Free Tools for GarageBand Producers
GarageBand is great for recording and arrangement, but it does not detect the key of a sample, find chord progressions, or calculate BPM-synced delay times. These free browser tools fill those gaps, on Mac and iPhone.
Detect BPM + Key FreeWhat GarageBand Does Not Include
GarageBand has Smart Tempo for BPM detection but has no key detection, no chord detection, no delay calculator, and no scale reference tools. These six free browser tools fill every gap.
6 Free Tools for Your GarageBand Workflow
BeatKey BPM + Key Detector
Find the BPM and musical key of any audio file. Works on samples, loops, stems, and unreleased tracks.
Chord Finder
Detect chord progressions in any audio file. Identifies chord names, shows a timeline of chord changes.
BPM Delay Calculator
Calculate exact millisecond delay times for any BPM. Covers all note values including dotted and triplet variants.
Scale Finder
Look up scale notes for 18 scales across all 12 keys. Includes modes, pentatonic, blues, and more.
Note Frequency Calculator
Look up the Hz frequency of any musical note. Includes MIDI note numbers, EQ chart, and 808 tuning guide.
Interactive Camelot Wheel
Click any key to see all harmonically compatible keys highlighted. Deep-link from BeatKey results.
6 GarageBand + BeatKey Workflow Tips
Smart Tempo vs BeatKey
GarageBand's Smart Tempo can detect BPM but gives you no key information. BeatKey gives BPM and key together in one upload, and the Camelot code is included for harmonic mixing planning.
Set Project Key After Detection
Once BeatKey tells you the key of your sample, click the key signature in GarageBand's LCD display and set it to match. This ensures GarageBand's musical tools (scale quantize, chord triggers) are aligned with your audio.
EXS24 / Quick Sampler Root Key
When you add a sample to the EXS24 or Quick Sampler instrument in GarageBand, set the root note to match the sample's actual pitch. Use notes.beatkey.app to find the Hz frequency of the root note, then tune the sampler accordingly.
Echo and Tape Delay in Ms Mode
GarageBand's built-in Echo and Tape Delay plugins have a milliseconds mode. Get the exact ms value for your project BPM from delay.beatkey.app. For the classic The Edge/U2 dotted eighth delay, use the dotted eighth column in the calculator.
GarageBand iOS + BeatKey in Safari
On iPhone or iPad, open Safari alongside GarageBand. Upload your sample to beatkey.app from your Files app. Get BPM, key, and Camelot code without leaving your iPhone. All BeatKey tools work in Safari on iOS.
Piano Roll Scale Locking
GarageBand has a scale quantize feature in the Piano Roll. Use scales.beatkey.app to find the exact scale notes for the key BeatKey detected, then use those notes as your scale reference when constraining your MIDI to scale.
GarageBand for iPhone and iPad
GarageBand on iOS is one of the most powerful free music apps ever made. All BeatKey tools work in Safari on iPhone and iPad - no app download needed.
iPhone workflow
- 1. Open Safari and go to beatkey.app
- 2. Tap Upload and choose your sample from Files
- 3. Get BPM, key, and Camelot code instantly
- 4. Switch to GarageBand and set project tempo and key
- 5. Return to Safari for chord detection or scale notes as needed
What works in iOS Safari
- ✓ BPM + Key detection (beatkey.app)
- ✓ Chord Finder (chords.beatkey.app)
- ✓ Delay Calculator (delay.beatkey.app)
- ✓ Scale Finder (scales.beatkey.app)
- ✓ Note Frequency (notes.beatkey.app)
- ✓ Camelot Wheel (beatkey.app/camelot-wheel)
- ✓ Key Transposer (beatkey.app/key-transposer)
- ✓ Metronome (beatkey.app/metronome)
GarageBand vs BeatKey Tools
| Feature | GarageBand | BeatKey Tools |
|---|---|---|
| BPM detection | Smart Tempo (auto-detect) | Instant upload analysis, exact BPM |
| Key detection | Not available | Full key + Camelot code detection |
| Chord detection | Not available | Full chord progression with timeline |
| Delay ms calculator | Manual math only | All note values at any BPM instantly |
| Reverb pre-delay | Manual setting, no guide | BPM-synced pre-delay chart |
| Scale notes lookup | Not available | 18 scales across all 12 keys |
| Note frequency (Hz) | Not available | Full MIDI note Hz chart, EQ guide |
| 808 tuning guide | Not available | Step-by-step with Hz values |
| Works on iPhone | App only | Full browser tools in Safari |
| Unreleased track analysis | No metadata lookup | Full audio analysis, any file |
| Price | Free (Apple devices) | Free, no account, any browser |
Sample Flip Workflow in GarageBand
GarageBand is capable of sample-based production when you know what you are doing. Here is the complete workflow using BeatKey tools.
- 1
Detect BPM and Key
Upload your sample to beatkey.app. Get the BPM (e.g., 90 BPM), the key (e.g., F minor / Camelot 4A), and the Camelot code. Set GarageBand's project tempo and key signature to match.
- 2
Find the Chord Progression
Upload the same sample to chords.beatkey.app. It shows which chords appear at each point in the audio. Write down the chord names (e.g., Fm - Db - Ab - Eb).
- 3
Set Up the EXS24 or Quick Sampler
Drag your sample into GarageBand's EXS24 or Quick Sampler instrument. Use notes.beatkey.app to find the Hz of the root note (e.g., F2 = 87.3 Hz) and tune the sampler to match.
- 4
Write the Melody
Use scales.beatkey.app to find the scale notes for F minor (F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb). In GarageBand's Piano Roll, constrain your MIDI input to those notes. Write a melody that complements the sample chord progression.
- 5
Set BPM-Synced Effects
Go to delay.beatkey.app, enter 90 BPM, and get the exact ms values. Set GarageBand's Echo or Tape Delay plugin to ms mode. Use the dotted eighth value for rhythmic delay, the quarter note value for standard echo, and the eighth note value for reverb pre-delay.
BeatKey Tools for Other DAWs
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GarageBand detect the key of a song?
GarageBand does not have audio-based key detection. It can display key information if a file has key metadata embedded, but it cannot analyze the audio to determine the key. BeatKey (beatkey.app) fills this gap by analyzing any audio file you upload and giving you the musical key, BPM, and Camelot code instantly.
Can I use BeatKey on iPhone with GarageBand for iOS?
Yes. All BeatKey tools work in Safari on iPhone and iPad. Open beatkey.app in Safari, upload a sample from your Files app, and get BPM and key detection without leaving your iPhone. You can have GarageBand open in the background and switch between apps as needed. All tools run in the browser with no app download required.
How do I find chord progressions for GarageBand?
GarageBand does not detect chords in audio. Use the Chord Finder at chords.beatkey.app - upload your sample or reference track and it identifies the chord names and shows a timeline of chord changes. Once you know the chords, recreate them in GarageBand's Piano Roll or use them with Smart Chord instruments.
How do I calculate delay times for GarageBand's Echo plugin?
Use the BPM Delay Calculator at delay.beatkey.app. Enter your project BPM and it gives you milliseconds for every note value. In GarageBand, open the Echo plugin and switch from Beat Sync to milliseconds mode. Enter the value directly. For the classic dotted eighth delay, use the dotted eighth column in the calculator.
Is BeatKey free for GarageBand users?
Yes. All BeatKey Tools are completely free with no account required. BPM detection, key detection, chord finder, delay calculator, scale finder, and note frequency calculator are all free in your browser. No subscription, no ads, no data uploaded to a server - audio is processed locally in your browser.
Start With BPM + Key Detection
Upload any audio file and get the BPM, musical key, and Camelot code in seconds. Free, no account, works on Mac and iPhone.