GarageBand: How to Edit Notes in a Software Instrument

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You can edit individual notes in a Software Instrument region to adjust their timing, length, and pitch. You can also copy, paste, and delete notes.

The notes in the region are shown in a graphic "piano roll" format. The left edge of a note shows where it starts in the timeline. The length of a note shows how long it plays. The vertical position of the note shows its pitch in relation to the piano keyboard displayed along the left edge of the editor.

Each note also shows how hard you pressed the key when you played the note (called the note's "velocity"). Notes played softly are lighter gray, and notes played more intensely are darker. Many Software Instruments change their sound depending on how hard you press the key.

1. Select the region you want to edit, then click the Track Editor button.

2. You can edit notes in the track editor in any of the following ways:

Click a note to select it. Shift-click, or drag around a group of notes, to select multiple notes. Selected notes are green.

Drag a note left or right to change where it starts playing.

Drag the right corner of a note to resize it.

Drag a note up or down to change its pitch.

Select the note, then drag the Velocity slider left to decrease the note's velocity or drag right to increase the note's velocity. The note becomes lighter or darker to reflect the change. Hold down the Shift key while dragging to adjust velocity in finer increments.

To edit note velocity, you may need to click the triangle to show the Advanced section of the editor.

You can add notes by Command-clicking.

You can cut, copy, and paste notes using standard menu commands or keyboard shortcuts.

To delete notes, select the notes, then choose Edit > Delete or press the Delete key.