Logic Pro Key Commands: Essential Shortcuts by Workflow

How do key commands work in Logic Pro?

Key commands are Logic Pro's keyboard shortcuts: a single key or a key plus modifiers that triggers a function. Apple says nearly every Logic Pro function can run from a key command, and some functions exist only as key commands^[1].

All shortcuts below come from Apple's tables for the U.S. default preset^[2]. If you use a different keyboard layout or a custom set, your keys may differ. When a table shows a key with the keypad symbol, you must press that key on the numeric keypad, not the main keyboard^[1].

Two quick ways to see any shortcut: press Option-K to open the Key Commands window, or hold Control while choosing a menu command to open the window with that command already selected^[1]. Turning on help tags also shows the assigned key next to a command^[1].

Transport and recording shortcuts

The shortcuts you will press hundreds of times a session are Space to play or stop, R to record, C to toggle Cycle and K for the metronome^[2]. The rest of this table covers locating and markers.

Apple notes that most transport key commands have no default assignment at all^[9]. Commands such as Play from Previous Bar or Stop and Go to Last Locate Position are worth assigning yourself; the customization steps are further down.

Editing and arranging shortcuts in the Tracks area

For arranging, learn split, join, repeat and quantize first: Command-T splits regions at the playhead, Command-J joins them, Command-R repeats the selection and Q quantizes it^[3]. Those four cover most beat arrangement work.

If you work with stacks a lot, Logic Pro track stacks for mixing explains when to pick a folder or summing stack. For vocal takes, Option-Q toggles Quick Swipe Comping on a take folder^[4], which pairs with the workflow in Quick Swipe comping for beatmakers.

Window, editor and zoom shortcuts

Single-letter keys show and hide the main panes: X for the Mixer, P for the Piano Roll, Y for the Library and O for the Loop Browser^[2]. Zoom lives on Command plus the arrow keys^[5].

Tool menu shortcuts: press T, then a letter

Press T to open the Tool menu at the pointer, then press a single letter to pick the tool. These letters only work while that floating Tool menu is visible^[6].

• P: Pencil Draws regions and notes.^[6]
• I: Scissors Cuts regions at the click point.^[6]
• J: Join Glues selected regions together.^[6]
• E: Eraser Deletes what you click.^[6]
• A: Fade Drags fades and crossfades on audio regions.^[6]
• R: Marquee Selects a time range across tracks.^[6]
• X: Flex Edits audio timing with Flex markers.^[6]
• V: Velocity and Q: Quantize Adjusts MIDI velocity or quantizes whatever you click.^[6]

A good habit is to leave the Pointer as your left-click tool and put the tool you use most, often Marquee or Pencil, on the Command-click tool. Then you rarely need the Tool menu at all.

How do you customize key commands in Logic Pro?

Open the Key Commands window with Option-K, select a command, click Learn by Key Label and press the key combination you want^[1][7]. Logic warns you if that combination is already taken.

1. Open the window
   Choose Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit Assignments or press Option-K.^[1]
2. Find the command
   Type in the search field, or click the Unused filter to see commands with no key yet. The Pressed filter shows what a key combination already does while you hold it.^[8]
3. Learn the key
   Select the command, click Learn by Key Label, then press the key with any Shift, Control, Option or Command modifiers.^[7]
4. Handle conflicts
   If Logic already uses the combination, choose Cancel to keep it, Replace to reassign it, or OK to keep both assignments.^[7]
5. Check macOS conflicts
   If the system reacts instead, the combination belongs to macOS. Apple's example is Option-Command-D, which shows or hides the Dock.^[7]
6. Turn Learn off
   Click Learn by Key Label again so later key presses do not overwrite anything.^[7]

Learn by Key Position works the same way but tells the main keyboard and the numeric keypad apart, so a keypad number can do something different from the matching top-row number^[7]. The same window also learns buttons from a MIDI controller through Learn New Assignment^[7], which is useful if your keyboard has spare pads. For controller setup in general, see the MIDI mapping basics guide.

How to save, import and back up your key command set

Use Save As in the Key Commands window's Action menu to store your set as a file. The default location is ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Key Commands/, and you can import that file on any other Mac running Logic^[8].

• Switch sets Choose Logic Pro > Key Commands > Presets to swap between default and custom sets.^[8]
• Import vs Merge Import Key Commands overwrites everything. Merge Key Commands brings in only the custom assignments from the chosen set.^[8]
• Save only your changes Save Customized Key Commands As writes a smaller file with just the shortcuts you changed.^[8]
• Print a cheat sheet Choose Copy Key Commands to Clipboard, paste into a text document, then format and print it.^[10]
• Reset safely Initialize All Key Commands restores the defaults and wipes your custom ones, so save a copy first.^[1]

Keep the saved set with your other project backups. The guide to where Logic Pro stores plugins, samples and projects lists the other folders worth copying when you move to a new Mac.