If the tempo (speed / beats per minute) change from song to song, I generally start with the slowest and end with the fastest. All feature the singer, Alberto Podesta, and they all have a very similar feeling, tempo, and structure. They are from a two year period from 1942 to 1944. Here is a typical traditional tanda which conforms to the guidelines mentioned above:Īs you can see, all of the songs are from the Orchestra of Carlos Di Sarli. I feel very STRONGLY that all the songs in a tanda should work together and flow nicely from one song to the next. If there is one of these guidelines that I would say, is the most important one, it would be the one about internal consistency within a tanda. Also, if you love alternative music, but the crowd at your Milonga that night is a traditional crowd, then do not play alternative music. If you dislike a particular orchestra, but you know that many dancers love that orchestra, then spend some time and put a few nice tandas together of that orchestra.
![tango instrumental playlist tango instrumental playlist](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ip5j-iDqJmo/maxresdefault.jpg)
![tango instrumental playlist tango instrumental playlist](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KviEeaIlMB4/maxresdefault.jpg)
I also have seperate playlists for Vals, Milonga, Alternative Vals, Alternative Milonga, Alternative Electronic, and Guardia Viejo/Canyengue. I have playlists setup for each major orchestra which contains my pre-made 3 and/or 4 song tandas and my tanda collections. I could use them in most any order and the flow should feel seemless. I also have what I call "Tanda Collections" these are groupings of between 5 and 15 songs that could all go together to make a great tanda. I have many pre-made tandas, by all the major orchestras, that I know are great and have a wonderful flow from song to song. There are those that like pre-made tandas and on-the-fly tandas. I have my music organized in iTunes and have each song tagged with Title, Author, Year, Singer, Genre, Composer. I say good because I have no interest in playing ok songs, only good songs. Now out of that collection there might only be 1,000 songs that I consider good for dancing.
![tango instrumental playlist tango instrumental playlist](https://42796r1ctbz645bo223zkcdl-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/tango-example-744x602.jpg)
To build great tandas, a DJ needs a large collection of music. To every rule there is an exception, but the guidelines are there for a reason and have stood the test of time and they should be followed, unless you have a good reason not to. Just like with the dance, I believe there are many guidelines, but few hard rules.
![tango instrumental playlist tango instrumental playlist](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b7/e4/0c/b7e40ce9172722a2c43ceffb84781cfd.jpg)
If people are dancing well and enjoying the milonga then the DJ is doing his/her job. My most important rule, above all else, is to pick music that people enjoy dancing to. My Philosophy of DJing Argentine Tango Music