An apparatus for a quasi variable frequency motor controller is includes a DFC module that applies a first frequency to a motor as part of a discrete frequency control (“DFC”) method for motor starting. The first frequency includes a discrete frequency in a plurality of discrete frequencies of the DFC method and each discrete frequency includes a frequency lower than a fundamental frequency of an alternating current (“AC”) voltage source providing power to the motor. The apparatus includes a torque module that determines when motor torque generated by the motor reaches a negative torque threshold and a next frequency module that applies a second frequency to the motor in response to the torque module determining that the motor torque has reached the negative torque threshold. The second frequency is a next frequency in the DFC method.