Unless you are a seasoned violinist, there is a good chance you have never heard of a violin mute. However, this little device can work wonders when it comes to your violin game.
Below you will discover exactly what a violin mute is, what it is used for, as well as the top 6 violin mutes for anyone who is aspiring to play this instrument.
Let’s jump right in….
A violin mute is a small accessory that is placed on the bridge of the violin. Generally speaking, the mute is made out of rubber.
However, as long as the vibrations of the bridge are dampened, any type of material will do.
As the name clearly implies, a violin mute lessens the intensity of the sound coming from the violin.
It is actually very common for composers to use violin mutes in their music. Take for instance the Overture to Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev. In the very beginning of the piece, if you listen closely enough, you can tell all the stringed instruments have mutes on them.
Take a listen to it here. Make sure you pay close attention to how the instruments sound in the very beginning.
Another great piece to listen to is Violin Concerto No. 2. In the beginning of the piece there are no mutes being used. However, as the piece progresses, there are various locations throughout that you can hear a mute begin used.
In particular, mutes are used right around the 6:15 mark. Listen closely and you will notice a big difference in the sound.
You can listen to Violin Concerto No. 2 here.
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What To Look For When Choosing a Mute
When choosing a mute, there are three important factors you should look for. The first one is ease of use.
As you are playing the violin, you need to be able to slide the mute in place, as well as remove it, as quickly as possible.
If the mute is difficult to remove, you won’t be able to play the song the right way.
The second thing you want to look for is the quality of sound. Pay close attention to how the mute affects the sound of your instrument.
If the quality of sound is adversely affected, that means you need to get a different mute.
And last but not least is the aesthetics. Yes, the look of your mute is important. Not as important as ease of use and sound quality, but still important in its own right.
The look and feel of your mute will determine how comfortable you are using it. If you aren’t comfortable with your accessories it will show up in your performance.
Top Six Types of Violin Mutes For The Aspiring Violinist
Now that you understand what a mute is and what its used for, let’s go a little deeper and review the top six violin mutes for aspiring violinists.
- Tourte Shaped Violin/Viola Mute
- Tourte Round Violin Mute
- Ultra Violin Practice Mute
- Metal Violin Practice Mute
- Wire Slide-On Violin Mute
- Finissima Violin Mute
If you are a solo player, or you play in an orchestra, this is a great mute to have in your arsenal. It's made out of black rubber which means you never have to worry about it damaging your strings.
The small nub located at the top of the mute makes it very easy to use, and remove, the mute from the bridge.
When you are not using the mute, you can simply hook it onto the D or A string. This means you never have to take it off the instrument.
Unlike most mutes, this one doesn’t dampen the sound as much as other models. This is in large part due to its shape and size.
This particular mute, as well as the one we just reviewed, are two of the most popular mutes currently on the market.
And just like the Tourte Shaped Violin/Viola Mute, this mute is made out of black rubber which protects the strings from being damaged.
This model is more commonly used in orchestra settings because it is small and very easy to slide into place.
Similar to the mute above, when the Tourte Round is not in use it can be left on the instrument between the A and D strings.
The size and shape of this mute means it does not dampen the sound like other models do.
This mute can best be described as tough and heavy duty. If you are looking for a mute that can drastically dampen the sound, this is the one you want.
It is perfect for those who practice in an apartment, or any space where they do not wish to disturb the people around them.
While this mute is made out of black rubber, it does not have a hook like the previous two models. It instead fits entirely over the bridge.
This means, when the mute is not engaged, it must be removed from the violin. Because the mute has to be completely removed, the Ultra is not recommended for performance settings.
It is best for practice sessions when you can’t make a lot of noise. This is the type of mute you would choose out of necessity and not desire.
To hear the difference between the Tourte and the Ultra, check out this video. here.
This mute pretty much works the exact same way as the Ultra Violin Practice Mute we just reviewed.
There is however one big difference, and that is the tone.
This mute is made out of metal which means the sound can be very muted.
If you want to maintain a clear sound, without disturbing anyone in your home, this mute will help you do that.
As the name states, this mute slides up to the bridge. And because it slides up the bridge, instead of over the bridge, the sound is only muted a little.
This makes it the ideal mute for both orchestra and solo settings.
Be careful with this mute as it uses a spring mechanism to slide up and down the bridge.
If you are too aggressive when sliding the mute, you run the risk of damaging the strings.
The Finissima Violin Mute is perfect for those who enjoy experimenting with different tones. It easily slides up the bridge and can be left on the violin when it is not being used.
This makes it a great option for anyone who plays in an orchestra.
The great thing about the Finissima Violin Mute is that it only puts pressure on the top of the bridge.
Because of this, the overtones that are needed to make beautiful sounds do not get muted. This means you have a lot of freedom to experiment and create something that has never been heard before.
Our Final Thoughts
For the most part, all mutes do the same thing. They help dampen the sound when necessary for certain parts of a composition.
No matter your current skill level, you should always have at least one mute with you at all times. Especially if you play in an orchestra.
And being that mutes tend to easily get misplaced, you might want to purchase several just to be safe.
hi I'm Zack and I'm gonna apprentice
here at char today I'm gonna talk about
some of the different mutes that we
carry and help you figure out which one
is going to be best for you there are
two different kinds of needs first is an
orchestral mute is typically used during
a performance when notated in the music
they're small inconspicuous and easy to
engage the second type of mutant is a
practice mute which is typically not
used in a performance is tend to be
larger heavier and more conspicuous than
an orchestral mute these boots are great
if you need to practice quietly such as
in an apartment where somebody has been
complaining about the noise our most
popular style of mute are torte meets
these orchestral needs are small rubber
and they typically stay on the
instrument while not in use between the
bridge and the tailpiece there are two
styles of torte mute the one hole and
the two hole needs to put them on you
slide it over the string like this and
then to install it you put it on the
bridge and press down try to see if you
can hear the difference
[Music]
our other orchestral mutant size and
effect but different design and
composition for example this speck
magnetic new comes with a small magnet
that attaches to the end of the tail
piece this prevents the mood from
rattling when not in use on the other
hand our grizzle Spector and finis
Simone mutes are slightly larger which
increases their muting effect
this little guy is great for little kids
he's called the mouse drone and he's got
about the same effect as the torque in
contrast to our Kestrel mutes practice
meats are much larger and they meet your
sound a lot more they vary in
composition and in how they affect your
sound much more than the poor Kestrel
minutes do
the best way I can demonstrate this is
to show you each Moo I'll play the
instrument without a Mew first just so
you can see how it sounds
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
as you can see orchestral and practice
mates are quite different and perform
very unique tasks if you still have any
questions about which mute is right for
you talk to your orchestra director your
teacher or your violin shop or if you'd
like you can leave a comment