Use the groove track in GarageBand on Mac

You can set a track as a groove track, and match (synchronise) the timing of other tracks in the project to it. When you play the project, the timing of matched tracks adjusts to match the timing of the groove track.

Only one track in a project can be a groove track. You can select which tracks in the project match the timing of the groove track. When a track is set to match the groove track, time quantisation is unavailable for that track.

Set the groove track

In GarageBand on Mac, control-click a track header, then choose Track Header Components > Show Groove Track from the shortcut menu.
Hold the pointer over the left edge of the header of the track you want to set as the groove track.
Click the star on the left edge of the track header.

Match other tracks to the groove track

In GarageBand on Mac, select the Match Groove Track tickbox on the left side of each track’s header.
Tracks that aren’t selected won’t match the groove track.

Turn off the groove track

In GarageBand on Mac, click the star in the header of the current groove track to de-select it.

Note: If a project contains Apple Loops, the original loop follows the groove track, but loop repetitions do not follow the groove track.

Helpful?

GarageBand User Guide

Use the groove track in GarageBand on Mac

Set the groove track

Match other tracks to the groove track

Turn off the groove track