Several techniques can be used by the disc jockey as a means to manipulate the prerecorded music. These primarily include the cueing, equalization and audio mixing of two or more sound sources.

However, turntables DJ's also utilize slip-cueing, phrasing, cutting, beat juggling, scratching, beat matching, needle drops, phase shifting, back spinning, and more to perform the transitions and overdubs of a number of sources in a more creative manner.

Many professional DJs use harmonic mixing, to choose songs that are in compatible musical keys.