How to Change the Pitch of GarageBand Loops

A loop's pitch can be adjusted higher or lower in GarageBand.

GarageBand is a music composition and recording program that's part of the Apple iLife suite. You can compose music in GarageBand using real instruments, such as keyboards and guitars, or you can assemble a unique song with loops. "Loops" are short audio recordings edited to loop seamlessly when placed in sequence. When you have inserted the loops in the tracks of your GarageBand song, you can add effects to a loop or adjust the tempo and pitch of the music sample.

Instructions

1. Open GarageBand. Click "File," then "New." Click the "Loops" icon to create a new loops-based project or click "File" and then "Open" to load an existing project.

2. Click the "Loop Browser" button to browse the loops available in GarageBand. Click and hold a loop and drag it into a track.

3. Click the loop to select it. Click the "Editor" button.

4. Drag the "Pitch" slider to the left to lower the pitch. Drag the slider to the right to raise the pitch. Click "Play" to listen to the loop. When you are satisfied with the pitch, click the "Editor" button.

References

• Berklee College of Music: Audio Editing and Working With Loops
• Apple: Garageband '09 Getting Started
• Apple: Garageband 9.0 Help - If Your Loops Don't Play in the Same Key As the Project
• University of Massachusetts; Digital Audio Basics With GarageBand; March 2010

Resources

• Apple: GarageBand