Recording a Basic Software Instrument
You can record Software Instruments in GarageBand using a USB music keyboard or a MIDI synthesizer-type keyboard. You can also use Musical Typing, which is a new feature in GarageBand 2. You'll learn more about recording with external devices and Musical Typing in the next lesson.For this exercise, you'll work with the handy built-in onscreen keyboard that comes with GarageBand, which has been greatly improved in GarageBand 2.
Using the Onscreen Keyboard
There are two ways to open the built-in onscreen keyboard:Press Cmd-K.Choose Window > Keyboard.

1. | Choose Window > Keyboard to open the keyboard window.A small window opens that looks like a music keyboard. |

Selecting a Software Instrument Track
Now that you have your onscreen keyboard open, let's test it out. Remember, the onscreen keyboard works only with Software Instruments, so you will need to select a Software Instrument track.
Exploring the New Onscreen Keyboard Features
You've had a chance to test out the onscreen keyboard in its original form, but GarageBand 2 comes with three exciting new features. Now you canChange the size of the keysQuickly change the range of notes that the keys playControl the velocity of the note events
Let's try out these new features.
TipIf you're not sure how loudly to play a note, it's a good idea to just record everything at the highest velocity. You can always change the velocity of the notes in the Track Editor later.
Project Tasks
Now that you've adjusted the keyboard, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the various percussion samples. Click each of the onscreen keyboard keys to hear the different drum and percussion sounds.You can change octaves by either clicking the right and left arrows on either side of the onscreen keyboard, or using the keyboard overview. Remember, when the octaves get too high or too low, you will no longer hear percussion samples. That's because MIDI samples are only assigned to keys within a certain range of the keyboard.Try to locate the key that triggers the wind chime sound.See if you can find the cowbell sound (if you're feeling sentimental).
Adding a New Software Instrument Track
To record the new wind chime part, you'll need to create a new Software Instrument track in the Timeline.There are three ways to add a new Software Instrument track:Choose Track > New Track.


For this exercise, you'll use the Add New Track button.
1. | Click the Add New Track Button located in the lower-left corner of the window. It looks like a plus sign (+).The New Track window appears in the middle of your screen.![]() |
2. | Click Software Instrument, if it is not already selected.The next step is to assign the type of Software Instrument you would like to use. The drum kits include percussion instruments like cowbells, shakers, and wind chimes. Since your goal is to record a wind chime sound, the drum kits would be a good place to start. |
3. | Select Drum Kits from the list of Software Instruments.A list of different drum kits appears in the column on the right. |
4. | Select Jazz Kit from the list.![]() |
5. | Click Create to finish the selection and create the Jazz Kit Software Instrument track.A new Jazz Kit track appears at the bottom of the Timeline, and the onscreen keyboard name changes to Jazz Kit.![]() |
6. | Click the Octave Change arrows on the keyboard, or change the range in the keyboard overview until you see the key labeled C5. |
7. | Click the C5 key to play the wind chime sample on the keyboard.![]() |
8. | Move the playhead to the beginning of the 34th measure in the Beat Ruler. Check your playhead position in the Time Display.![]() |
9. | Click the C5 note again to practice clicking and holding the wind chime sound.Practice is always a good idea, even if it is only a wind chime. |
10. | Mute the Wind Chime track that is already in the Timeline so you won't hear it while you're recording.![]() |
11. | Select the Jazz Kit track, if it is not already selected.NoteBefore you can actually record, make sure the Record Enable button is on (red). This new feature in GarageBand 2 allows you to record one Software Instrument track and up to eight Real Instrument tracks at the same time. Selecting the track automatically turns on Record Enable. The Record Enable button doesn't start recording, it only enables a track for the possibility of recording. To actually record to a track, you need to click the Record button in the Transport controls.![]() ![]() |
12. | Click the Record button to start recording. |
13. | Select and hold the C5 note at the beginning of the 37th measure. |
14. | Release the mouse to stop the note when you reach the beginning of the 39th measure. |
15. | Press the spacebar to stop recording and playback.Your finished recording should look something like the following picture.[View full size image]![]() |
Using Undo to Delete a Recording
Fortunately, GarageBandlike most softwarehas an Undo feature. Undo allows you to move back one step in your project to the way it was before the last thing you did.In this case, we recorded a part. Undo will reset the project to the way it was before that recording. Not that there is anything wrong with your recording. This is just a good time to show you the Undo feature.If you undo a recording immediately, before you save the song file, you delete the recording from memory. If you keep a recorded region in the Timeline, it is saved with your project file data and remains part of the project.There are two ways to undo the last step:Press Cmd-Z.Choose Edit > Undo Recording.

