Creative GarageBand
Create an arpeggiated 80s bass synth
Learn how to add a retro-sounding synthesised bass track to your GarageBand projects
Anyone familiar with 1980s pop music will know all about it. Things were going electronic with the advent of synthesisers, and there was very, very big hair. Haircuts may have changed since, but still you can hear the sounds and styles in today’s tunes. If you want to add that 80s vibe to your GarageBand songs, bass is key. Arpeggiated bass synth lines were a hallmark, and our favourite music-making app has them in abundance. In this guide, we’ll create one from scratch, using software instruments to make a simple line. Then, by using the arpeggiator plug-in, we can get that rapid-fire pulsing effect so synonymous with the era.