How to Make a Beat in GarageBand on Mac

GarageBand is free from Apple and has everything you need on your Mac to make a beat. In this guide you set the tempo, build drums with Drummer or in the Piano Roll, use Apple Loops, play in chords and export your beat. Never made a beat before? Read how to make a beat: a beginner's guide first.

No Beat Sequencer on Mac

On your iPhone, GarageBand has a Beat Sequencer with a grid of boxes. Apple's GarageBand for Mac guide doesn't list it. On a Mac you make drums in two ways: with a Drummer track, or yourself in the Piano Roll. Making beats on your phone? Read how to make a beat on iPhone with GarageBand.

Step 1: set the tempo

According to Apple, you click the triangle on the right side of the LCD at the top and choose Beats & Project. Drag the tempo value up or down, or double-click it and type a new value. According to Apple, Apple Loops match your project tempo automatically. Which tempo fits your genre? See what BPM is hip hop.

Step 2: drums with Drummer

Choose Track > New Track (or press Option-Command-N), select Drummer and click Create. According to Apple, you then get a virtual drummer with its own drum kit and playing style. An 8-bar region shows up in your project right away.

Double-click that region to open the Drummer Editor. Here's what you can set there:

• Genre and drummer: in the Library you pick a genre and then a drummer.
• XY pad: how complex and how loud the drummer plays.
• Half time or double time: according to Apple, you can have the kick and snare play at half or double time. Half time works well for trap.
• Fills and Swing: the Fills knob sets how many fills you get, Swing sets the shuffle feel.

Step 3: or program your drums yourself

Want full control over your pattern? Create a software instrument track. According to Apple, the Library opens right away so you can pick a sound. Choose a drum kit there.

No keyboard? Choose Window > Show Musical Typing (Command-K). Then you play with your computer keyboard. C and V lower or raise the velocity. After that, fix your notes in the Piano Roll Editor. According to Apple, you add a note there by Command-clicking where you want it.

• Trap: put the snare on beat 3 of every bar and keep your hi-hats busy. That makes it feel half-time.
• Boom bap: put the snare on beats 2 and 4 and pick a calmer tempo.

Step 4: Apple Loops

Open the Loop Browser and drag a loop to the empty area below your tracks. According to Apple, a new track is created automatically and the loop always matches your tempo. Many loops belong to a family: the same name with a different number at the end. Those work well together. Use the arrows in the upper-left corner of a loop to quickly swap to another one from the same family. Press L to loop it continuously.

Step 5: chords or a melody

Create another software instrument track and pick a sound in the Library. Play in with your keyboard or with Musical Typing. According to Apple, Z and X move you down or up an octave.

No idea which chords to use? With the free chord progression generator you pick a mood and download the MIDI. According to Apple, you drag a MIDI file from the Finder to a software instrument track or to the empty area below your tracks. Also read which chords go together.

Step 6: a bass or 808

Add a third software instrument track for your bass. Mainly play the root notes of your chords. New to 808s? Read what an 808 is. Kick and 808 clashing? Read how to mix 808 and kick.

Want to use your own sounds? According to Apple, you can import WAV, AIFF and MP3 files, among others, by dragging them from the Finder into your project. NAME The Trap Oneshot Pack Vol. 1 includes 26 808s, among other sounds, royalty-free.

Step 7: from loop to beat

A loop of a few bars isn't a beat yet. Copy your parts and build a structure with an intro, verses and a hook. Take something out in the verse so the rapper has room. Read from loop to beat.

Step 8: export your beat

Choose Share > Export Song to Disk. According to Apple, you then pick the format (AAC, MP3, AIFF or WAVE) and the quality. Only want to export part of it? Set the cycle area over that part and tick the option to export only the cycle area. According to Apple, GarageBand trims silence at the start and end by itself.

Step 9: rap on it

Beat done? Record your voice in the same project. Read how to record vocals in GarageBand on Mac and autotune in GarageBand.

Common mistakes

• All hi-hats equally loud. Vary the velocity, or it sounds like a robot.
• Every bar the same. Pick a different Drummer preset per section or drop something out now and then.
• Loops that don't fit together. Start with loops from the same family.

Want more later? You can open your GarageBand projects in Logic Pro. Read how to make a trap beat in Logic Pro. Or browse all beats right away.

FAQ

Does GarageBand on Mac have a Beat Sequencer?

Apple's GarageBand for Mac guide doesn't list one. On a Mac you make drums with a Drummer track or in the Piano Roll.

How do I change the tempo in GarageBand on Mac?

Click the triangle on the right side of the LCD, choose Beats & Project, then drag or type the tempo value.

How do I export my beat as a WAV?

Choose Share > Export Song to Disk and pick WAVE as the format.

Source: Apple's GarageBand User Guide for Mac.