Brass musicians often place mutes in their bells to produce special sounds for specific styles of music. The most common types are described here.
Mutes are used to alter the sound of brass instruments. All brass instruments from the trumpet all the way to the tuba can use a mute, although trumpet and trombone mutes are most common. Mutes can be made of many different materials, the most common ones being made of metal. The specific sound that a musician wants will determine the type of mute that is to be used.
The Straight Mute:
The most common kind of mute for brass instruments, the straight mute is also the most widely used. The straight mute produces a muffled, tinny sound that is commonly called for in classical literature as well as in jazz band ensembles. The straight mute is also the most commonly used mute for the larger instruments such as the baritone, euphonium, and tuba.
The Cup Mute:
The cup mute is essentially a straight mute with a cup added to the end to reflect and soften the metallic edginess of the sound. Composers most commonly use this type of mute in jazz music although it is also common in classical and wind band literature.
The Harmon Mute:
The Harmon mute is the quintessential jazz band mute. It produces a gravelly, brassy sound that is highly desired in certain styles and passages of jazz band literature. The Harmon mute is adjustable as it comes in two pieces, the mute itself and a removable stem. Inserting or removing the stem changes the quality of the sound.
The Bucket Mute:
Unlike the mutes mentioned previously the bucket mute clips to the end of the brass instrument. Inside the bucket is a sound absorbent material that helps produce a very soft, muffled sound, almost as if playing into a pillow.
