GarageBand's latest updates not only bring a little something for experienced musicians, but also a little something for those of you who are just getting started. In addition to over 1,000 new loops and sound effects, Apple has completely dropped the $4.99 price on Artist Lessons.
If you aren't familiar: GarageBand's Artist Lessons come from actual musicians, from John Legend and Norah Jones to Fallout Boy and Rush. Artist Lessons are divided into two main categories---piano and guitar---and come in three levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and advanced.
The lessons are often conversational, and the artists walk you through and explain each part of their songs. They also give you insight into the stories behind songs.
To take advantage of the piano lessons on your laptop, GarageBand recommends using a USB or MIDI-compatible keyboard that you can plug into your computer. But you could always follow along and use any piano, or even follow along using the keyboard available in the iOS version of GarageBand on an iPad.
How to Download Apple's GarageBand Lessons
If you're ready to start learning from your favorite singers, here's how to download the lessons:
- When you first open up GarageBand, you should see a menu in the left sidebar. Click Lesson Store.
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Click Artist Lessons.
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You'll see a series of 15 guitar lessons and eight piano lessons. Click the icon for the lesson you want to download.
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Click the Download button next to the artist name.
You can access all your downloaded lessons (from artists or otherwise) by clicking the Learn to Play button in the menu in the sidebar and clicking on the Artist Lessons tab.
If you find the Artist Lessons overwhelming, it might be better to start with the basic Guitar and Piano lessons available before moving on to your favorite songs.
And if you're brand new to GarageBand, be sure to check out our step-by-step guide to GarageBand which breaks down everything you need to know about using the music app to its full potential.