Mutes

Brass mutes are crucial devices used to alter the tone and volume of brass instruments. Over the centuries, various muting devices have been employed to create a myriad of effects. These devices can be broadly categorized into improvisational muting techniques and true mutes.

Improvisational Muting Techniques

1. Hand Muting 

   - Utilizes a hand to cover the bell, effective on smaller bell instruments like trumpets and cornets.

   - More visual than aural effect.

2. Music Stand Muting

   - Playing into a music stand, particularly for bell-front instruments, to create a softer sound.

   - Commonly used in rehearsals or quiet, unmuted passages.

3. Bag Muting:

   - A cloth bag tied around the bell helps in reducing the sound, often paired with a straight mute.

4. Hat Muting

   - Used in jazz, a hat covers the bell completely providing a visual and aural effect.

5. Plunger Cup Muting

   - A new toilet plunger cup used to mute the sound, a popular choice among jazz musicians.

True Mutes

1. Straight Mute

   - Commonly used mute, alters tone, not significantly reducing volume.

   - Variations include metal, fiber, and wooden straight mutes offering different sound effects.

2. **Pixie Mute**:

   - Smaller than traditional straight mutes, designed to be used alongside a plunger mute.

3. **Cup Mute**:

   - Alters the tone to a more rounded sound, available for a wide range of instruments.

   - Variations in design offer different levels of sound reduction and tonal quality.

4. **Robinson Mute**:

   - A variant of the cup mute, seen in some French scores but no longer manufactured.

5. **Harmon or Wah-Wah Mute**:

   - Complex mute with a removable stem, popular in jazz and increasingly seen in concert scores.

6. **Solotone or Cleartone Mute**:

   - Rare mute providing a sound reminiscent of an old speaker, known from 1920s to 1940s swing band sounds.

7. **Bucket Mute**:

   - Attached to the bell rim with clips, creates a dark and warm sound, requires more time to attach and remove.

8. **Practice Mute**:

   - Designed for quiet practice, not commonly used in performance but can be employed for extremely quiet passages.

**Considerations for Composers**:

- Understanding the notation for different mutes is crucial.

- Mutes will affect the overall intonation of an instrument.

- Allocation of time is necessary for mute insertion and removal, especially for larger mutes like those required for tubas.