Can the arpeggiator in Garageband for Mac be set up to play chords? By that, I mean when one key on a keyboard is pressed, all the notes in a chord are played simultaneously? And, could it be set up to play any chord? Thanks.
MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), Asking about Garageband 10
No, the arpeggiator will play chords you play arpeggiated, but it will not turn single notes into chords.
Some of the older JamPack instruments played full chords, when you hit single key, but the Arpeggiator will not do that.
Do you know which JamPacks? If I had a way to play the major and minor chords with the press of one key, it would be an extremely helpful tool. I know keyboard mapping can be done in Logic Pro, and I'll eventually want to upgrade, but at this point I just don't have the budget or the need.
There are a few instruments in different JamPacks. What kind of instruments are you looking for?
The JamPacks are no longer sold separately. If you want to buy them, the best bargain would be to purchase MainStage. It installs all five JamPacks and GarageBand can use the installed sounds.
I found these instruments that can play chords, mostly guitars:
Jam Pack 1 has the nice 12 String Guitar:
12 String Chords: Each note plays a complete major or minor chord, with adjacent octa- ves playing up and down strums.
Jam Pack 3: Rhythm Section Instruments:
Acoustic Harmonics, Flutter Harmonics: Acoustic guitar harmonics. • Mod wheel adds sustain.
• Highest velocity plays tap with harmonics. Bluegrass Banjo, Atlantis Banjo: Traditional plucked bluegrass banjo.
• Mod wheel adds vibrato. • Low velocities alternate between stopped and muted note. • Higher velocities sound more open. • Highest velocity adds slides up to note. • Notes below E0 play chordal rolls, string slides.
Dobro Chords: Each note plays a chord or interval, some with slides up to the chord.
• Notes E0 to A♯ 3 play major chords. • Notes B3 to E5 play minor chords. • Notes above E5 play open fourths. • Mod wheel adds velocity.
• Velocity increases loudness and intensity.
Eighties Power Chords:
Each note plays a complete power chord or power strum.
• Notes B0 through A2 play power chords; • notes B2 through A4 play stopped (muted) chords. • Mod wheel adds vibrato. • Higher velocities add intensity.
Sunburst Power Chords, Mosh Pit:
Each note plays a complete power chord or power strum.
• Notes B0 through A2 play power chord. • Notes B2 through A4 play stopped (muted) chords.
• Mod wheel adds vibrato. • Higher velocities add intensity.
Twangy Strumming: Each note plays a complete major or minor chord, with adjacent octaves playing up and down strums.
• Notes E2 through D♯4 play major chords; • notes E4 through D♯6 play minor chords. • Mod wheel adds vibrato. • Higher velocities increase intensity.
Jam Pack: World Music Instruments
Spanish Flamenco Guitar:
• Mod wheel adds harmonics an octave above the note
played.
It sounds like the Jam Packs would work. Can Main Stage be used without owning Logic Pro?
I know Main Stage has a nice chord triggering function. Can Main Stage be used as a patch between a midi keyboard and Garageband? By that, I mean if one uses the chord triggering, can it be recorded into GarageBand? I know Main Stage is more a performance tool as opposed to a composition tool, which is why I ask.
Can Main Stage be used without owning Logic Pro?
Yes. You use MainStage to set up a Life performance. You do not need to own Logic for that.
By that, I mean if one uses the chord triggering, can it be recorded into GarageBand? I know Main Stage is more a performance tool as opposed to a composition tool, which is why I ask.
I have not seen any way to use MainStage as a plug-in in GarageBand. But I do not really use it.
I only used it to install the JampPacks, because my old Jam Pack installers are no longer compatible with OS X.
You'd better ask in the MainStage forum.
Garageband for Mac Arpeggiator Chords
