Archived under: Equipment, Lists & FAQs | Ion Balu, Mutes & muting
A Tunable Horn Mute FAQ
While this topic came up in a sectional last week, it is actually a topic I have meant to post on for quite some time, that of tunable mutes.
Why use a tunable mute?
Better quality horn mutes are always tunable, a feature not seen on the mutes of other brass instruments. Why this is has to do primarily with the variations seen of hand position and bell sizes. A player with a more covered position will for example need a “flatter” mute. The idea is that the mute is tuned in such a way that you can put it in and it is in tune and you need give intonation no further thought. Every good horn player should have one of these.
How do you tune a tunable mute?
Most commonly tunable mutes are Rittich style mutes in the shape of a tall cone, as in the photo. Inside there are a pair of telescoping tubes with a “tongue” that sticks up that is used to move one of the tubes. To sharpen the mute you pull the tongue toward the small end and to lower the mute you push it away.
How often should you tune a tunable mute?
When you get it in tune you should be good to go but in reality with a couple good drops to the floor the mute will go out of tune. It is always a good idea to check it before a performance.
Any brands you especially like?
There are a number of good options out there but among my students TrumCor and Ion Balu mutes are used most commonly.
Why are they usually black?
For a darker tone.
Ha ha, OK, so what is that other mute in the picture, the brass one?
That is a stopping mute. It is used to substitute for hand stopping and is extremely useful in low range stopped passages and for loud stopped passages. Every good horn player needs one of these also.
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