All About Brass Instruments and Mutes

Today I am going to show the different types of mutes for brass instruments. I think a mute is an accessory that brass players might get later after they learn how to use the instrument and mouthpiece.

■What is a mute?

The mute is attached into the bell of a brass instrument. When the composer intends for the music to have certain brass effects in a piece, it is notated in the sheet music. There are various types of mutes, and they produce different sound characteristics. The different materials and shapes of the mutes change the tone and volume.

■Straight Mute

The straight mute is the most commonly used type of mute. It creates a soft and muffled tone that is unique to brass instruments. It can be made of aluminum, wood, or fiber. The bottom (the part that protrudes from the bell of the instrument) can be made of copper or brass.

In sheet music, the mute is notated as “con sordino/sordini”, “sord.”, “mute”, etc.

PROTEC / ML100 Straight Mute

PLAYTECH / Trumpet Straight Mute Mini

■Cup Mute

The cup mute has a softer, more muffled tone than the straight mute. As the name ‘cup mute’ suggests, it looks like a cup is protruding from the bell.

PLAYTECH / Trumpet Cup Mute PTMC1

Denis Wick / DW5531 Trumpet Cup Mute

■Wah-Wah Mute (Harmon Mute)

This wah-wah mute is often used in big bands and jazz music. The wah-wah mute by Harmon Instruments, which is also called ‘Harmon mute’, is the standard model. It literally creates a ‘wah-wah’ effect.

It consists of two parts: the main part of the mute and the stem part that looks like a funnel (or mouthpiece maybe?). It can be used in various styles such as putting the entire stem into the main part and with the stem removed.

The wah-wah mute or the Harmon mute with the stem removed is sometimes called a ‘‘stem out’.

PLAYTECH / Trumpet Wah-Wah Mute PTMW1

BEST BRASS / Trumpet Wah-Wah & Cool JazzⅡ/Aluminum

■Plunger Mute

This plunger mute is not designed to be attached to the bell, but to be held in the performer’s left hand. It produces a more of a ‘wah-wah’ effect than the Harmon mute. The plunger mute is usually made of rubber, but a cup noodle container or a rubber plunger cup for the bathroom can also be substituted.

For music that calls for the use of a plunger mute, the symbol ‘+’ indicates “cover the bell” and the ‘O’ symbol indicates “partly uncover the bell”.

NewStoneLined / GM105 Plunger Mute Trupmet

NewStoneLined / 113 Plunger Mute Trupmet

■Bucket Mute

The bucket mute is used to produce a dark and warm sound. It is often used in big bands. Most commonly the bucket mute is designed to be clipped onto the outside of the bell. The round part is filled with cotton.

NewStoneLined / 108 Bucket Mute Trumpet

■Stop Mute

This stop mute easily produces the effect of the gestopft muting. Gestopft is a muting technique to create a metallic tone by placing your right hand in the bell. It also raises the pitch about a semitone for the horn in F and about 3/4 note in B♭. In the sheet music, it’s noted as a ‘+’ symbol, “stopping”, “gestopft” in German, “bouche” in French, or “chiuso” in Italian. Originally, the gestopft muting is played by closing the bell with the hand, but it is very difficult to perform this technique, so the stop mute can be used instead.

PLAYTECH / Stop Mute PTMG4

NewStoneLined / 119 Stop Mute French Horn

■Practice Mute (Silent Mute)

This is not for creating acoustic effects but this mute is for practicing because it muffles the sound. Some mutes, such as the Silent Brass series by YAMAHA and the e-Brass by BEST BRASS, are designed to connect to earphones. With the practice mute, you will feel a little more resistance when blowing.

NewStoneLined (/ 132 PRACTICE TRUMPET

YAMAHA / SB7X Silent Brass Trumpet

BEST BRASS / e-BrassIV Trumpet Silencer

■Conclusion

There are many types of mutes for brass instruments and I introduced the differences between them. The straight mute and cup mute may frequently be used, but as for other types of mutes, I think it is okay to get when you need them. Actually, there are still many more mutes out there than what I listed!