GarageBand Tutorial - Make Your First Song

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In this GarageBand tutorial, I'll go over all the GarageBand fundamentals in learning how to make your first song. GarageBand is a free software app on any mac to use, you can get set up and running really quickly and start making making beats or writing songs in a matter of minutes. I'll show you how to do that and what steps you need to take in GarageBand. Do you use GarageBand? How did you learn? Let us know in a comment.

Follow along with me using this GarageBand template ↓

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⬇️🎥 GarageBand Tutorial Video Sections🎥⬇️
0:00 - introduction

1:30 - Section 1 - Getting Started

1:51 - starting a new project
2:15 - starting a songwriter template project
2:54 - starting an empty project
3:20 - overview of main icons
3:55 - library icon
4:20 - information icon
4:50 - controls icon
5:22 - tempo
6:31 - loop icon

7:00 - Section 2 - Recording Midi with Software Instruments

7:41 - recording a beat
9:06 - quantizing midi
10:20 - choosing different styles of drums
12:00 - editing drum beats
12:40 - adding a shaker
14:00 - choosing different kick drums
15:40 - recording a steinway piano
17:47 - quantizing piano
20:09 - recording a sub bass
21:40 - editing sub bass
23:13 - adding a synth melody
24:12 - using an arpeggiator

26:35 - Section 3 - Using the loop browser

27:13 - searching for loops
27:25 - downloading greyed out loops
27:39 - dragging and dropping loops
28:50 - adding percussion from loops
30:01 - difference between blue, yellow, and green loops
30:40 - using yellow logic drum beats

31:18 - Section 4 - Recording Audio (vocals)

32:18 - setting up your audio interface
32:40 - audio input and output
33:40 - adding an audio track
34:10 - setting gain on your audio interface
34:46 - adding present to your vocals

35:16 - Section 5 - Recording Guitar

35:50 - recording electric guitar

36:45 - Section 6 - Building a song arrangement

37:13 - the basics of music production

39:22 - Section 7 - Mixing and effects

39:44 - first step to mixing
40:48 - adding effects
41:30 - adding plugins
42:38 - adding effects on audio tracks
43:01 - adding EQ
43:40 - EQ’ing drums
44:55 - automation
45:30 - adding high cut frequency automation
46:50 - adding bass automation

47:30 - Section 8 - Shortcuts

51:11 - Section 9 - Exporting our song
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[stevenr.]

I moved here from Charles short intro to GarageBand, which I found too fast for a true newbe, and find this extended version to be clearer and very helpful. If music production doesn’t work for you Charles, you should teach meditation. You have a very soothing, calm voice and manner. Thanks for the excellent tutorial.

[MagdalenaKim]

Thanks so much for this video. Getting into GarageBand, composing and recording again after 10 years and your video helps a lot to get going again!

[mikkelchandler]

I'm tackling my fear of engineering since covid 19. I'm excited to get familiar with GB

[albertodenamusic]

Big help sir like me a beginer thank you so much

[Tallys]

So far it is being really good, really helpful, good to follow and fun to Thank you so much!! Now... I go and continue to complete this tutorial!!

[madymecture]

thank you so much, your way to explain is clear and I've learn a lot thanks to you ! You rock :) Happy New year to you

[peterpelchen]

Thank you much Charles, you are a natural teacher and phenomenal presenter...This layout is organized so well that a complete novice (referring to myself), doesn't feel nearly as intimidated as one might without your help, thank you VERY much! Interestingly enough, my daughter and her partner helped my wife and I to record on their computer (in GarageBand), a song for part of our family living abroad. My wife and I sing, with accompaniment on an acoustic guitar as well, thats it presently. Sooo, instead of starting with a blank slate, so to speak, we now have this very simple song (uploaded and on my computer), with hopes of completing it in time for Christmas. Would you have any comment to make for someone like ourselves, who is starting out with this much as a foundation to build around? Thank you for considering our situation. -Peter Pelchen, Kalispell, Montana

[jordanbrock]

What are you using? Can I do all this on my iPad 8gen with a keyboard and mouse Bluetooth?

[jamesbwrestlingmedia]

What i didn't get was ' oh I can see the shaker I'll add that in.. ' how did you know ? I'm very new to garage band lol

[mattetoso]

Great video, it really helped.
One thing that's not clear to me: when you go to the section where you quantized notes, what are those light lines inside of the notes green boxes?

[mojoefelix]

Very good tutorial. All the GB tutorials seem to be about making pop music. I am going for a very Americana organic acoustic non-pop non-commerical sound with vocal, acoustic guitar and minimalist supporting tracks. Any suggestions, words or wisdom or advice for me?

[eternalblissed]

Thank you for this great video! So helpful. I have a question... i am working on my first song and i have the chorus set to 4 measures but realize its better if it was only two. How can i cut out the extra two and drag everything else to fit the new format? I tried to do it but now the song sounds out of time and the keyboards are way off and dont sound the same

[richarocks]

Really should’ve watched this before I made my first song with GarageBand... lol