Welcome to the school of rock. A Mac-sized practice space. Your own recording studio. If you want to learn to play an instrument, write music, or record a song, GarageBand can help — whether you’re a rookie or a rock star.
Plug and Play
Plug in a keyboard to play software instruments. Plug in a guitar to re-create legendary rigs.
Learn to Play: Basic Lessons.
Now the application that helped millions make music can help you learn to play an instrument. Basic Lessons in GarageBand teach you piano and guitar right on your Mac. Follow along with nine interactive video lessons that teach you the fundamentals and get you ready to play a whole song. See finger placement and basic chords on animated onscreen instruments. Basic Lessons give you complete control over how you learn. And when you’re more comfortable, you can practice your new skills with a complete backing band.
Take Basic Lessons.
Learn the fundamentals of guitar and piano right inside GarageBand.
View galleryFind out how to take Basic Lessons
Learn to Play: Artist Lessons.*
It doesn’t get any more authentic than learning to play a song from the artist who made it famous.
Have Sting teach you how to play “Roxanne,” Colbie Caillat teach you how to play “Bubbly,” Fall Out Boy teach you how to play “I Don’t Care,” and many more. Browse, preview, and purchase Artist Lessons from the Lesson Store inside GarageBand. Then get step-by-step instructions for chords, finger positions, and techniques from the people who know your favourite songs best. Even play along with their bands.
When you’ve finally mastered that hit tune (or before you start learning it), listen to the story of how it was written and the inspiration behind it — straight from the artist.
Artist Lessons Previews
Plug and play.
Turn your Mac into a musical instrument.
With GarageBand, the proof is in the playing. Plug a USB music keyboard into your Mac and you get instant access to over 100 realistic software instruments — pianos, strings, drums, guitars, horns — everything from bass to woodwinds. Just create a new track, choose your instrument, and play.
Don’t have a keyboard? Try the one onscreen, which is resizable and can display up to ten octaves at once. Or turn on Musical Typing and use the keys on your computer keyboard to play.
As you record software instruments, GarageBand can display your notes on a piano roll or as notation, complete with notes, rests, and other musical events. Edit individual notes right on the staff, then print the notation.
Play guitar like a legend.
You don’t need a studio full of big, expensive amps to play like your heroes. Just plug an electric guitar into your Mac and play through amps modeled after the most revered in the world. Add virtual stompbox effects that reproduce classic foot pedals, in whatever order you want. Then get a 3D view of your rig — complete with amp, speaker cabinet, and stompboxes.
Play and record instruments.
Plug in a guitar to play built-in amps or a keyboard to play software instruments.
View galleryFind out how to play and record
Jam with a full-screen band.
The roadies have set up. The band is ready to jam on a full-screen stage. Now pick your instrument and step into the spotlight. Playing or singing along with Magic GarageBand Jam is the perfect way to practice and have fun. Assign instruments and styles to your guitarist, bassist, drummer, and keyboard player. Or shuffle instruments randomly to instantly hear a new sound from your backing band. When you’re happy with rehearsals, record right into Magic GarageBand.
Jam with a full-screen band.
Play and shuffle onscreen instruments with Magic GarageBand.
View galleryRecord and mix like a pro.
Sing, play, and loop.
GarageBand turns your Mac into a full-featured recording studio. Build a beat with the included loops, then plug in a guitar, bass, or microphone. You can even play (or sing) into the mic on your Mac. GarageBand captures the audio and turns it into digital files you can manipulate using a host of recording and mixing tools. It also includes the expertise of a built-in recording engineer, so you always sound your best.
Record your best take.
Record a part as many times as you like. GarageBand keeps track of every take and saves it to a multi-take region. Play your song back while switching between different takes to choose the one that sounds best. Keep the takes you love, delete the ones you don’t. And when you’re ready for backup, invite your friends over for some multitrack recording. Record more than 100 tracks and up to eight real instruments simultaneously: GarageBand supports any Mac OS X-compatible audio I/O device.
Make some arrangements.
As you record, GarageBand helps you add structure to your song. Most songs are arranged in distinct sections: introduction, verse, and chorus. With the sections clearly defined, you can rearrange your song at any time. Want to repeat a verse? Copy and paste. Move the chorus? Click and drag. All the tracks that belong to a section go along with it.
Master your mix.
Once you’ve laid down a few tracks, it’s time to mix. Just like a professional recording engineer, GarageBand helps you create a sound all your own. Bring out the best in your performance by enhancing timing and tuning. Add some basic effects such as compression, reverb, or EQ. Make your song sound truly unique by adding fun effects such as Track Echo, Chorus, and Automatic Filter. Then tweak your mix by adjusting the volume of each track or panning between speakers.
Record and mix.
GarageBand turns your Mac into a fully featured recording studio.
View galleryFind out how to record and mix
