GarageBand Keyboard Shortcuts
GarageBand keyboard shortcut reference covering 105 bindings for Mac. Commonly searched bindings include Start playback, Stop playback, and Start or stop playback. 105 of 105 shortcuts are verified against official GarageBand documentation, each with a linked source when available. Search by action name, filter by category, look up what a key combination does, print a cheat sheet, or practice with flashcards.
Official GarageBand documentation
Editing
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undo | Undo | |
Cmd+Z |
Yes | Source |
| Redo | Redo | |
Shift+Cmd+Z |
Yes | Source |
| Cut | Cut | |
Cmd+X |
Yes | Source |
| Copy | Copy | |
Cmd+C |
Yes | Source |
| Paste | Paste | |
Cmd+V |
Yes | Source |
| Delete | Delete | |
Delete |
Yes | Source |
| Select all | Select all | |
Cmd+A |
Yes | Source |
| Deselect all | Deselect all | |
Shift+D |
Yes | Source |
| Horizontal zoom out | Horizontal zoom out | |
Cmd+Left |
Yes | Source |
| Horizontal zoom in | Horizontal zoom in | |
Cmd+Right |
Yes | Source |
| Scroll Up | Scroll Up | |
Fn+Up |
Yes | Source |
| Scroll Down | Scroll Down | |
Fn+Down |
Yes | Source |
| Scroll Left | Scroll Left | |
Fn+Left |
Yes | Source |
| Scroll Right | Scroll Right | |
Fn+Right |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide Automation lanes and parameters | Show/Hide Automation lanes and parameters | |
A |
Yes | Source |
| Delete all automation on the selected track | Delete all automation on the selected track | |
Ctrl+Shift+Cmd+Delete |
Yes | Source |
| Select the previous region on the selected track or event in the Editor | Select the previous region on the selected track or event in the Editor | |
Left |
Yes | Source |
| Select the next region on the selected track or event in the Editor | Select the next region on the selected track or event in the Editor | |
Right |
Yes | Source |
| Loop the selected regions on or off | Loop the selected regions on or off | |
L |
Yes | Source |
| Quantize selected events | Quantize selected events | |
Q |
Yes | Source |
| Paste and replace the current selection | Paste and replace the current selection | |
Shift+Cmd+V |
Yes | Source |
| Join regions or notes | Join regions or notes | |
Cmd+J |
Yes | Source |
| Split the selected region or event at the playhead position | Split the selected region or event at the playhead position | |
Cmd+T |
Yes | Source |
| Cut the selected Arrangement Marker into sections | Cut the selected Arrangement Marker into sections | |
Option+Cmd+Delete |
Yes | Source |
| Add selected region to the Apple Loops Library | Add selected region to the Apple Loops Library | |
Ctrl+Shift+O |
Yes | Source |
| Rename the selected regions | Rename the selected regions | |
Shift+N |
Yes | Source |
GarageBand User Guide
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preview the selected audio (Audio Editor only) | Preview the selected audio (Audio Editor only) | |
Option+Space |
Yes | Source |
| Transpose selected notes up one semitone (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | Transpose selected notes up one semitone (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | |
Option+Up |
Yes | Source |
| Transpose selected notes down one semitone (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | Transpose selected notes down one semitone (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | |
Option+Down |
Yes | Source |
| Transpose selected notes up one octave (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | Transpose selected notes up one octave (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | |
Option+Shift+Up |
Yes | Source |
| Transpose selected notes down one octave (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | Transpose selected notes down one octave (Piano Roll and Score Editors only) | |
Option+Shift+Down |
Yes | Source |
| Print MIDI region as notation (Score Editor only) | Print MIDI region as notation (Score Editor only) | |
Cmd+P |
Yes | Source |
| Turn Flex on/off (Audio Editor only) | Turn Flex on/off (Audio Editor only) | |
Cmd+F |
Yes | Source |
Modes
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo/Unsolo the selected track | Solo/Unsolo the selected track | |
S |
Yes | Source |
| Turn off all soloed tracks or recall all previously soloed tracks | Turn off all soloed tracks or recall all previously soloed tracks | |
Option+S |
Yes | Source |
| Mute/Unmute the selected track | Mute/Unmute the selected track | |
M |
Yes | Source |
| Turn off Mute on all tracks | Turn off Mute on all tracks | |
Ctrl+Shift+M |
Yes | Source |
| Turn Monitoring for the selected audio track on/off | Turn Monitoring for the selected audio track on/off | |
Ctrl+I |
Yes | Source |
| Turn Record Enable for the selected audio track on/off | Turn Record Enable for the selected audio track on/off | |
Ctrl+R |
Yes | Source |
| Turn Cycle mode on/off | Turn Cycle mode on/off | |
C |
Yes | Source |
| Turn the metronome click on/off | Turn the metronome click on/off | |
K |
Yes | Source |
| Turn count-in on/off | Turn count-in on/off | |
Shift+K |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide yellow alignment guides | Show/Hide yellow alignment guides | |
Option+Cmd+G |
Yes | Source |
| Turn Snap to Grid on/off | Turn Snap to Grid on/off | |
Cmd+G |
Yes | Source |
| Turn Catch Playhead on/off | Turn Catch Playhead on/off | |
` |
Yes | Source |
Projects
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create a new project | Create a new project | |
Cmd+N |
Yes | Source |
| Open an existing project | Open an existing project | |
Cmd+O |
Yes | Source |
| Save the current project | Save the current project | |
Cmd+S |
Yes | Source |
| Save the current project as | Save the current project as | |
Shift+Cmd+S |
Yes | Source |
| Close the current project | Close the current project | |
Cmd+W |
Yes | Source |
| Quit GarageBand | Quit GarageBand | |
Cmd+Q |
Yes | Source |
Tracks
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create a new track | Create a new track | |
Option+Cmd+N |
Yes | Source |
| Create a new audio track | Create a new audio track | |
Option+Cmd+A |
Yes | Source |
| Create a new software instrument track | Create a new software instrument track | |
Option+Cmd+S |
Yes | Source |
| Create duplicate of the currently selected track | Create duplicate of the currently selected track | |
Cmd+D |
Yes | Source |
| Delete the selected track | Delete the selected track | |
Cmd+Delete |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the master track | Show/Hide the master track | |
Shift+Cmd+M |
Yes | Source |
| Select the next higher track (tracks area) or Apple Loops (Loop Browser) | Select the next higher track (tracks area) or Apple Loops (Loop Browser) | |
Up |
Yes | Source |
| Select the next lower track (tracks area) or Apple Loop (Loop Browser) | Select the next lower track (tracks area) or Apple Loop (Loop Browser) | |
Down |
Yes | Source |
| Rename the selected track | Rename the selected track | |
Shift+Enter |
Yes | Source |
| Configure the track header | Configure the track header | |
Option+T |
Yes | Source |
| Next Patch (Library), Effect, or Instrument setting (plug-ins) | Next Patch (Library), Effect, or Instrument setting (plug-ins) | |
] |
Yes | Source |
| Previous Patch (Library), Effect, or Instrument setting (plug-ins) | Previous Patch (Library), Effect, or Instrument setting (plug-ins) | |
[ |
Yes | Source |
| Import audio file on selected track | Import audio file on selected track | |
Shift+Cmd+I |
Yes | Source |
| Import a movie to the movie track | Import a movie to the movie track | |
Option+Cmd+O |
Yes | Source |
Transports
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start playback | Start playback | |
Enter |
Yes | Source |
| Stop playback | Stop playback | |
0 |
Yes | Source |
| Start or stop playback | Start or stop playback | |
Space |
Yes | Source |
| Start playback from selection | Start playback from selection | |
Shift+Space |
Yes | Source |
| Start or stop audio file preview in the Audio Editor or Loop Browser | Start or stop audio file preview in the Audio Editor or Loop Browser | |
Option+Space |
Yes | Source |
| Start and stop recording | Start and stop recording | |
R |
Yes | Source |
| Start and stop recording | Start and stop recording | |
* |
Yes | Source |
| Move the playhead back one bar | Move the playhead back one bar | |
, |
Yes | Source |
| Move the playhead forward one bar | Move the playhead forward one bar | |
. |
Yes | Source |
| Move the cycle range forward by one cycle length | Move the cycle range forward by one cycle length | |
Shift+Cmd+. |
Yes | Source |
| Move the cycle range backward by one cycle length | Move the cycle range backward by one cycle length | |
Shift+Cmd+, |
Yes | Source |
| Move the playhead to the left locator | Move the playhead to the left locator | |
Ctrl+Shift+, |
Yes | Source |
| Move the playhead to the right locator | Move the playhead to the right locator | |
Ctrl+Shift+. |
Yes | Source |
| Go to the beginning | Go to the beginning | |
Enter |
Yes | Source |
| Go to the end of the last region | Go to the end of the last region | |
Option+Enter |
Yes | Source |
| Go to the beginning of the selection | Go to the beginning of the selection | |
Fn+Left |
Yes | Source |
| Move locators forward by cycle length | Move locators forward by cycle length | |
Shift+Cmd+. |
Yes | Source |
| Move locators backwards by cycle length | Move locators backwards by cycle length | |
Shift+Cmd+, |
Yes | Source |
| Move right locator to the right by cycle length | Move right locator to the right by cycle length | |
Option+Shift+Cmd+. |
Yes | Source |
| Move left locator to the right by half cycle length | Move left locator to the right by half cycle length | |
Option+Shift+Cmd+, |
Yes | Source |
Windows
| Action | Description | Windows | Mac | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show/Hide the Library | Show/Hide the Library | |
Y |
Yes | Source |
| Turn Quick Help on/off | Turn Quick Help on/off | |
Shift+/ |
Yes | Source |
| Show detailed Help (if available in Quick Help description) | Show detailed Help (if available in Quick Help description) | |
Cmd+/ |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the Smart Controls window | Show/Hide the Smart Controls window | |
B |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the Editor pane | Show/Hide the Editor pane | |
E |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the Piano Roll Editor | Show/Hide the Piano Roll Editor | |
P |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the Score Editor | Show/Hide the Score Editor | |
N |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the note pad | Show/Hide the note pad | |
Option+Cmd+P |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the Loop Browser | Show/Hide the Loop Browser | |
O |
Yes | Source |
| Change focus to next area in GarageBand window | Change focus to next area in GarageBand window | |
Tab |
Yes | Source |
| Change focus to previous area in GarageBand window | Change focus to previous area in GarageBand window | |
Shift+Tab |
Yes | Source |
| Open the Color palette | Open the Color palette | |
Option+C |
Yes | Source |
| Open GarageBand settings | Open GarageBand settings | |
Cmd+, |
Yes | Source |
| Show/Hide the Musical Typing window | Show/Hide the Musical Typing window | |
Cmd+K |
Yes | Source |
| Enter/Exit Full Screen mode | Enter/Exit Full Screen mode | |
Ctrl+Cmd+F |
Yes | Source |
| Hide GarageBand | Hide GarageBand | |
Cmd+H |
Yes | Source |
| Hide other applications | Hide other applications | |
Option+Cmd+H |
Yes | Source |
| Minimize the GarageBand window | Minimize the GarageBand window | |
Cmd+M |
Yes | Source |
| Minimize all other application windows | Minimize all other application windows | |
Option+Cmd+M |
Yes | Source |
| Switch the GarageBand window between two sizes | Switch the GarageBand window between two sizes | |
Ctrl+Cmd+M |
Yes | Source |