How to DJ Drum and Bass: A Beginner's Guide to Mixing DnB

By Omar Meho, 4 November 2026

Know the tempo

Most modern drum and bass sits between 170 and 176 BPM, with 174 being very common. Because most tracks are so close in tempo, you'll make small adjustments rather than big ones. That's helpful, but it also means tiny drifts are easy to miss, so keep checking your beatmatch through the mix.

If you're still getting the hang of beatmatching, read my guide on how to beatmatch by ear first. Practise with slower music, then bring it up to DnB speed.

Understand the structure

A typical DnB track looks something like this:

• Intro: often 32 bars or more, usually with drums and atmosphere, built for DJs to mix in.
• First drop: the main bassline and full energy.
• Breakdown: the drums drop out or thin down, building tension.
• Second drop: often a variation of the first.
• Outro: stripped back again, ready to mix out.

Spend time listening to your tracks and marking where the drops are with cue points. In DnB, knowing exactly where the drop lands is everything.

Count in 32s

DnB tracks are built in phrases of 16 and 32 bars. At high tempo, counting bars can feel hard, so listen for the changes instead: a new drum fill, a sweep or a vocal usually marks the start of a new phrase. Start the incoming track at the beginning of a phrase so the two tracks change together.

The classic DnB blend

1. Cue up the first beat of the incoming track's intro.
2. Count to the start of a 32 bar phrase in the playing track, ideally lining up the incoming drop with the outgoing track's outro or breakdown.
3. Start the incoming track with the bass EQ fully down.
4. Bring its fader up gradually as the intro plays.
5. Just as the drop hits, swap the bass: low EQ down on the old track, up on the new.
6. Fade out the old track over the next phrase.

The bass swap is critical in DnB. Two heavy basslines together will sound like mush and can overload a sound system.

Try a double drop

The double drop is a classic DnB move. You line up two tracks so their drops hit at exactly the same moment. Done well, it's huge. Done badly, it's a mess.

• Pick two tracks with simple, complementary basslines.
• Check they're in compatible keys so the basslines don't clash.
• Cue them so both drops land on the same beat.
• Control the bass carefully. Often you'll keep one bassline dominant and cut the other back.

Practise it at home many times before you try it in front of people.

Use EQ, not just faders

Because DnB is so full, EQ is your best friend. Cut the lows of the incoming track while it plays underneath. You can also cut the highs on one track to stop the hi hats doubling up and sounding busy.

Shorter mixes work too

Not every transition needs to be long. Quick cuts on the drop, or a short mix during a breakdown, keep energy high. Many DnB DJs mix fast, changing tracks every minute or two. Find a pace that suits the crowd and the subgenre.

Know your subgenres

Drum and bass covers a lot of ground, from liquid and soulful rollers to jump up and neurofunk. Each has its own energy. Mixing between them is possible but takes care, so start by building sets within one style.

Build energy across your set

Even in a high energy genre, you need light and shade. Give the crowd moments to breathe, then hit them with the big tunes. My guide on how to plan a DJ set covers building a journey.

Record your practice sessions, listen back and focus on one thing at a time. Drum and bass rewards precision, and the more you practise, the more it'll feel natural.