• What Is a Mute?
• How Many Types of Mutes Are There?
• How Do I Get a Mute?
• How Much Does a Mute Cost?
• How Do I Learn How to Use a Mute?

As always, these types of articles are meant to provide an overview of the topic. If you want more details about any of the questions in particular, feel free to follow the links provided in those sections.

What Is a Trombone Mute?

Quick answer: it’s a piece of material that goes in, on, or around the trombone bell to alter the tone of the instrument.

More specifically, a mute is a device that you attach to your bell to change how the trombone sounds. Typically, you would own a few different mutes for different occasions. For example, it’s not uncommon for a straight mute to show up in concert band music. Likewise, you’ve probably scene a plunger used once or twice in jazz music. Take a look:

Unfortunately, due to the sheer variety of trombone mutes out there, it’s tough to describe exactly what they are. That said, like most things in music, I find it helpful to just take a listen:

How Many Types of Trombone Mutes Are There?

Quick answer: a lot, but not all of them are practical.

By this point, you’ve probably had a chance to see the various types of mutes there are for trombone, which begs the question: how many types of mutes are there?

This question can be broken up into two parts. First, I would argue there are only a handful of general purpose mutes that you’ll want to have on hand. In my experience, that includes a straight mute and a cup mute. And even then, I’ve gotten away with using a music stand to literally mute the sound of my horn.

That said, there are many, many types of mutes. But outside of the straight and cup, there are only a handful of other mutes that you might be exposed to regularly. These include the plunger and bucket mutes. If you peak at the thumbnail above, there are also several other mutes including pixie, harmon, softone, and buzz. These are significantly more rare.

However, it really depends on the context. As a jazz musician, I might see plungers more regularly than an orchestral musician. Similarly, folks who play in pit orchestras for musicals probably see the widest variety of mutes for various effects.

If you’re interested in seeing what the most common mutes look like, check out my article on the 5 most common trombone mutes.

How Do I Get a Trombone Mute?

Quick answer: head to your local music store, make an online purchase, or hunt for a deal on Craigslist.

Now that you’ve seen some mutes, let’s talk about how to get one. In general, there are two main ways to get a mute: online or in-person at a music store.

Unlike trombones, mutes are significantly more affordable. As a result, you’re less likely going to want to try-before-you-buy. That said, if you decide to purchase a mute online, I recommend reading a lot of reviews:

• 5 Best Straight Mutes for Tenor Trombones

Worst case scenario: you send it back and buy a different one. If you’re looking to save some money, I’m sure there are folks willing to part with their used mutes on eBay and Craigslist. And since mutes are so rarely used, this might be a good option.

In my case, I don’t think I started buying mutes until high school or even college. In fact, according to Amazon, I last purchased a mute in 2013. At that point, I was using straight and cup mutes more regularly in concert band, and if I ever needed something else, I was usually able to borrow one. And since I used the mutes so infrequently, I went sort of cheap with the old reliable Humes & Berg brand.

If online shopping isn’t your thing, you can always try to find mutes at your local music store. I believe I’ve seen then at larger chains like Guitar Center. Alternatively, if you’re in an ensemble, you can try to see if they have mutes that you can borrow.

All that said, be very careful when you pick out a mute. Trombones aren’t the only instruments that support mutes. For instance, you can buy straight mutes for all sorts of brass instruments including trumpets, French horns, and euphoniums.

How Much Does a Trombone Mute Cost?

Quick answer: trombone mutes are relatively inexpensive with prices ranging from $10 to $100, depending on brand and materials.

Now that you know where to look for a mute, it’s time to talk about how much you’ll be spending. If you’re like me and don’t mind being a little cheap, you can pick up a stonelined mute, which is effectively a very durable cardboard, for around $20. Alternatively, I’ve seen some plastic varieties for around the same price, though I cannot really comment on their quality or tone.

If you want something that is a bit more professional, you’ll have to shell out a little bit more cash. For instance, I’ve seen some nice aluminum mutes in the $30 to $50 range.

As always, the type of mute also impacts the cost. For instance, straight mutes seem to be the most affordable which I’ve seen as low as $10. In fact, I’ve written a nice list of straight mutes, if you’re in the market for one.

Alternatively, cup mutes seem to be about twice the price on average (i.e, $50 – $100), though this makes sense considering they require a bit more material. Likewise, I’ve often seen cup mutes feature removable cups (i.e., a 2-in-1 cup and straight mute). However, those can be a bit annoying to use if you have to switch back and forth often.

Some of the more rare mutes seem to be quite affordable as well. For example, the Harmon mute has a comparable cost to a cup mute. I suspect this is due to the lack of demand, but who knows.

All that said, I am sure there are professional mutes made of fancy materials like rose gold which skyrocket the price. That said, for everyday use, you can get a mute for a very affordable price. That said, be careful not to buy too many. They’re somewhat difficult to store.

How Do I Learn How to Use a Trombone Mute?

Quick answer: pick up a songbook, join a community band, find a private instructor, or watch some YouTube videos.

In my experience, there is not much you need to learn to be able to use a mute, though most of my experience is with cup and straight mutes. In general, those just twist right into the bell. From there, it’s a matter of practicing to get the right tone.

For some of the more intricate mutes like the plunger and Harmon mutes, there are definitely techniques that go beyond blowing into the horn. For instance, here are some techniques for learning how to use a plunger mute:

All that said, mutes typically require context to be effective, so you’ll want to grab some sheet music that includes muted parts. Or, you can always listen to you favorite musician and try to mock their sound.

Ultimately, the best way to learn is with others, so you’ll either want to pick up an instructor or join a community band. That’ll help you get up to speed quickly!

Get Started Today!

If you came here because you knew nothing about mutes, now you have plenty of knowledge to get started. As always, thanks for taking the time to check out the site. As always, respect the brass!

The post Everything You Need to Know About Trombone Mutes appeared first on Trill Trombone.

In short, you’ll get a lot of value out of the following brands: Soulo, Protec, LotFancy, Denis Wick, and Humes & Berg. If you want the best-of-the-best, go for the Soulo mute. If cost is an issue, check out the Humes & Berg mute. In any case, you can’t really go wrong with any of the mutes in this list.

Review Criteria

As always, I don’t like to put myself in the position of the expert. Sure, I could buy all these mutes and give you my opinion, but I think looking at general consensus of the music community is a lot more valuable.

As a result, when I research the best products, I like to leverage the various filtering features of Amazon to limit my search. For instance, I used the following settings to generate this list of the best tenor trombone mutes:

• Search Terms: Tenor Straight Mute
• Department: Trombone Mutes
• Average Customer Review: 4+ Stars

As always, I make sure to sort the products by average customer review, so I know I’m getting the best product first.

5 Best Straight Mutes

In this list, we’ll take a look at the five best tenor trombone straight mutes that I could find on Amazon. Feel free to share your favorites as well.

#1. Soulo Mute SM6378 Trombone Straight Mute – Aluminum – $$$

Apologies for the lack of a picture, but the first mute on the list is the Soulo SM6378 trombone straight mute. Like many of the mutes in this list, the Soulo mute is made of metal–specifically aluminum–so it’s light. In addition, the mute is held in place by three pieces of neoprene composite cork which are meant to let air through but also safely hold the horn in place.

In terms of features, Soulo boasts that the mute always plays in tune which can be an issue with many mutes. Likewise, the design limits backpressure, so you know it’s “easy on the chops.” Finally, the mute features a ring along the bottom, so it’s easy to stand up.

But, do the reviews hold up? Turns out, yes! For instance, one customer claimed that the mute gave them extended dynamic range. Meanwhile, another customer claimed that the mute was great in any context. Overall, I’d say the Soulo tenor trombone straight mute lives up to its claims.

#2. Protec ML106 Liberty Tenor Trombone Aluminum Mute – $$

Following closely behind Soulo is the Protec ML106 tenor trombone straight mute. According to the product description, this mute offers a lot of the same features as the Soulo including:

• Balance
• Long-lasting cork
• Limited backpressure
• Aluminum

As an added bonus, this mute comes in at just under $40 which makes it almost half the price of the Soulo mute. Of course, can Protec really make a mute just as good at that price point? Let’s find out.

While browsing through the reviews, I quickly realized that most of the reviews were for their compact practice mute. However, there were a handful of reviews for the two straight mutes (small vs. large bore). For instance, one customer claimed that the mute was excellent compared to the Humes & Berg mute they had been using.

If you get the chance, I really recommend reading the reviews because they contain a lot of great information like the mute’s note range and the mute’s susceptibility to denting.

Ultimately, I’d say this a great mute if you’re looking to save some cash but still want something of quality. Of course, it depends how often you’re going to use it, so keep that in mind.

#3. LotFancy Trombone Straight Mute, Aluminum, Light-weight – $

Of all the straight mutes in this list, this is the only straight mute I’ve seen that is marketed as a practice mute. In fact, the product description straight up states that the mute “allows you to warm up quietly and practice silently at home, no worry about disturbing your neighbors, family members or pets.” I’m not sure what that implies in terms of performance quality, so keep that in mind.

In terms of reviews, a lot of customers like this mute as advertised. For instance, one customer stated that the mute allows their son to practice without bothering people.

To be honest, I don’t love the idea of practicing with a mute because it’s nothing like the real thing. That said, if it works for you, I’d say go for it!

#4. Denis Wick DW5505 Trombone Straight Mute – $$

Unlike the FancyLot mute, the Denis Wick straight mute is meant for performance. In terms of construction, this mute is made of aluminum, but they come in many different styles including:

• Gold
• Brass
• Copper
• Synthetic
• Wood

While variety is nice, are the mutes actually any good? According to their customers, absolutely! For instance, one customer felt the mute had excellent sound in all registers. Beyond that, another customer said they loved this mute because it has a nice bright sound.

As a mid-range cost mute, I’d say this is a pretty solid deal. If you’re looking for a quality straight mute but don’t have enough money for the Soulo, this is probably the mute for you.

#5. Humes & Berg 151 Stonelined Straight Trombone Mute – $

Finally, we have a solid budget mute from Humes & Berg known as the Stonelined straight trombone mute. To be completely honest, this is the mute I use, so I decided to show it off in the featured image.

When I started college, I had to get a hold of a couple of mutes quickly. Of course, being a college kid, I never had the money for a nice mute, so I went the cheap route. Several years later, I still use this mute. It’s been through many concert bands, jazz bands, and pit orchestras, and I swear by it.

Oddly enough, a lot of other folks like this mute as well. In fact, I found one customer who has been using theirs since 1952. As another customer mentions, you just might not get a lot of mute opportunities, so why buy an expensive one?

As mentioned already, this is the mute I use, and I think it gets the job done. Unless you’re playing professionally, you can probably get by on this mute for a long time.

Summary

As with any list, this one comes with a few caveats. For one, there are a few brands that I felt should have made the cut but didn’t. For instance, Jo Ral is often well-respected, and they do a great job of marketing their work. As a result, I felt the Jo Ral straight mute deserved an honorable mention.

Likewise, I felt like there were other brands like Tom Crown that deserved a fair shake. For instance, the Tom Crown straight mute has some great reviews on Amazon.

Of course, the whole point of a list is to limit your choices a bit. If I wanted to overwhelm you, I would have just listed all mutes in existence.

At any rate, I hope you found this review valuable, and thanks for taking the time to read it. As always, respect the brass!

The post 5 Best Straight Mutes for Tenor Trombones appeared first on Trill Trombone.

List of Trombone Mutes

Without further ado, here’s the list of trombone mutes:

1. Plunger
2. Straight
3. Cup
4. Bucket
5. Harmon

In the following subsections, we’ll take a look at each mute, what it sounds like, and how it’s notated in music.

#1. Plunger Mute

As the name suggests, a plunger mute is just that: a plunger. Of course, you can buy a plunger mute, but a regular plunger works fine—just don’t forget to remove the handle!

Of all the trombone mutes, the plunger is the only one that doesn’t attach to the bell. Instead, you hold it directly to the bell with the hand that doesn’t operate the slide. Then, you use your hand to move the plunger toward and away from the bell as notated in your music (+ and o, respectively).

In terms of sound, check out this video by Sergeant First Class Jeff Adams:

As you’ll hear, the plunger has a nice effect when it is moved to and from the bell.

#2. Straight Mute

Following the plunger mute, we have the straight mute which is usually cone shaped and slides directly into the bell. To hold it in place, there are a few slices of cork—file down as necessary.

Of all the trombone mutes, the straight mute is a must-have. It’s used range the full spectrum of musical styles, so you really can’t go wrong with owning one.

In terms of notation, “straight mute” is usually marked in plain English when you are supposed to put the mute in. When it’s time to take the mute out, you’ll see the phrase “open”.

Finally, let’s take a listen:

As you can see, there are different types of straight mutes for different types of tone (i.e. edgy vs. soft). If you’re looking to get a straight mute and you have a tenor trombone, I’ve put together a list of mutes that you might like.

#3. Cup Mute

Like the straight mute, the cup mute also slides right into the bell. However, the design is slightly different. In particular, they have more of an umbrella-like structure which extends over the bell.

Also like the straight mute, the cup mute is very popular. In fact, those are the only two trombone mutes I own, and I’ve even seen combo mutes where the cup can be taken off.

Naturally, cup mutes are notated in plain English much like straight mutes. When the arranger wants you to remove the mute, they’ll let you know with the “open” cue.

Now, let’s listen to how it sounds:

With the additional of the cup, the tone tends to get quite a bit more muffled.

#4. Bucket Mute

Unlike the previous two mutes, the bucket mute doesn’t typically slide into the bell—though I’ve seen some models that do. Instead, they clip around the end of the bell. Inside, you’ll often find some mesh or foam to dampen the sound.

Unfortunately, I haven’t used a bucket mute, so I can’t speak to its notation. In fact, a lot of my Google searches came up empty, so if you any samples, send them along! I’d appreciate it.

At any rate, let’s take a listen:

In this video, they demonstrate the straight mute style of bucket mute I mentioned before, but you get the idea.

#5. Harmon Mute

Of all the mutes in this list, the Harmon mute is probably the least useful for a trombonist. That said, I decided not to leave it out because it’s still worth knowing about. After all, it has moving parts! In particular, the Harmon mute has a stem which can be moved in and out of the mute.

In addition, the Harmon (aka wah-wah) mute features a complete cone of cork which blocks air from exiting around the mute. In other words, all air travels directly into the mute.

Again, I haven’t personally seen a Harmon mute used in trombone music, so I can’t speak to the notation. That said, I would assume the notation would look similar to everything we’ve seen already with some added directives related to the stem.

At any rate, let’s have a listen (video is in Italian):

Honestly, I really like the sound—especially without the stem. It’s sad these mutes aren’t more common.

But Wait! There’s More

As a trombonist, you’re almost certain to run into straight mutes and cup mutes in music. And if you play in pit orchestras or jazz bands, you’ll probably even run into plunger mutes. Beyond that, I wouldn’t expect you to need a bucket or Harmon mute. That said, there even more mutes:

• Solotone
• Derby
• Pixie

Of course, like the Harmon mute, many of these border on the obscure. If you know of any songs where some of these are featured, let me know!

While you’re here, perhaps you’re looking for a laugh or trying to find a budget horn. Either way, I’d appreciate it if you took a look around the site. Your feedback is always welcome.

As always, thanks for your time, and always respect the brass!

The post 5 Most Common Trombone Mutes with Pictures appeared first on Trill Trombone.