Touch-screen music done right (pictures)

GarageBand has been around for a while, but it continues to impress with excellent instrument layouts and intuitive recording controls.

Jason Parker

Jason Parker has been at CNET for nearly 15 years. He is the senior editor in charge of iOS software and has become an expert reviewer of the software that runs on each new Apple device. He now spends most of his time covering Apple iOS releases and third-party apps.

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Jason Parker

March 22, 2013 4:54 p.m. PT

1 of 7 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Play it like a guitar

You can pluck the strings or play switch and play them as chords. Guitars also come with various effects appropriate to the style of guitar.

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2 of 7 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

So many options

There are several different types of instruments to choose from, each with their own unique sounds.

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3 of 7 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Save your songs

Your songs are laid out in a grid to make it easy to find the one you want to work on. While I know what most of my songs are, I think I need to work on giving them names.

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4 of 7 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Smart instruments for the less musical

The smart instruments are truly amazing in their capability to make even those with little musical talent sound great (I should know).

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5 of 7 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

Clever instrument layouts

Can't play piano? No problem. Use the smart version of instruments to get a clever layout of chords and bass notes that makes it easy to put together a great song quickly.

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