7 Practice Mutes: Comparison and Demonstration (Trumpet/Cornet)

[@randeezy3914]

1:04 No Mute 0:49 Tom Crown Practice Mute 1:56 Brass Spa Practice Mute 3:03 Best Brass Practice Mute 5:08 Wallace Studio Practice Mute // 6:44 w/ pin pushed in // 6:56 w/ pin removed 8:16 Wallace Compact Practice Mute 9:35 Yamaha Silent Brass Practice Mute

[@JonathanMilam1]

Randeezy - Great stuff!!! Thank you! :)

[@ezekielgentle]

Thank you so much for this video. Preparing for grad school auditions and need something to take my trumpet on the road / hotel rooms. Stoked to try some of these!

[@JonathanMilam1]

I bought almost all my mutes at TrumpetHerald.com in the Marketplace. There’s a guy that has had every practice mute I’ve ever heard of that has a spreadsheet comparing blow, intonation, quietness... great stuff. Ask about it at the Herald and a link should show - another help. Good luck! :)

[@hauke3644]

Due to problems with neighbors I practiced with Yamaha Silent Brass only, several years. Now I upgraded to their improved model, which is clearly better and even offers to work on your tone, using the electronics and headphones. Unfortunately, the headphone plug broke, it seems not to be as solid as I would expect at the price point. Meanwhile I got the (somewhat expensive) Wallace mute and like it’s lack of resistance. But works a little bit too well, I can’t hear much of my playing. My current best option is a cheap, plastic (!) harmon mute from Emo.

[@JonathanMilam1]

That is a very important part of any mute: hearing yourself. Very good point, Hauke! Thanks for commenting.

[@hauke3644]

@@JonathanMilam1 But thanks to your video, I found out that I can unplug the little piece in the center of the Wallace mute and make it louder and even less resistant! Could be the perfect balance, I'll try this

[@JonathanMilam1]

Yes, removing this piece lessens the back-pressure and seems to make the mute a bit louder. I use it both ways, depending on what I'm trying to do with the mute. Personally, this Wallace is the best mute for me - but we're all different. :)

[@SzymonPorekPorowski]

Wallace practice mute is the best thanx for video😀

[@JonathanMilam1]

It really is! I'm happy with mine. :)

[@malbertoro]

Hi! The Studio or the compact?

[@flash7355]

Thank u for the comparison!!

[@JonathanMilam1]

Linus; My pleasure! Thanks for watching and especially for commenting. :)

[@andriusstankevicius4505]

Thank you, you really helped me :)

[@JonathanMilam1]

Glad I could help! Good luck, Andrius; and thanks for commenting.

[@GordonHudson]

Interesting as always Jonathan. I am literally just packing my pocket trumpet for a trip to Spain. Taking the Shhh mute by Bremner as it’s the quietest one I have but it has quite a bit of resistance which not ideal. My wife is doing the packing to be honest, while I am watching you on KZbin. I need to try the Wallace mute. I know the guy who makes them and I have his cup mute but never tried the practice one.

[@JonathanMilam1]

I've never had a Bremner, Gordon! I've tried to pick up a few, mainly at TH, but was always second in line. The Wallace is a great mute, though. With it's adjustable and removable piece, it's somewhat adjustable and, as I mention, the best I've had to play in tune and the least restrictive for its quietness.

[@GordonHudson]

@@JonathanMilam1 I will definitely try one.

[@ohayoumike6845]

I really enjoyed this video. If you get a chance, please try the latest Yamaha Silent Brass Yamaha SB7X. I had the first version around 15 years ago and found the back pressure to be too much. It was much too heavy as well for my liking. I just got the latest version last week. Wow!!! The back pressure has been greatly reduced, it's much quieter than my Dennis Wick Practice mute, and it is much smaller and lighter. Now, I consider it a must have, having given away the original after buying and trying it years ago.

[@JonathanMilam1]

Mike; Great point(s). I've tried to buy the new model - but used (as always for me). :) No luck yet, but maybe one of these days. I've heard they're much less restrictive than the first gen. Thanks for commenting!

[@kylemorgan1819]

I have a pampet mute and I got it off amazon and the back pressure is HORRIBLE and it falls out a lot and the letters peeled of a week after I got it

[@JonathanMilam1]

Well, that doesn't sound good. I'm sorry to hear it - but glad you've put out the word about Pampet. Thanks for commenting! :)

[@Actrs3.7]

Can you please link where i can buy the best brass practice mute?

[@JonathanMilam1]

Here's a retail link but I ALWAYS buy trumpet stuff used; I think I paid $30 for mine at TrumpetHerald.com in the Marketplace there. It makes me feel ill to think of paying 2-3 times that for one... :) www.wwbw.com/Best-Brass-Trumpet-Warm-Up-Mute-H90984-H90984000000000.wwbw?source=TWWR5J1BB&cntry=us&currency=usd&gclid=CjwKEAjw__fnBRCNpvH8iqy4xl4SJAC4XERPFZOq5_IEkIchumtaIezeA1tPV7VB3NVdH8-e_TTuqxoCNofw_wcB

[@bluesaddict101]

Thanks Jonathan for your channel and a great review. Have you tried The Silencer by Eazy Bucket? I'm just coming back to the horn after 50+ years away. Talk about needing patience! Keep up the good work :)

[@JonathanMilam1]

Thank you; very kind of you to comment. I made my comeback in about 11 years ago; I'd laid off the horn for about 20 years. I found TrumpetHerald.com and it has been a tremendous help. A number of professors and commercial and symphony players contribute there. I've learned the benefit of 1. Long Tones 2. Lip Trills 3. Interval practice 4. Pedal tones. I think between those four things I'm a much better player. Maybe I need to do a video on those things... :) Anyway, thanks again and continued best wishes! :) Keep in touch, too!!

[@JonathanMilam1]

Oops... P.S.; I've never tried the Silencer by Eazy Bucket. There's a list (from TrumpetHerald.com) that a guy put together; charts, tuning and comments on dozens of practice mutes. I used to pick them up when I found them (used) at a good price but I've got too many now. Time to sell. :) So I can buy a few more, of course.

[@bluesaddict101]

Not sure if I'm allowed to post links but this may be the chart you are speaking of: everythingtrumpet.com/practice-mute-comparison-survey-by-bill-dishman

[@JonathanMilam1]

That's the one! Super, really great info. :) I hope Bill worked at a music store. Otherwise, he may have needed a bank loan to purchase and report on the mutes. So, do you have 'The Silencer'?

[@bluesaddict101]

@@JonathanMilam1 Yes I purchased it. Seems similar to the nice Tom Crown practice mute but being on the horn only a couple of months, my impressions may not be very accurate. As long as we are on the subject of equipment, ever try those Lexan mouthpieces by Kelly Mouthpieces? I couldn't resist trying a few, very inexpensive. My embouchure is still very weak but I liked the few I tried.

[@MrAlejo912]

Thanks for this video. What do you think about the sshhmute? have you try it?

[@JonathanMilam1]

I have never had the Sshhmute! Bummer. :) I've tried to pick up a few but never happened. Used sales; if there priced well - they go (too) fast. One of these days, maybe....

[@asimov647]

Is the wallace mute quiet enough for another person in the room to have a conversation?

[@JonathanMilam1]

Goid question. I’ve played it in the room when my son and I watched tv, but my family is understanding, too. :) I think it would be quiet enough, but that’s a personal decision. I’ll try to make another vid of two Wallace practice mutes within the week.

[@asimov647]

@@JonathanMilam1 If I may make a suggestion, then I would add a second sound source to the video and trigger the sound once at silence and while you are playing, so that you can better assess the loudness of the trumpet, as youtube compresses sounds that are too loud.

[@JonathanMilam1]

It won't be released for a few days, but here's a new vid. I hope it helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnPCeHSMg72MmtE

[@randeezy3914]

Hi Jonathan Thank you for all the videos you've posted. From what I'm hearing in your videos through my headphones, the Tom Crown and Best Brass seem to remain truer to the original sound of the trumpet while the Brass Spa and Wallace mutes seem to make the sound brighter. As the person using all these mutes would you agree? I'm looking for a practice mute that retains the original trumpet sound, just at a much lower volume. Thanks!

[@JonathanMilam1]

Randeezy; Your questions are good and logical - and I can't answer them. :) My primary thing with these practice mutes is just getting one that is very quiet (I practice a lot in Hotel rooms at night) and that doesn't have too much back-pressure. I'm so concerned with a mute that doesn't hurt my playing that the tone isn't something I've focused on. You'll have to make your deductions from the videos, I guess. Now you're making me wonder if my focus hasn't been a bit less than it should have been. :) Great questions - sorry I can't help more. For me, the Wallace practice mute is the one I use almost always. Between its size and its quiteness and not stuffiness, it's just been the best for my needs.

[@christopherherrmann921]

And where the heck is the legendary "best breast brass" mute?

[@JonathanMilam1]

Hilarious. I laughed out loud here. Thanks!! :)