Module 17: Mutes & Timbre

Straight Mute

The standard mute. Cone-shaped, usually aluminum or fiber. It fits tightly with corks.

Sound: Bright, metallic, piercing, distant. Used heavily in Classical (Stravinsky) and Fanfares. It sharpens the pitch, so pull your tuning slide out slightly.

Cup Mute

A straight mute with a cup on the end. The cup bounces the sound back toward the bell.

Sound: Soft, velvet, hollow. Used in Big Bands to blend with saxophones. It does not carry far, so play louder.

Harmon (Wah-Wah)

A metal bulb with a stem. The stem can be extended or removed.

Stem In: 'Wah-Wah' comical effect.

Stem Out: The 'Miles Davis' sound. Buzzy, metallic, intimate, and very quiet. Used in Cool Jazz. It goes extremely sharp—pull your slide out A LOT.

Plunger

Yes, a literal sink plunger (rubber). You hold it in your left hand and manipulate it over the bell.

Technique: Open ('Ah') and Closed ('Wah'). By alternating quickly, you mimic human speech. Used by Duke Ellington's band ('Growl and Plunger' style).