse
- Perfect For Beginner DJs
- Has Been Very Highly Reviewed
Things We Do Not Like:
- Doesn’t Have Additional High-Profile DJs On The Team
6. DJ Courses Online
Next up is DJ Courses Online. This is a monthly subscription-based online service that specifically focuses on training beginner DJs.
It’s been around for a fair amount of time at this point meaning that they’re well established with a proven track record.
All of the tutors are recognized professionals in the industry meaning you’re getting proven training with backed results.
The online course goes over many of the basics of being a DJ as well as gives you information on how to set yourself up and get started. For those interested in finding a mentor, they have a course called “How to DJ: Masterclass” which is presented by DJ TLM, a renowned DJ and turntablist as well as acclaimed music producer.
While there are only around 10 total courses on the platform, they go through considerable depth, each having its own set of tutorials as well as “levels” for beginners, intermediate, and advanced DJs.
These course lessons range from going over scratching and applying different FX to your performance, to creative mixing and knowing when and how to add in certain features.
There’s also a full breakdown of how to use some of the primary DJ software options out there. This includes big names like industry-leading DJ software platforms including Serato, Rekordbox, and Traktor while also offering tutorials for Ableton Live and Mixed In Key.
In terms of downsides, the only issue is the fact that they don’t update their content quite as often as others on this list. This means that some of the initial videos you watch may seem a bit dated when compared to what modern DJs are doing.
While I will admit that that’s true to an extent, it isn’t so much the case that the videos aren’t largely beneficial, especially for someone who is just getting started. The bigger setback is the fact that there isn’t any type of actual support of online community you can tap into.
While they certainly never promise to offer you one, it is disappointing that they don’t have any way for you to link up with other students simply to get more current with what new things DJs are doing.
Overall, though there are a lot of great things that go with the platform, I would suggest that you use this as a supplement for another option on this list. It’s really affordably priced, going for only $19 per month with a “cancel anytime” subscription.
This means you can take the time to absorb all of the essential aspects of DJing and cancel whenever you feel you’ve learned everything there is to learn. Very easy and very simple.
What We Like:
- Very Affordably Priced, With A “No Commitment” Subscription
- Offers An In-Depth Breakdown Of The Various Aspects Of Being A DJ
- Can Be Approached In The Way That Works Best For You
What We Do Not Like:
- Doesn’t Get Updated Nearly As Often As They Should
- Has No Accessible Social Media Or Local Community To Connect With
7. Virtuoso
A relatively new online learning platform, only coming on the scene in 2022, Virtuoso has a similar subscription style as many other options on this list.
Their big claim to fame is that they focus exclusively on helping those trying to get into the music industry and are constantly adding courses to their library.
Currently, they have more than 30 available courses on DJing, and more on the way.
The main reason they didn’t quite make the list is largely because they’re relatively new with a lot of content that is more geared toward the basics.
This may be great for many people starting but will be a problem if you already have a solid foundation. That said, I expect them to be a legitimate player in the coming years after they’ve had a chance to grow their library and their DJ-related content.
FAQs
What Courses Should I Take If I’m Just Starting?
For beginners and those just starting out, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This is because most courses cater to helping beginners and DJs with very little experience.
While this is certainly good to some extent, if you’re not watching or learning from the right teacher, you may find yourself focusing on an aspect of DJing that is entirely irrelevant to what you’re interested in.
The first thing you should do is determine what type of DJ you are interested in being and start from there.
For example, a scratch DJ, studio DJ, and a club DJ may have some overlap in terms of the basics but there’s also a lot that’s highly focused on one that will have nothing to do with the others. You’ll also want to keep your budget in mind as certain types of DJing can have a higher upfront cost than others.
Overall, you’ll want to keep considerations like these in mind when deciding on what you want to learn and the types of courses you’ll be focusing on.
Are DJ Courses Any Good?
Certainly! Depending on where you’re taking the course and what it’s about, DJ courses can be a wonderful and worthwhile experience.
The key is making sure the course is coming from the right place, offers clear direction, goes over the areas that you have questions about, and is at the right level for you.
One of the ways many starting DJs set themselves up for failure and frustration is by spending their time watching unclear videos on DJing that are either too advanced or based on a subject the person has no interest (currently) in.
By checking out one of the 7 above options, you should be able to find a platform with DJ courses that are not only good for you in general but specifically tailored for where you are in your prospective journey.
5. How Long Does A DJ Course Take To Complete?
Overall, it depends on the course as well as what you want your end state to be. In some cases, a DJ course that is just going over the basics can take only a few hours while more advanced and involved courses, meant to help you become a full-fledged DJ be considerably longer.
Generally, most of the comprehensive courses can range between a couple of weeks to about a month or two to complete based on how fast you go through the material.
Some individual courses treated in a more “university” style can take as long as six months or even longer to complete.
Regardless of the type of course you end up taking, you should always keep in mind that many of the aspects of DJing can take months to years to fully master even after the “course” itself has finished.
This is because most courses and lessons are meant to give you a strong understanding of how the material works in practice. You’re still going to have to get out there and apply the work yourself if you want to see tangible real-world results.
Best Online DJ Courses: The Verdict
No matter what method you use on your journey, learning to be a DJ isn’t for the faint of heart. While it may seem easy from the outside looking in, any experienced DJ will tell you that there are a lot of moving parts you’ve got to be aware of and you never reach a point where you’re not learning something new or improving on your skills.
Like anything worth doing, DJing takes time and commitment before fully mastering, and while it isn’t for everyone, you’re not going to find a lot of DJs who say that it wasn’t worth it.
The good news is that learning to DJ online is easier and more accessible than ever to get involved in.
Every entry on this list is from an online source that can quickly transform you into a legitimately performing or professional DJ in a relatively short time.
If you’re serious about learning how to DJ and want to be on stage performing your favorite tracks to a huge crowd, if you want to make your own remixes that hundreds of thousands of people are jamming to, if you want to be the next big name performing out in Ibiza or in party venues around the world you’ll take advantage of one of these courses and get started right away.
You don’t have to take any of these courses. They just make the process a heck of a lot easier.
