GarageBand for iOS - Smart Chords: The Theory Behind Them

The smart chords on GarageBand are indeed incredibly useful and musical. To get the most out of them, the theory is useful to know. Also shown here is a bit of actual piano to help explain the concepts.
Here goes!
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[@lucentshadow]

I wish other DAWs were this detailed, especially for those of us still trying to internalize the theory portion of things.

[@arushiaishwarya8907]

This video is one of the most informative videos I have seen on this topic. Thank you

[@edzielinski]

So worth watching.
Me: "Hmm - these smart chords are sort of cheesy and not very useful.."
Dan Baker: "Let me show you how useful and powerful this feature is and give you mega skills in under 15 minutes."
But seriously, I'm consistently amazed at how Dan reveals the hidden power and creativity within things that are right under our noses, in this case in GarageBand. And I'm convinced it's more about being creative and thoughtful. Dan is clearly a man to be reckoned with in the skills area, but this is really about attitude and approach rather than skill and talent, and that's within everyone's reach.

[@JohnLynagh]

Hi Dan, for someone like me trying to learn a bit of theory, the video is priceless. I could take those chord inversions , jot them down and practice them on the keyboard. Mega useful for me, thanks so much.

[@clearlyepic9958]

Sheesh Dan! I don’t claim to know everything about music theory but I do know enough to be dangerous... I didn’t even realize the order in which the smart chords were arranged! I figured it was arbitrary... thanks!
Steve

[@davefiano4172]

The video I was waiting for...terrific! I still don’t understand the theory behind how C/Am is all the white keys, but you can play scales that include black keys/notes not “In the Key”. I’ve asked many musicians (including professionals who’ve played on albums you’ve heard), and haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer other than them saying “whatever works man”. BUT, it would be great to know the “why” and the “when” behind it in order to expand the musical universe. I bought “The Beato Book” and that too was over the head of same musicians. To me the SWEEET SPOT for PRACTICAL theory would be an entire course like what you are doing here Dan from soup to nuts played in GarageBand with multiple examples.
I recorded a few songs where I’ve used multiple scales including major, minor, pentatonic, Dorian, and even the most esoteric ones and made it work and sound great, but it’s all trial and error. I’ve studied the Circle of Fifths and other content somewhat in depth, but would love an explanation that would have something like “This is why the Dorian scale and it’s relative chords work in the Key of C that doesn’t include those notes, but here’s why and when that works, but here’s where it doesn’t”.
I would pay good $$$ for a course like that, demonstrated in GB. If that’s out there, somebody lmk, because I could be pointlessly bloviating per my usual agreement lol.

[@Teeum5]

At the beginning of the video I could follow along without any problems but then there was too much of music theory to understand. But nevertheless I thank you very much for this video which will help me even more as soon as my knowledge about music theory increases…. 👍

[@skinnyTheCat]

Thanks Dan! Great stuff as always! :)

[@DarylNotDead]

Awesome work sir.

[@ebolds4918]

Thanks, I’ve always wondered about how inversions are played on iPad GarageBand 👍🏽

[@prod.toiblade9003]

This helped me so much!

[@iljalokenberg520]

Great vid

[@ChrisTopheRaz]

OK so I get what they did but what I don’t understand is why you can’t just get cord structures in the key as they’re supposed to be. It would make writing chord progressions a lot easier. And a major, you look at this and it’s not in order. Garage band is for beginners not professionals.

[@a.fontoura]

Thanks

[@JJGhostHunters]

Hi Dan...I have an iPad Air 3. I want to do two things...bring in audio from a practice amp (Positive Grid Spark) and also just play my guitar directly into the iPad and use Garage Band amps, etc. What should I buy to allow this? I am thinking iRig but not certain. Thank you for your time!

[@DanBakerMusic]

Hi there! I would think the irig is your best bet, to get the most control. I’m assuming the iPad Air 3 has a headphone port? If not, you may need to go another route. You can now get lightning to USB 3 cables which allow anything class compliant to be connected, such as the Focusrite Scarlett range...

[@JJGhostHunters]

@@DanBakerMusic Thank you so very much for your recommendations! The iPad Air 3 does have a headphone jack. I ordered a cable just as you described and will pick up an iRig in the near future.