To make vocal harmonies in GarageBand, record your lead vocal, then record each harmony part as its own take on a separate track. Pan the harmony tracks left and right, turn them down well below the lead, and tuck them under the lead with a little EQ and reverb. GarageBand does not write harmonies for you. You sing them, or you copy and shift your own takes by hand.
This guide covers GarageBand for Mac. GarageBand on iPhone and iPad uses a different layout, so the steps here do not match it one for one.
How do you make vocal harmonies in GarageBand?
You build harmonies the way studios do: one voice per track. A clean lead, plus two or three quiet support parts, sounds fuller than one loud stack of copies. Real separate takes also sound more natural than a copied track, because small timing and pitch differences make the group sound like several singers.
- Record the lead first. Get one solid, in-tune lead take on its own track. Name it "Lead".
- Plan the harmony notes. Pick a simple interval above or below each lead note. See the next section for which ones to try.
- Add a new audio track for the first harmony and name it "Harm 1". Keep the lead playing in your headphones.
- Record the harmony part all the way through the section. Sing softer than the lead. Do not push for volume.
- Repeat for "Harm 2" if you want a second part. Record a fresh take. Do not just copy the first one.
- Pan the parts. Turn the pan knob on each harmony track, one a little left and one a little right.
- Lower the harmony tracks with the track volume sliders until you only just notice them.
- Check the mix on a second set of speakers or headphones.
You can also select the lead track and duplicate it (Track menu, Duplicate Track, or Command-D). Use the copy to build a double of the lead, or to sing a new harmony over it. Do not leave the same notes stacked, because identical copies sound thin rather than full.
What notes should vocal harmonies sing?
Start with the interval of a third. A harmony a third above the lead note (or below it) fits most pop and R&B melodies. The exact size, major or minor, depends on the key, so listen and pick the one that sounds right against your chords.
- Thirds give the classic, sweet harmony sound. They are the safest first choice.
- Fifths sound open and strong. They work well on choruses and ends of phrases.
- Octaves double the lead at a higher or lower register. They add weight without adding a new note.
- Stacking means layering two or three parts, for example a third above and a fifth below. Keep each part quieter than the lead.
If a note is hard to find, play the harmony note on the on-screen keyboard or a software instrument first. Then hum it against the lead. Short sessions help too. Your ear tires quickly when you hold two lines in your head.
How do you make harmonies sound like one group?
Tight harmonies come from matching four things: pitch, timing, volume and tone. Fix the weakest one first. Most weak harmonies fail on volume or timing, not on the notes.
- Pitch. Sing each part as close to the target note as you can. If a note drifts, re-record that phrase. GarageBand has a Pitch Correction control on audio tracks, but heavy correction on stacked parts can sound stiff, so use it lightly. Our guide to pitch correction in GarageBand explains what it does and does not do.
- Timing. Zoom in on the waveform. If a harmony starts late, drag the region a little earlier so the first word lines up with the lead. Do the same for the end of words.
- Volume. Pull each harmony down until the lead stays clearly in front. If you can pick out every harmony word, they are too loud.
- Tone. Use the same EQ on every harmony track so they sound like one group. Cut low rumble with a high-pass filter, and take a little off the harshest highs.
What are good starting settings for harmony tracks?
Use these values as a first pass, not a rule. Your voice, your mic and your song will change each number. Change one setting at a time, and listen with the full track playing, not solo.
| Setting | Lead vocal | Harmony tracks | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pan | Center | About 20 to 40 percent left and right | Opens space and keeps the lead clear |
| Track volume | Reference level | Roughly 4 to 8 dB below the lead | Harmonies support the lead, not compete |
| High-pass filter (EQ) | Near 80 Hz | Near 150 to 200 Hz | Removes low build-up from stacked parts |
| Compression | Light to medium | Light, same setting on each part | Evens out level without squashing |
| Reverb | A little | A little more than the lead | Pushes harmonies slightly behind the lead |
In GarageBand, you can reach the EQ, compression and reverb for each track from the Smart Controls and the plug-ins area, depending on the track type. If you use the same settings on every harmony, save the settings as a patch and load it on each harmony track. For the full order of effects, see our vocal chain order and settings for GarageBand.
How do you stack harmonies without a muddy mix?
Muddy stacks come from too many parts at the same loudness, all in the center, all with the same low end. Fix them in this order.
- Cut the number of parts. Two good harmony tracks beat six weak ones.
- Pan the parts apart.
- Raise the high-pass filter on the harmonies until the low end clears.
- Lower the volume of every harmony by the same amount.
- Check the chorus against the verse. Add one extra part only in the chorus if you want it to feel bigger.
A simple trick helps here. Mute the lead and listen to the harmonies alone. They should sound like a small group singing, not like a wall of noise. Then bring the lead back in. For more on how the lead and the effects fit together, read our how to mix vocals in GarageBand guide and the GarageBand vocal effects guide.
Can a preset speed up the mix?
A preset gives your harmony tracks a matching EQ, compression and space in one step. That saves time when you have four or five vocal tracks to match. Our GarageBand vocal presets are built for GarageBand. You load one on the lead, then copy the idea to your harmony tracks and adjust by ear.
If you want a free chain to study first, you can download Toronto Warmth, our free preset. It is built for Logic Pro X, so it only helps if you also use Logic. For a full tour of GarageBand vocals, from presets to effects, read the complete GarageBand vocals guide.
FAQ
Does GarageBand have an automatic vocal harmony feature?
No. GarageBand does not generate harmonies from your voice. You record each harmony part yourself on its own track, or you build a double by duplicating a track and editing the copy.
How many harmony tracks should I use?
Start with two: one a third above the lead and one a third or fifth below. Add more only if the chorus needs it. More parts need more careful panning and lower volume to stay clear.
Why do my harmonies sound out of tune or too loud?
Out-of-tune harmonies usually mean the part was sung off the target note. Re-record that phrase. Harmonies that sound too loud need a lower track volume, often 4 to 8 dB below the lead. Panning them apart also helps.
