GarageBand Keyboard Shortcuts
The shortcuts you'll reach for constantly once GarageBand becomes second nature — not an exhaustive list, just the ones worth memorizing first.
A few shortcuts shift slightly between GarageBand versions. For a complete, always-current list for your exact version, open GarageBand and check Help → Keyboard Shortcuts.
Playback & Recording
Play or stop playbackSpace
Start or stop recordingR
Move the playhead back to the start of the projectReturn
Editing
Undo⌘Z
Redo⌘⇧Z
Cut the selected region⌘X
Copy the selected region⌘C
Paste⌘V
Duplicate the selected region⌘D
Select all⌘A
Split the selected region at the playhead⌘T
Delete the selected region or trackDelete
View & Navigation
Zoom in on the timeline⌘+
Zoom out on the timeline⌘–
Show or hide Smart ControlsB
Working with Instruments
Show or hide the Musical Typing keyboard⇧⌘K
File & Project
Save the project⌘S
Save As, to create a new version⌘⇧S
Open GarageBand Settings⌘,
Quit GarageBand⌘Q
Want the full picture behind any of these? See Basic Editing or Smart Controls.