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.