What Is a Trumpet Mute?
A trumpet mute is a device that is placed into or in front of the bell of a trumpet to change the pitch or timbre of the sound or to add a special effect.
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History
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Mutes have been used with trumpets since the sixteenth century when they were primarily used to soften the sound for funerals. During the twentieth century, additional types of mutes were developed for traditional orchestral and jazz playing.
Function
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Mutes modify the timbre (tone color) as well as soften the sound of the trumpet. Mutes can create special effects such as a more direct or focused tone, buzz or wah wah.
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Time Frame
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The straight mute is the only type of mute that has been used continuously from the sixteenth century until today. Various other types were used in orchestral music (the solo tone and hat) and many more varieties in jazz (plunger, Harmon).
Types
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The four most commonly used mutes are the straight, cup, Harmon and bucket. Others include the mica, whispa, plunger, hat and practice mute. A player's hand or a handkerchief can also be used as a mute.
Materials
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Mutes can be made out of aluminum, brass, copper, wood, papier-mache, cardboard, polystyrene, rubber or fabric.
Expert Insight
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Mutes reduce some parts of a sound and amplify others much like a Helmholtz resonator. A Helmholtz resonator is a spherical chamber with a narrow opening. It changes the pressure--including pitch and timbre--of air forced inside it when the air leaves the chamber. When air is forced into a trumpet and then out through a muted bell, the resulting sound wave is altered.
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