How to do a vocal-over intro
Start B's vocal intro over A's fading instrumental.
- Essential
- medium
- About 8 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 pop/open-format and hip-hop/R&B.
- 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 an instrumental stretch near A's end (no vocals).
- 2Start B's intro so its first vocal line lands there.
- 3Drop A's bass and mids so the vocals don't fight.
- 4Fade A out as B's beat comes in.
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.
- Echo outLet A ring out on an echo, then drop B.
- Tempo ramp, then blendGlide the tempo over, then do a short blend.
- SpinbackRewind A like a vinyl spin, then slam B in.