Intro
The opening section of a DJ track, without the main elements.
Detailed explanation
The intro of a DJ track is deliberately produced with few elements — typically only kick drum and hi-hats, no bass, no vocals. It gives the DJ time to mix track B in while track A is still in its main section. Intros are typically 16–64 bars long, depending on genre (often very long in techno). In the rekordbox waveform you can spot one as a narrow, mostly blue stretch.
Assessment by the DJLearn editorial team — experience, not a sourced factual claim.
In practice
A DJ-friendly intro often consists of drums only — no vocal, no melody, sometimes not even bass. That is not a shortcoming, it is the point: this is exactly where the previous track should still be running. If you play a track whose intro starts straight into the full production you have barely any room to mix and have to either switch quickly or buy yourself time with a loop.
Assessment by the DJLearn editorial team — experience, not a sourced factual claim.
Related terms
Where to learn this
Building a DJ set
The guide that covers this topic in depth.
Explained in this phase
Phase 4: Understanding Music for DJs