How to do a throwback stab
Stab a famous throwback hook in, then cut to it.
- Crowd-pleaser
- medium
- About 4 bars
When to use it
- Use it when the next song brings more energy.
- A natural fit for pop/open-format and hip-hop/R&B.
- A strong choice when you're switching genres.
- Works at any tempo gap, and it's the go-to move when the songs are more than 8% apart, because there's no beatmatched overlap.
Step by step
- 1Cue a famous 1-bar hook on B.
- 2Stab it in over A's last bar.
- 3Cut fully to B on the downbeat.
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
- How to mix Bollywood songs
- How to mix hip-hop and rap
- How to mix pop and throwback songs
- How to mix R&B
New to DJing? Start with how to DJ for beginners and the 6 basic transitions.
Similar techniques
- 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.
- Quick cutStop A, start B. Bold and clean.
- SpinbackRewind A like a vinyl spin, then slam B in.
- Half-time switchDrop B so its beat sits at half (or double) A's speed.
- Beat juggleTrade beats between decks with hot cues before B takes over.