New customer? Create your account. Lost password? Recover password. Remembered your password? Back to login. Already have an account? Login here. Next up in Part 2, we will be looking in-depth and providing a guide to each different kind of mute — stay tuned! Your email address will not be published.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Previous post. Next post. Skip to content There are many, many different types of mute for brass instruments, and in this post I will aim to give some insight into their use and characteristics.
Why Mute? Now for a bit of history… The first time trombone mutes were utilized is probably around the early 18 th century, where music by Dietrich Buxtehude survives that specifies their use [1].
The Bucket Mute produces the most muffled sound of all the cardboard mutes. There are a few different configurations, but most commonly a bucket mute is a is a round, bucket-shaped cardboard mute, filled with cotton, clips onto the outside of the bell. Some mutes actually insert into the bell in the style of a straight mute.
These, like other specialty mutes, are more commonly seen in pit orchestras and big bands. A Practice Mute quiets the tone of the trumpet so that you can practice without disturbing others. This is great for practicing in an apartment, or for warming up while another performance is going on.
Practice mutes are really never used in performances. Keep in mind that a practice mute changes the air resistance of the horn, so students should find time to practice without it also. Depending on the context, each mute is a wonderful tool to either let a soloist control their timbre or to change the blend and balance of a section in a big band or orchestra!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the products listed above contain affiliate links, meaning NOLA School of Music may receive compensation through products purchased through these links. The cup mute recorded example is of a trumpet using a cup mute made from cardboard. The Harmon mute is almost always made from aluminum.
This mute has two parts. The larger part is bell shaped and it held inside the instrument by one continuous piece of cork wrapped around the mute.
The second piece, called a stem, fits inside the first. The mute can be played with the stem all the way inside, part way inside or left out all together. When reading a jazz chart that calls for a Harmon mute, the printed chart will usually indicate how the stem is to be used as well. The Harmon mute recorded example is of a trumpet using a Harmon mute with the stem out. This mute is used often in jazz. Trumpeters Miles Davis and Dizzy Gilespie used it extensively.
Miles Davis, in particular liked to play his trumpet using the Harmon mute with the stem removed completely from the mute. Plunger Mute The plunger mute is most often a regular new: bathroom plunger. However, this mute has none of the metal sounding quality of the Harmon mute.
In the days of the big bands, a plunger mute was often made of cardboard and painted white and red. This was probably because it looked better then using a bathroom plunger, especially in a fancy ballroom setting. This mute is made from cardboard and has cotton inside to further muffle the sound.
Other Types of Brass Instrument Mutes Other brass instrument mutes include the Derby Hat mute made to look like a derby hat, an interesting visual effect , a Stop mute used by the French horn and a Practice mute.
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