Brass Clinic

Trumpet Mutes
By Adrian Griffin
Playing with a Mute

A mute in the bell of a hrass instrument changes or distorts the sound in

a particular way, and mutes constructed of cardboard, aluminum, brass, copper, synthetic polymers, or a combination of materials produce subtle differences in sound. On rare occasions
players use a cloth bag or other soft
material to mute the sound quality.
It takes practice for students to learn
the adjustments to play well with a
mute, adjusting to a different respon-

(above) Derby hat mutes add

an interesting visual effect to
the change in sound color.
(above right) In a jazz piece an
indication for a harmon mute
generally means it should be
played without a stem, but in a
classical piece the assumption
is that the stem should be in.
(right) A practice mute seals
the end of the bell so sound
can only pass through small
vent holes.
50

THE INSTRUMENTALIST / OCTOBER 2007

siveness, and correcting the intonation.

It also takes skill to make rapid changes
without dropping or clanking the mute.
By working with a tuner students can
determine how much to adjust the tuning slide, typically about 1A inch on the
main tuning slide. If they mark the tuning slide with a pencil they will have a
fast reference to the correct point.
Playing clean articulations with a
mute in takes more air and heavier
tonguing. When the mute is removed,
articulations will seem much easier.

Mutes in the Bandroom

A director who has limited experience with brass instruments should
consult with experienced players when
selecting a uniform brand of mute in
each style. Some schools purchase
matched sets of mutes for students to
use, but if the budget precludes this,
students should buy the prescribed
mutes at the beginning of the school
year. When seeking the advice of professional brass players or teachers, be
sure to explain which pieces or styles
of music the ensemble will perform.
Mutes have no place in a beginning
band year. Generally seventh grade is
the time to introduce mutes, and
straight mutes are adequate for everything but a jazz program, which at any
level will need a complete set of
straight, cup, harmon, and plunger
mutes. In high school students will
probably use four types of mutes to play
the broad range of literature.
Some jazz and classical pieces will
call for specialized mutes to create specific colors. For example a very hushed
band or orchestral passage might
necessitate a specialty mute such as a
Denis Wick wooden mute. It is prudent to tell the local music store what
mutes you have specified so these will
be on hand when students arrive.

During Performance
It is prudent to order mute racks to
reduce the clatter. During quick
changes a trumpet player can put the
mute between the legs, under a knee or
in an armpit. If a mute rack isn't available I suggest placing the mutes on a
black or charcoal-colored towel. For
those who play standing up, place it on
a flat music stand at waist height.
When sitting try folding a towel several times and place the towel an mute
on the floor.
Before inserting a mute into the
trumpet be sure to blow warm air into
the bell; the cork will stay in place

better with the resulting condensation.

The mute should be inserted firmly to
compress the corks for a secure fit, A
slight twist will lock the mute in place.
With a practice or a harmon mute
there should be an airtight seal against
the bell; with other mutes there will be
a gap between the mute and bell in the
areas between the corks. Some straight
and cup mutes have felt around the top
of the mutes, which minimizes noises
while inserting the mute. It also protects the bell from small scratches.
When a mute keeps slipping out of a
bell, it may be the result of too little
moisture or worn corks that provide poor
traction. A few gentle rubs with fine
sandpaper will roughen the cork surface.
If the corks have become compressed
over time, they should be replaced. Dirty
or oily corks can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol; do not use water which
evaporates slowly and may cause the
corks to swell.

Care of Mutes
Some wear and tear is inevitable,
including dents, but mutes should be
protected as much as possible because
major dents change the fits and vibrations, a leak will distort the intonation
and response. The best protection is to

carry them in a mute tote bag, which

can safely hold several mutes. These
bags are relatively inexpensive and
will hold other accessories as well.
Some players wrap each mute individually in a sock or cloth, but moving
and rubbing in a tote bag rarely damages them. Some of the more expensive models come in a cloth bag, which
protects the finish but offers little
cushioning. A good tote bag is still my
first choice.
If a mute develops a leak along a
seam, try blowing into the mute to feel
where the air comes out. The leak may
be sealed with epoxy, but it may have
to be replaced.

Mute Materials and Sound

versatility in sound. Metal straight

mutes have a more defined and consistent sound color across the dynamic
range. For passages played by several
muted trumpets, using the same model
will produce a unified sound and consistent intonation.

Types of Trumpet Mutes

A straight mute may be either cone
or pear shaped. It produces the sizzling,
distant sound that suits the opening of
Respighi's Pines of Rome or the opening trumpet solo of Shostakovich's
Symphony #1. A trumpet plays sharp
with a straight mute, so move the tuning slide out a bit to compensate.
Aluminum straight mutes (below)
produce the most traditional tone. The

Mutes made of aluminum have the

brightest sound; brass is warmer and
more mellow, but copper produces the
warmest, richest sound. The familiar
red and white mutes are made of lexan
polycarbonate and may be known as
stonelined. These are virtually impossible to dent, but the sound is somewhat duller than more resonant metal
mutes. Jazz players often use the stonelined variety of straight mute because
the sound color changes across the
dynamic range to provide the greater

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red-and-white polycarbonate variety

(above) is commonly used in school
bands because it is durable and inexpensive. An aluminum straight mute is better suited for symphonic playing. Other
varieties of the straight mute are used for
their specific tone color, and can be purchased later as the occasion requires.
To get a more muted sound, try putting cotton inside a straight or cup
mute to dampen the sound and make it
more distant. Start with three cotton
balls and do not use more than ten,
and push the cotton through the opening with a pen. To remove the cotton,
turn the mute upside down and snag it
with a partially unfolded paperclip.
A cup mute is generally added for
the wider variety of music played in
high school. These are quieter than
straight mutes and produce a soft,
warm sound.
A relatively recent development is
an adjustable cup mute, with a cup
that can be moved on the mute stem
to change the tone color. The
adjustable cup gives better intonation.
Although a synthetic fixed cup is common among high school students, the
adjustable cup mutes with an aluminum cone are quickly becoming the
professional standard.
The corks on a fixed cup mute may
need to be shaved to get the cup close
enough to the bell for a characteristic

sound. The distance between the bell

and the lip of the cup should be '/> - 3/4
inch. With an adjustable cup, it is an
easy adjustment to arrive at the optimal gap. For a great example of cupped
playing, listen to Dizzy Gillespie's
Night in Tunisia.
A practice mute cuts the sound level
by 70+% and is the best way to practice without disturbing others, but
don't practice this way all the time. A
practice mute is basically a straight
mute and will make the sound sharp
which is compensated for by adjusting
the tuning slide. The greater resistance
of a practice mute makes the lower
range more difficult to play and articulations will be more laborious. After
working with a practice mute articulations will seem much freer upon
returning to normal playing.
The difference between a standard
and a practice mute is that the practice
mute actually seals the end of the bell
with a ring of cork so sound can pass
only through small vent holes.
With a Yamaha practice mute the
player connects ear phones and the
sound that is heard is that of an open
trumpet, but there is a choice of several acoustics, such as a concert stage or
a cathedral. A more expensive model
corrects the intonation without adjusting the tuning slide and includes a
metronome and drum patterns.
Another application is to use the
greater resistance of a practice mute to
develop loud playing. This encourages
an open throat more air to move
through, a physical skill that can be
transferred to open-trumpet playing.
Plunger mutes are usually made of
rubber, or aluminum with a flocksprayed interior to create a metallic
and buzzy wa-wa sound in jazz playing,
especially in Dixieland music. Mutes
that have a rubber plunger produce a
warmer sound.

An adjustable cup mute can produce a variety of colors and better intonation.
52 THE INSTRUMENTALIST / OCTOBER 2007

A different notation is used to indicate movements of the plunger from

note to note. A plus sign indicates to
cover the bell with the plunger while
indicates to move the plunger away
from the bell. Sometimes both instructions are written for the same note, as
in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which
calls for a harmon mute.
In jazz it is common for a chart to
indicate a wa-wa effect with the hand
but no mute. To do this the lower left
edge of the bell is placed in the crease
of the left hand at the juncture of the
fingers and palm. Keep the fingers
together but flat, not cupped. Open
and close the hand in front of the bell
to create a more subtle wa-wa effect
than with a plunger mute.
Music stores sell standard plunger
mutes, but many players settle for a rubber sink plunger in the local hardware
store. Of the several available sizes of
rubber plungers, choose the size closest
to or slightly smaller than the bell.

To play with a plunger mute the

right hand uses the pinky hook to support the trumpet, which frees the left
hand to move the plunger by flexing
the wrist in and out of the bell. The
plunger should never fully block the
passage of sound out of the bell.
When using a household plunger,
many players simply cup their hand
over the plunger to hold it, but some
will cut a hole through the center of
the plunger and insert the middle finger to grip the plunger firmly.
The Harmon Mute Company was
the first to sell a wa-wa mute, and
today the term refers to the general
style rather than a specific brand,
although the Harmon Mute Company
still sells these mutes.
A harmon mute requires more air to
play. Most jazz musicians prefer one
made of copper, which creates a richer
muted color. The Harmon mutes used
in concert bands and for classical
music are generally made of aluminum.
If the stem or removable tube is
used, the sound is very buzzy, but when
just the mute body is used, the sound is
more mellow.

In a jazz piece an indication for a

Harmon mute generally means it
should be played without a stem, hut
in a classical piece the assumption is
that the stem should be in. The famous
trumpet solo in Gershwin's Rhapsody in
Blue is a good example of playing with
the stem, while Miles Davis on "My
Funny Valentine" is without a stem.
Like a practice mute, a harmon mute
completely seals the end of the bell
and all sound comes through the mute.
This mute also plays sharp and the
tuning slide should be adjusted.
With extended use the stem of a
harmon mute will become loose and
rattle, but this can be treated with
heavy grease or petroleum jelly to
tighten the fit.
Cloth bag mutes produce a soft, velvety tone and are used primarily by jazz
musicians. The purple Crown Royal
(TM) bag is most common among professionals, but a polishing cloth or a
soft cotton rag can also be used.
The bag is either draped over the
top of the bell and cover about half of
the air stream or the bag is used to
cover the entire trumpet bell but hangs
loosely to allow the sound to emerge.
Do not push the bell all the way into
the bag. Heavy fabric will dampen the
sound and flatten the pitch more than
thin cloth.
Some pieces, including Gershwin's An
American in Paris, call for a felt crown
mute. The usual bag, a velvet hat, or a
baseball cap are variously used for this.

Adrian D. Griffin is a graduate of the

Cincinnati Con-servatory of Music and
has three advanced degrees in music performance and education. He is currently
lecturer of trumpet at the University of
Texas at San Antonio. In addition he
maintains a trumpet studio in Austin,
Texas, with over 50 students. Griffin is
acting fourth trumpet with the Virginia
Symphony in Norfolk and is a clinician
and artist for Conn'Selmer and
Dansr/Denis Wick.

Those Flying
Fingers!

Harmon mute with stem removed

The pixie mute is the shortest of all
the standard trumpet mutes and imitates such vocal effects as laughing or
talking. A bucket mute creates the
illusion that the trumpeter is playing
in a bucket, but with a warmer, more
velvety sound. It is the largest trumpet
mute and produces about the same
volume of sound as an adjustable cup
pushed almost all the way in. The dark
sound is similar to flugelhorn.
One type of bucket mute is inserted
into the bell much like a straight mute,
but is attached to a large cylinder filled
with sound-absorbent material. This
mute style allows for slightly faster
mute changes. It is more durable and
can be changed faster than those that
clip onto the bell. Broken or bent clips
are a problem and most players choose
the kind that insert the bell into the
bucket mute.
Men in the 1920s and 1930s wore
derby hats and these were sometimes
used to cover the bell for a velvety
sound. With a derby hat mute the end
of the bell is inserted into the bowl of
the hat, which adds an interesting visual effect to the change in sound color.
A derby hat is used much like a plunger
for the do-wah effect that became popular with the big bands of the 1930s
and 1940s. Today derby hat mutes are
made of suede, metal, or plastic.
Mutes are usually interchangeable
between Bl, C, El>/D, and E trumpets,
but flugelhorn, piccolo trumpets in
A/Bt/C and F/G will require different
sizes. Some manufacturers now offer
cup mutes for the smaller bells of E^/D
trumpets. Flugelhorns take oversized
mutes to fit the larger bells, and these
include straight, practice, harmon, and
cup mutes.
The only mutes made for piccolo
trumpets are straight, harmon, cup,
and practice mutes. An example of a
piccolo trumpet using a straight mute
is in Mussorgsky's Pictures at an
Exhibition which calls for shimmering
sound.
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