What do you want to make?
Every genre leans on GarageBand a little differently. Pick the closest match and get a tempo range, the tools worth focusing on, and a short path through the lessons that matter most for it.
Vocal-led songs built around a strong hook.
Pop / Songwriter
Typical tempo
100–130 BPM
Your vocal is the star, everything else supports it. You'll lean heavily on clean recording, comping the best takes, and gentle pitch correction to get a lead vocal that sits confidently on top of a simple, uncluttered arrangement.
Read the full Pop / Songwriter guideLean on these tools
- Audio tracks for vocals and acoustic instruments
- The Loop Browser's "Vocal" and "Pop" style tags for reference textures
- Flex Pitch for light, natural-sounding tuning
Beat-first tracks built on drums, bass, and samples.
Hip-Hop / Trap
Typical tempo
70–100 BPM (many trap beats are programmed at 130–150 BPM but felt at half-time)
The beat comes first, usually before any vocal exists. You'll spend most of your time in the Drummer track and Sampler, building a hard-hitting rhythm section and a simple, repeating melodic hook underneath it.
Read the full Hip-Hop / Trap guideLean on these tools
- Drummer track set to a Hip-Hop or Trap kit
- The Sampler to turn a one-shot or vocal chop into a playable hook
- The Loop Browser's "Hip-Hop/R&B" genre filter for 808s and textures
Warm, laid-back beats with a dusty, imperfect character.
Lo-fi / Chill Beats
Typical tempo
70–90 BPM
Lo-fi leans on texture and mood over precision — soft drums, warm keys, and a slightly imperfect, tape-like character. You'll use effects deliberately to add grit and space rather than to clean things up.
Read the full Lo-fi / Chill Beats guideLean on these tools
- Software Instrument tracks with mellow electric piano or Rhodes-style presets
- Reverb and light saturation/drive for warmth
- The Drummer track with reduced complexity for a laid-back, understated groove
Full-band arrangements built around real instruments.
Rock / Band
Typical tempo
100–140 BPM
Guitars, bass, drums, and vocals recorded (or performed) as a full band arrangement. You'll spend more time on audio editing and mixing multiple live-feeling tracks together than on programmed sounds.
Read the full Rock / Band guideLean on these tools
- Audio tracks for guitars, bass, and vocals
- Flex Time to tighten up live-feeling takes without losing their energy
- The Drummer track as a reliable foundation if you're not recording real drums
Synth-driven tracks built for movement and energy.
Electronic / Dance
Typical tempo
120–130 BPM
Built almost entirely from software instruments and automation — filter sweeps, builds, and drops matter as much as the notes themselves. You'll spend real time in Smart Controls and the automation lanes here.
Read the full Electronic / Dance guideLean on these tools
- Software Instrument synth presets, tweaked in Smart Controls
- Automation on filter cutoff and effect sends for builds and drops
- The Sampler for one-shot hits and vocal chops
Clean spoken word, edited for clarity and easy listening.
Podcast / Voiceover
Typical tempo
No fixed tempo — set it for a comfortable click reference if you're editing to visuals
Not tempo-driven at all — this is about clean recording, tight editing, and making sure every word is easy to hear, with music and sound beds ducking politely underneath the voice.
Read the full Podcast / Voiceover guideLean on these tools
- Audio tracks for each speaker, recorded separately where possible
- GarageBand's Podcast project template and speech enhancement
- Volume automation to duck background music under dialogue