Basic Garage Band Backing track question

Cypress Knee · #1 01-19-2018, 10:34 AM

Can somebody point me to a tutorial on how to make my own simple backing track in garage band? I have figured out how to record into a mike and make other parallel tracks, but all I want to do is lay down a simple progression and then have it repeat for a few minutes, and I do not want to use the pre-programmed canned music.

I also do not want to strum the following chords

I IV I V
I IV IVI

ad infinitum when there should be a way to copy the track.

I have looked at several tutorials, but they are all using pre-programmed loops.

Thanks for any suggestions.

CK

lonecedar · #2 01-19-2018, 11:55 AM

I believe Justinguitar.com has a lesson on how to make a backing track with GarageBand

rdm321 · #3 01-19-2018, 01:38 PM

Yes, it's easy. I'll outline the procedure (I hope that I get it right - I don't have a Mac computer handy right now).

Once you've established the chord sequence that you want, start recording & start strumming. Go through the progression several times, to be sure that you've got a "good take".

Listen to what you've recorded. Make note of which bits sound good & which bits don't.

Place the vertical marker at the beginning of a good bit. Click on "Track" (or is it "Edit"?), then "Split". Do the same at the end of the good bit. The good bit will now appear separated from the remainder of the track.

Make a new track "Track - New track". Drag the good bit onto the new track.

Repeat until you've got all the makings of a good chord progression. Select all of the bits by Shift-clicking them all, then choose "Track (or edit) - Join" The bits will combine into a single unit. To duplicate, select this newly formed unit, place the vertical marker at the right end of it, and copy.

I hope this is correct - I'm working from memory & haven't used GB in a while.
Best of luck!

lonecedar · #4 01-19-2018, 03:28 PM

Here is the link to that lesson at JustinGuitar.com

https://www.justinguitar.com/en/RT-2...troduction.php

paulp1960 · #5 01-23-2018, 03:55 PM

If you record your backing tracks while keeping time with the Drummer or metronome in GB you will be able to do what you were asking about.

If you just record freestyle without locking to the sequencer in GB you will have a real hard time.

AX17609 · #6 01-23-2018, 05:34 PM

This is why Band In A Box exists.

KevWind · #7 01-23-2018, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cypress Knee

Can somebody point me to a tutorial on how to make my own simple backing track in garage band? I have figured out how to record into a mike and make other parallel tracks, but all I want to do is lay down a simple progression and then have it repeat for a few minutes, and I do not want to use the pre-programmed canned music.

I also do not want to strum the following chords

I IV I V
I IV IVI

ad infinitum when there should be a way to copy the track.

I have looked at several tutorials, but they are all using pre-programmed loops.

Thanks for any suggestions.

CK

If I understand correctly. Sounds to me like what you are after is how to loop/repeat the playback for a specific section that you have recorded, so you can practice playing different things over that progression , yes ? If so then "Copy and paste" is not necessary to simply loop the playback.

In GB to keep repeating (loop) a specific section in playback they call it the Cycle Button it's the button to the right of the Info screen in the transport toolbar at the bottom . When you click It, it will show a yellow bar at the top that you can place and then drag for the specific length of your recorded progression section that you wish to repeat play.

In the linked video that "lonecedar" posted, the chap talks about it and shows it starting at 3:20 .....

Trevor B. · #8 01-24-2018, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cypress Knee

Can somebody point me to a tutorial on how to make my own simple backing track in garage band? I have figured out how to record into a mike and make other parallel tracks, but all I want to do is lay down a simple progression and then have it repeat for a few minutes, and I do not want to use the pre-programmed canned music.

I also do not want to strum the following chords

I IV I V
I IV IVI

ad infinitum when there should be a way to copy the track.

I have looked at several tutorials, but they are all using pre-programmed loops.

Thanks for any suggestions.

CK

If I understand your question you need only record your chord progression once then follow the instructions in the link below.
http://www.dummies.com/computers/mac...in-garageband/