Garageband is one of the most popular music apps for iOS and it is loaded with tons of features. It is a user-friendly app for beginners and you can do a lot of stuff like adding different instrumental music to your song and many more.
The simplest way you can use Garageband is via the pre-installed MIDI loops. These loops contain a ton of instruments and music genres that you can easily overlay on top of your song. The possibilities are endless with Garageband and here is how to compose your own bits of music using Garageband.
1. Start by selecting an empty project
To perform all of the further steps, you’ll first have to get started on Garageband. You can easily find Garageband on Pc or Mac by searching it through the spotlight (it’s the one shaped like a magnifying glass). Click on the spotlight option at the top right corner and type in Garageband. Now, click on the Garageband logo that shows up first. If you have a vocal or instrument microphone, you can also connect that through an audio interface. Just make sure that your interface is compatible with either a dynamic or condenser microphone.
When you enter the Garageband app, various kinds of instruments with titles at the bottom will appear on the screen. Find the option with a note sheet and make sure it has the title “empty project” at the bottom and double click on the option.
After you’ve done that, a new page will show up on the screen containing a mic, electric keyboard, and all that fun stuff. Make sure you go for the electric keyboard as it is simple. If the keyboard piano shows up, throw it to the bottom or the side because you won’t need it for this process.
2. The MIDI loops
Now, on the top right side of your screen, you should be able to see 3 different symbols, a media file containing video, pictures, music, and a loop, a piece of paper and a pen. Out of the three, click on the option which seems to be a loop. A side screen will show up and on it, you will be able to see the various instruments and music genres.
3. Put your skill out
It’s now time for the music skills inside you to come out. There is no particular order you need to stick to, just play around with different features and options. If you are clueless about what to do, start by picking out the genre and instrument you want to use. After clicking on the genre or instrument, a range of different music styles will appear below that. If you want to go a little in-depth to find the perfect fit, press the other genre or instrument option.
After finding the perfect music, just drag the music onto the screen on the left. You can also experiment by overlaying different music or just lay them by the side. If you have figured all of this out, that’s pretty much it, you’re done. Before getting wrapped up, you can preview the music you’ve created by giving the file a click.
4. Time to export the music
After fidgeting around for a while, if you are satisfied with the final outcome, export it so that you don’t lose the music. The exporting process is pretty simple, just go to the top bar which is in the color light grey. In the grey colored top bar, click on the title that reads “share”. You can now export the music file to your Mail, iTunes, etc.
This is the basic technique to create and export music from Garageband. Now, let’s get into a few pro tips that will help you in the process of creating music.
Additional tips and tricks
It is true that each and every music file on Garageband has a different tempo and instrument, but that’s not always the case, especially with the MIDI files. MIDI files have names and in case the names of some music files are similar, you can put them together. Such files work better combined than they do separately.
Another thing that should be put out there is that, be specific with the number of instruments you use. Especially if you are a beginner, you might feel excited and include as many instruments and sounds as possible, but that doesn’t make your music sound any better.
Finally, to make music worth listening to, make sure that you don’t overdo the sound going in. It’s always better if you tend to keep the number low. Around 1 to 3 instruments are good and you can take the number to 4 if you’re feeling generous but not more than that. Garageband offers everything you could possibly ask for and your creativity is the limit to what you can create.
