Is a DJ a musician

[karl_em_all]

Seems like the term 'DJ' needs to stand on its own apart from 'musician'. The end result of what they do is musical, entertaining, etc., but it comes from prerecorded samples that were made by musicians. A DJ isn't going to create or play an actual bass line, guitar lick or whatever on their computer, just like a bass player isn't going to mash beats and parts of prerecorded songs on the bass.

If the DJ could do this by applying individual notes to the keys on a laptop keyboard, then that's musicianship.

 

[Calexia13]

Is Beardyman a musician? some guys would say he's not even a DJ because he makes all his music with his mouth. This dude is amazing, you guys should check him out if you can.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Negative.

 

[Turock]

I think part of the problem here is that a lot of the people voting "not a musician" have never taken the time to listen to or watch a good DJ in action.

You decided that there is a "problem here" because a majority of the people voting disagree with you? Perhaps the problem lies elsewhere.

 

[Ragoo]

Saying a DJ isn't a musician is like saying a conductor isn't a musician. Both are (supposed to be) the musically educated "directors" of the music, one physically, one digitally. What difference does it make if someone's orchestrating Daft Punk or Debussy?

 

[Nev375]

You decided that there is a "problem here" because a majority of the people voting disagree with you? Perhaps the problem lies elsewhere.

No, I decided that because there seem to be no well written logical rationale from the opposing viewpoint. Some of you seem to be assuming a DJ is referring to the guy that just plays records at parties.

 

[Turock]

Saying a DJ isn't a musician is like saying a conductor isn't a musician. Both are (supposed to be) the musically educated "directors" of the music, one physically, one digitally. What difference does it make if someone's orchestrating Daft Punk or Debussy?

I'd wager that the average conductor can play several instruments, can read music, etc...
I'd wager that the average DJ cannot.

I'd wager that the conductor has spent a good portion of his life honing his craft.
I'd wager that the DJ has not.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

That would depend on whether or not one considers them as musicians. Obviously this poll does not agree with you.
Being a musician isn't about "invent some new notes and chords", it's about playing a musical instrument.

Baloney. They're making music- that makes them musicians. They're also making music with their instruments, which makes them musical instruments.

 

[thunderstation]

I wouldn't consider them a "musician" but in the context you refer to I would consider the DJ as a member of the band

 

[lokikallas]

DJs are not musicians, they are entertainers though. Occasional scratch masters could be considered percussionists, in which case yes, that is musicianship.

 

[Duckwater]

I wouldn't classify a lot of DJ's I've heard as musicians, but I feel the same way about people who play instruments.

 

[karl_em_all]

Do any DJ's create their own music and then take samples of that music?

I would definitely call that person a musician.

 

[sevdog]

Skrillex is a musician. A musician that makes crappy crap that is so crappy that I want to punch him and all of the people who like his crappy crap in their crap loving faces. But he's still a musician.

 

[kevteop]

Good turntablists are incredibly creative people, and the sounds they are using often barely resemble the sounds they are making. And it's a very difficult instrument to play well.

I would rather have a turntablist than a guitarist any day. Way more useful.

 

[waynobass]

Is a DJ a musician?

Only if he's D.J. Fontana or DJ Bonebrake.

 

[Freddels]

Saying a DJ isn't a musician is like saying a conductor isn't a musician. Both are (supposed to be) the musically educated "directors" of the music, one physically, one digitally. What difference does it make if someone's orchestrating Daft Punk or Debussy?

The top conductors can play the music in their heads just by looking at the written score. Most can also play an instrument. They can usually listen to the players and point out which one (if any) are playing a wrong note.

 

[JTE]

Some are, some aren't. Just like bass players. Some are musicians, some are simply bass players. It also applies to guitarists, drummers, singers, sax players, pianists, etc. Being a musician is more than simply manipulating the instrument.

John

 

[kevteop]

I wonder if any of the bass players who don't think DJs are musicians have ever actually heard Premier, or Terminator, or Cut Chemist, or Yoda, or Mix Master Mike, or QBert, or Hurra, or Jazzy Jeff.

Or maybe they have heard them solo and suddenly felt a bit inadequate.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

A "DJ" By DEFINITION is a DISC JOCKEY....

piecing together sniplets of premade items although creative, and sometimes entertaining is simply an audio scrapbook. It is audio performance art. It has it's place and value. And unfortunately, is cheap for a club to hire a Disc Jockey. One person one pay less than 1/3 of what live performers cost.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

A "DJ" By DEFINITION is a DISC JOCKEY....

piecing together sniplets of premade items although creative, and sometimes entertaining is simply an audio scrapbook. It is audio performance art. It has it's place and value. And unfortunately, is cheap for a club to hire a Disc Jockey. One person one pay less than 1/3 of what live performers cost.

so when no-one actually plays music, who will the samplers sample? previous samplers? and the audio xerox machine continues to make copies...