Intro to the Transposition track in GarageBand on Mac

You can transpose (change the playback pitch of) MIDI regions and Apple Loops in a project over time using the Transposition track. The Transposition track contains transposition points for pitch changes (transposition events). The project transposes at the position of the transposition point, and remains at the new transposition value until the next transposition point.

Transposition track open in the Tracks area.

Transposition affects both audio and MIDI Apple Loops (except drum loops and other Apple Loops with no defined key) as well as MIDI regions. Audio regions other than audio Apple Loops are not transposed, unless the Follow Tempo and Pitch checkbox is selected for the track containing the regions.

The zero position of the Transposition track corresponds to the original key signature of the project.

Transposition works nondestructively, and transposed MIDI notes return to their original values when the Transposition value is reset to zero (0). For example, starting with a C3 note event in a MIDI region, adding a transposition point with a value of +2 changes the note event to a D3. If you change the transposition point to a different value, the note is transposed by the corresponding amount. When you change the transposition point so that the transposition value equals 0, the note returns to a C3. Similarly, if you copy a region to different parts of the project with different transposition values, the notes in the region change by the corresponding amount.

When you add or edit a transposition point, only existing MIDI events in a project are transposed. MIDI events recorded or created afterward aren’t affected.

Show the Transposition track

In GarageBand on Mac, choose Track > Show Transposition Track.

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GarageBand User Guide

Intro to the Transposition track in GarageBand on Mac

Show the Transposition track