How to do a breakdown swap
Swap tracks while the beat is out and let B rebuild.
- Crowd-pleaser
- medium
- About 16 bars
When to use it
- Use it when you're bringing the energy down and when both songs sit at a similar energy.
- A natural fit for melodic/trance, house/techno and EDM/big room.
- Works when the tempos are up to about 8% apart, because the overlap is short.
- Both songs' melodies overlap, so it sounds best when their keys are compatible on the Camelot wheel.
- Great for closing a set or emotional moments.
Step by step
- 1Wait for A's breakdown, when the beat drops out.
- 2Start B's breakdown or intro underneath it.
- 3Let B's melody take over while A fades.
- 4When B's beat returns, you're fully across.
See it on a controller, and hear it with your own songs
Cueball picks the right technique for every pair of songs in your set and animates the knobs and faders in time with the music.
Build a set for freeGenres this works for
New to DJing? Start with how to DJ for beginners and the 6 basic transitions.
Similar techniques
- Long blend + bass swapRide both tracks together, then hand over the bass.
- Filter handoffWash A out with the filter while B comes in.
- Hard cut on the phraseSnap from A to B exactly on a new phrase.
- Short blend on the downbeatA quick overlap so the keys never get time to clash.
- Echo outLet A ring out on an echo, then drop B.
- Tempo ramp, then blendGlide the tempo over, then do a short blend.