Mixing in key

Mixing 106

This and the camelot chart are the most popular

                                Keys or chords

Every song you will come across plays on a certain chord or key. Thankfully most DJ software analyzes the MP3's in your library, and gives you this information depending on your preferences. Most DJ's and producers will keep a picture of chord or key wheels to inform themselves on what goes together. So how does it actually work? The chord wheel like the one on the right work by telling you clearly with colors what chord letters go together. As a general rule of thumb, you don't want to play songs that have chords on the opposite end of the spectrum. You can though get away with playing songs that don't match in color but are close enough such as a C major or G major. Keep in mind that matching chords or keys works better with pop lyrics than rapping lyrics. It is also possible to mix without matching keys, but knowing this helps your mixes stand out from others where sounds seem to be clashing rather than meshing.

   It's okay if they don't match

If your trying to key or chord match and your songs don't mix well, it is still possible to still match them. Most of the controllers or mixing softwares used these days come with pitch/key modulators. These come in the form of a plus or minus section close to the jog wheel. From here a song being played can be pitched up or down and the coressponding key or chord will show. So if you wanted to change an E major to an F, or a B minor to a C minor, is possible and the songs can match up. Just remember that songs being modulated more than once might sound to low or to high in their pitch. 

Do you have to mix in key?

Since there are many different types of DJ's, there are many opinions regarding whether one should match chords or keys. Hiphop DJ's for example can get away with mixing between clashing keys because they can scratch in other tracks and EDM DJ's can just mix in using the outro/intro drum loops before the harmonics/bass lines. The key (no pun intended) thing to know is that it should be used to maximize the way your mixes sound, and not hinder you from playing songs you know will hype up the crowd. It's to be used as a tool in your arsenal to keep the crowd partying.