Garageband shortcuts for Mac

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Track Operations

Create a new track⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + n Add →
Create a new audio track⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + a Add →
Create a new software instrument track⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + s Add →
Duplicate the selected track⌘ (command) + d Add →
Delete the selected track⌘ (command) + ⌫ Add →
Rename the selected track⇧ (shift) + return Add →
Select the next higher track↑ Add →
Select the next lower track↓ Add →
Mute/Unmute the selected trackm Add →
Solo/Unsolo the selected tracks Add →
Turn monitoring for the selected track on/off⌃ (control) + i Add →
Show/Hide automation for the selected tracka Add →
Delete all automation on the selected track⌃ (control) + ⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + ⌫ Add →
Unmute all tracks⌃ (control) + ⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + m Add →
Unsolo all tracks⌃ (control) + ⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + s Add →

Edit Track

Undo⌘ (command) + z Add →
Redo⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + z Add →
Cut⌘ (command) + x Add →
Cut an arrangement marker together with its regions⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + ⌫ Add →
Copy⌘ (command) + c Add →
Paste⌘ (command) + v Add →
Delete⌫ Add →
Cut selection⌘ (command) + x Add →
Split region at playhead⌘ (command) + t Add →
Join selected regions⌘ (command) + j Add →

MIsellaneous Shortcuts

Select all⌘ (command) + a Add →
Select previous region on the selected track← Add →
Select next region on the selected track→ Add →
Split selected region or event at the playhead⌘ (command) + t Add →
Join selected regions or notes⌘ (command) + j Add →
Loop selected region continuouslyl Add →
Add selected region to the Apple Loops Library⌃ (control) + ⇧ (shift) + o Add →
Rename the selected region⇧ (shift) + n Add →
Turn Snap to Grid on/off⌘ (command) + g Add →
Show/Hide alignment guides⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + g Add →
Start recordingr Add →
Turn the Record Enable button for the selected track on/off⌃ (control) + r Add →
Turn the cycle area on/offc Add →
Turn the metronome on/offk Add →
Turn count+in on/off⇧ (shift) + k Add →
Transpose selected notes up one semitone⌥ (option) + ↑ Add →
Transpose selected notes down one semitone⌥ (option) + ↓ Add →
Transpose selected notes up one octave⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + ↑ Add →
Transpose selected notes down one octave⌥ (option) + ⇧ (shift) + ↓ Add →
Select the next score event→ Add →
Select the previous score event← Add →
Select the next staff event↓ Add →
Select the previous staff event↑ Add →
Print score notation⌘ (command) + p Add →

Display Objects

Show/Hide the Musical Typing window⌘ (command) + k Add →
Show/Hide Smart Controlsb Add →
Show/Hide the Score Editorn Add →
Show/Hide the Piano Roll Editorp Add →
Show/Hide the Loop Browsero Add →
Show/Hide the Libraryy Add →
Show/Hide the Editore Add →
Show/Hide the NotePad⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + p Add →
Show/Hide the Media Browserf Add →
Show/Hide the Arrangement track⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + a Add →
Show/Hide the Movie track⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + o Add →
Show/Hide theTransposition track⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + x Add →
Show/Hide the Tempo track⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + t Add →
Show/Hide the Master track⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + m Add →

General Shortcuts

Open a Movie⌥ (option) + ⌘ (command) + o Add →
Create a new project⌘ (command) + n Add →
Open an existing project⌘ (command) + o Add →
Close the current window or project⌘ (command) + w Add →
Minimize the GarageBand window⌘ (command) + m Add →
Save the current project⌘ (command) + s Add →
Save As⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + s Add →
Show GarageBand preferences⌘ (command) + , Add →
Hide GarageBand⌘ (command) + h Add →
Quit GarageBand⌘ (command) + q Add →
Open detailed Help (move the pointer over an interface item)⌘ (command) + ? Add →
Start or stop playbackspacebar Add →
Go to beginningreturn Add →
Go to end of last region⌥ (option) + return Add →
Move forward. Add →
Move back, Add →
Move cycle area forward⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + . Add →
Move cycle area back⇧ (shift) + ⌘ (command) + , Add →
Move forward by visible width of the timelineend Add →
Move back by visible width of the timelinehome Add →
Turn Catch mode on/off< Add →
Zoom out⌘ (command) + ← Add →
Zoom in⌘ (command) + → Add →

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FAQ

What are the most useful GarageBand shortcuts?

The core GarageBand shortcuts are Space to play/stop, R to start recording, and Cmd+Z to undo. Press Z to jump to the beginning of the timeline and Cmd+Left/Right to move the playhead. Use Cmd+E to toggle the editors panel, Cmd+I to open Smart Controls, and Cmd+Y to toggle the Loop Browser. Press / to set the cycle region on/off.

How do I split and edit regions in GarageBand?

Position the playhead where you want to split, then press Cmd+T to split a region at that point. To delete a region, select it and press Delete. Use Cmd+J to join selected regions into one. You can also press W to turn the Split mode on, which lets you drag across regions to cut them. Hold Option while dragging a region to duplicate it.

How do I use the keyboard in GarageBand?

Open the Musical Typing keyboard with Cmd+K — this turns your Mac keyboard into a playable instrument. Use the keyboard row (A S D F G H J K L) to play notes, Z and X to shift octaves down and up, and 1-8 to control velocity. You can also use Cmd+Option+K to open the MIDI keyboard viewer for connected MIDI devices.

GarageBand keyboard shortcuts not working - how to fix?

If GarageBand shortcuts aren't responding, make sure the Tracks area or the main window is focused — some shortcuts only work in specific panels. If you've remapped shortcuts in macOS System Settings, they may override GarageBand's defaults. Try going to GarageBand > Preferences and check if any custom bindings are interfering. Restarting GarageBand usually resolves temporary shortcut glitches.

Use these Garageband shortcuts from a pie menu

Mac keyboard shortcuts for Garageband