Harmon WOW-WOW Trumpet Mute

Product Information

Baines 1992, p.217: "There are now types of 'attached' mute (attached to the bridge)... where the mute may need to be applied or removed within the short space of a bar's rest." Practice mutes are shorter than other types of mutes and resemble a miniature Harmon or straight mute. They are made from aluminum and have a circle of cork around the small end of the mute to hold it in place inside of the trumpet bell.

Your sound will be dramatically quieter, so it’s perfect if you need an almost silent rehearsal at home.Mutes are widely used on brass instruments to alter their timbre. [4] [6] They are often directly inserted into the instrument's bell, but can also be clipped or held onto the end of the bell. [11] Mutes of various types are available in many sizes for all brass instruments, including the tuba; trumpet and trombone players have the widest selection of mutes. [6] [12] [13] They are made of a variety of materials, including fiber, plastic, cardboard, and metal (usually aluminum, brass, or copper). [14] In general, mutes soften the lower frequencies of the sound because they nearly close the bell, but accentuate higher ones due to resonances within the mute. [15] Generally made from metal or fiber/cardboard, the straight mute is one of the most common trumpet mutes used for both classical and jazz music. The metal straight mute has a characteristic nasally sound. Straight mutes are often used in lyrical solos. The straight mute is pictured at the top of this post. The plunger mute is simply, a bathroom plunger. (Make sure you use a brand new one!) The mute is held in the performer’s hand and used to cover and uncover the bell to create a “wah-wah” sound. This mute provides a lot of resistance for the player, making using the mute much more strenuous than open playing, as well as in comparison to most other mutes. A mute is a device attached to a musical instrument which changes the instrument's tone quality (timbre) or lowers its volume. Mutes are commonly used on string and brass instruments, especially the trumpet and trombone, and are occasionally used on woodwinds. Their effect is mostly intended for artistic use, but they can also allow players to practice discreetly. Muting can also be done by hand, as in the case of palm muting a guitar or grasping a triangle to dampen its sound.

For example: If you are reading a piece of sheet music and it says “ con sordino,” that means with a mute. Conversely, if you are playing jazz compositions, your sheet music might directly state which mute is supposed to be used for which sections. If there isn’t supposed to be a mute in a particular section, but there is a trombone mute for the rest of it, that section in question might say “open” on your sheet music. Why Use a Trombone MuteThe popular trumpet straight mute (DW5504) has set a standard, which has been widely copied but never equalled. The hand crafting of these mutes gives the high-quality aluminium a ‘work-hardened’ quality, which makes for a very resonant product that will give a wonderful fortissimo when it is needed. It also has the best intonation of any trumpet mute available. Sevsay 2013, p.125: "The most usual mute. If no other mute is specified... trumpeters use this kind of mute when they see the instruction 'con sordino. '"