Best brass instrument mutes according to redditors

That’s essentially a type of mute for brass instruments: (example) I can see the easy confusion, as it is essentially a plunger, but it’s just built to be easily held and moved.

If you can afford it, I would highly recommend getting a Silent Brass System. I've had the original version for many years, and used it to practice in my office while working as a web application developer.

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https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-SB7X-2-Trumpet-Personal-SB7X2/dp/B01MTOAHSA/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1WHDVSLKCUSHQ&keywords=silent+brass+trumpet&qid=1562803676&s=gateway&sprefix=silent+brass%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-3

If you are willing to consider a non-electronic practice mute, Bremner’s “Sshh Mute” is practically silent with almost no resistance.

https://www.amazon.com/Bremner-SshhMute-Trumpet-Cornet-Practice/dp/B00C2DC8N0

I have a Dennis Wick Straight Mute that my horn teacher recommended, and I think it's a great mute (especially for the price). I was in the same situation as you when I bought it, actually!

I recently purchased an all copper Harmon mute. It looks and sounds fantastic!

https://www.amazon.com/Harmon-Model-Copper-Trumpet-Wow-Wow/dp/B0002F4YH8

I don't have one, but I've heard good things about the sshhmute, and it's not nearly as expensive if price is an issue.

https://www.amazon.com/Sshhmute-Trumpet-Cornet-Practice-Mute/dp/B014LBYWSO/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=sshhmute+trumpet&qid=1565713569&s=gateway&sprefix=Sshhmut&sr=8-4

I've been playing with the new Yamaha Silent Brass (PM7X), and I think it's great. You can also buy just the mute if you don't feel like spending $200 for the full studio. Depends on what you're looking for though. Part of the reason I went with the Yamaha was the design. It sits flush with the bell when it's in the instrument, which makes traveling with it easier - stick it in the bell, stick the trumpet in your case, and you're good. No bulky mutes to carry. Best Brass and Dillon make mutes that sit flush with the bell as well. Best Brass also makes an E-Mute, which allows for recording and utilizing music minus one without the extra studio system that Yamaha sells.

If ease of travel isn't a concern and you want to save a bunch of money, the Bremner Sshhmute is a great option, like u/violindad said. I played on one once and I remember it feeling very similar to the Yamaha and was just as quiet. If you want both portability and affordability, the Dillon mute would be the way to go. Extremely quiet for the price.

I have a pro tec liberty practice mute and really like it. It's a bit louder than my sshhmute, but blows much more freely and sounds more like playing with a straight mute and less like playing with a pillow jammed in the bell. It's quiet enough that when I practice downstairs at night my wife upstairs and my two sleeping children often don't know that I playing at all. Not as good as a Yamaha Silent Brass, but much cheaper.

This is what I bought:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052VE8O6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EKA1DbTCH0SYJ

I have the first model, this black, oval, thing.

The back pressure is pretty intense, I try to not use it unless I really, really need to and even then only for warmups and light etude work at best. I think the modern ones are probably much lighter and work more effectively, but I'd say in a pinch the older one will work.

I have not tried it because it's $131.56 on Amazon but I might have to suck it up and pay (unless I can find one used).

edit: Happy Cake Day!

If you really want to solve the problem and still encourage someone to develop as a musician a practice mute would save you a lot of a sound and still allow them to play. As long as everyone stops playing at 10 o' clock no one is breaking any laws.

good question!

I'm not sure. The new tenor version looks like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-SB5XC-Silent-System-Trombone/dp/B00I141EKC

It doesn't look like it would work. I was blown away, because most practice mutes get squirrely up high. Tried it on a small-bore jazz horn.

Bass is my main axe, and I might look for one in the future.

I do like the older style mutes like Wick. They work well for helping students to open up. Blow like crazy, and try to get a harmon-like rattle out of the mute. Once the mute is removed most players will sound fuller. The downside is the wacky pitch.

Yupp

Seriously. This! You're the one who should have the 13 points. I just don't get all the people who insist it is easy to get as much or more for something you have used. I doubt many of them actually have had success doing that. There are legit retailers selling barely used (store demo) Holton and Conn double horns for ~$3K. Less actually. Why on earth would I buy a well used one from some stranger for ... any amount of money.

Oh, while I am working on my downvote personal best, I might add this: Horns require consistency and commitment. 40 days on and 40 days off doesn't sound like a winning formula. Don't even think about doing this without a practice mute. This is the one I use.

PAMPET Lightweight Practice Trumpet Mute Silencer for Trumpet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797KQFL2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_t8hTDbKPYEF54

I found this to be a really great silent mute for a really good price. It’s not as quiet as a silent brass but this should do what you’re wanting it to do.

Yamaha Silent Brass, expensive but you may decide it's worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-SB79-Silent-System-Trumpet/dp/B0002F5DGE

There is two models for trumpet the new one and the older model I have the newer one, it is smaller and you can store it in your bell and it should still fit in your case. Ive heard the older one is just as good.

Whenever I use it, 9/10 times I'm just using the mute and not with the system or headphones. So look into other mutes as well that do the same job, but are cheaper without all the electronics. Wallace makes a good one and ive heard the trumcor is really good.

The Silent Brass mutes have been good for me. With the most recent generation it doesn't really feel like there's a mute. There's barely any sound "leakage", and if you put a 3.5mm splitter in, you can easily record.

At just north of $200 they're pricey, but IMO they're worth it. No hassling with finding practice rooms, just play wherever you are. I have the trombone one, but I assume the trumpet will be just as good. Make sure it's the latest generation; there were some issues with earlier ones.

• Long-McQuade link
  
• Amazon.ca link
  
• Amazon.com reviews

There is always Silent Brass, although I suppose that's not a great long term solution if you're practicing for that amount of time

I really like the Humes & Berg Stonelined straight mute. Intonation is mostly good and easy to fix using lip tension alone. It takes time to adjust to it, because it has less back pressure compared to most mutes and gives more open, less nasal sound. It does not sound like a metal mute. Some don't like this and sometimes, it does not blend very well with other brands - not a problem if you play solo or lead.

I got one of these for my trumpet and it works pretty well: link

I like the Bremner shhhhmute a lot. It's quiet and the blow is very similar to the unmuted horn.

http://www.amazon.com/Bremner-SshhMute-Trumpet-Cornet-Practice/dp/B00C2DC8N0

The weird one is a trumpet with a Harmon mute. (Sorry the most direct thing I could find was an ad). This mute makes the instrument quite quiet so there was likely some interesting mix work done at that section.

Invest in a Silent Brass Mute. I've got one for my tuba, and one for my bass trombone. Quiet in the house, and with the added benefit of being able to use effects pedals in performance.

I've had good results with the Denis Wick Practice Mute.

You could pick up a practice mute for about $27. I’ve been using one for many years and they work great. It also requires more air so after practicing with it, playing without is even easier.