Force Touch trackpad gestures in GarageBand on Mac

Using a Force Touch trackpad with your Mac, you can perform some GarageBand functions by force-clicking or tapping with three fingers. The trackpad also has haptic feedback built-in that, when Force Touch is turned on, lets you feel a light vibration when you drag a Volume slider to the 0 dB position or a Pan knob to the centre position.

Turn on Force Touch

In GarageBand General settings, select the Enable Force Touch trackpad tick box.
See General settings.
In macOS System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click, turn on “Force click and haptic feedback,” then click the “Look up & data detectors” pop-up menu and choose an option:
- Force Click with One Finger: Press firmly on the trackpad until you feel a deeper click.
- Tap with Three Fingers: Use three fingers to tap the trackpad.

Create a new, empty MIDI region

In the Tracks area of GarageBand on Mac, force-click an empty area in a software instrument track.

Create a new Drummer region

In the Tracks area of GarageBand on Mac, force click an empty area in a Drummer track.

Add an audio file to an audio track

In the Tracks area of GarageBand on Mac, force-click an empty area in an audio track, then choose an audio file from the menu that appears.

Add a note

In the Piano Roll Editor or Score Editor of GarageBand on Mac force-click an empty part of the editing area.

Delete a note

In the Piano Roll Editor or Score Editor of GarageBand on Mac force-click a note.

Open the New Track dialogue

In the Tracks area of GarageBand on Mac force-click the empty area below the last (lowest) track header.

Add automation points at region borders

In the Tracks area of GarageBand on Mac, force click the automation curve of a region.

Helpful?

GarageBand User Guide