Brass Mutes

What's in a name? For brass mutes, only part of the story. It's true that mutes are designed to quiet an instrument down, but there's more to them than that. Many of the brass mutes you'll find in this section are made to change the instrument's tone in specific ways that give you a unique sound for certain styles of music, or to add special effects to a performance. Of course, if simply silencing your brass instrument is your goal, there's no shortage of practice mutes to get the job done. So, really, what it comes down to is finding the right mute to do the job you have in store for it: whether you're changing your instrument's sound or just cutting the volume, there are brass mutes up to the task.

One of the top-rated mutes in the lineup is a good example of one that's designed for effects instead of silence: the Harmon B Model Aluminum Trumpet Wow-Wow Mute. You can think of this model as the trumpet equivalent to a guitarist's wah pedal - just slide the cup at the end to bend your tone on the fly. Interested in something even more classic? Check out the Mutec MHT260 Rubber Trombone Plunger Mute or the Humes & Berg 120 Trumpet/Trombone Derby Mute. Want to perk up your treble? Take a look at any of the Humes & Berg Cleartone series mutes. There are lots to choose from!

As far as straightforward quieting of your instrument goes, keep your eyes peeled for practice mutes. They're designed to suppress volume without significantly affecting tone, so you can have the sound accuracy you need to practice effectively. If you do a lot of travelling, one line that deserves special attention is the travel series from Denis Wick, including the DW5587 Euphonium Travel Mute and the DW5582 Tenor Trombone Travel Mute. They're designed to fit completely within the instrument's bell so you can leave them installed when you pack it up in its case.

It turns out that mutes aren't as simple as their name makes them sound, but that's a good thing! It means that the brass mutes in this section have a lot to offer, not only in quieting down for practice at home, but also in opportunities to customize your instrument's sound. The only thing left to decide is which brass mutes are the right choices for your own needs, and the best way to do that is to start looking through your options right here.