Saxophone Mute comparison

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

I forgot to mention you can get 10% off the Sax Mute One here: saxmute.one/?mcgillsaxschool

[@kostasmetal7]

Playing in a closet full of clothes also works xD

[@craigiefconcert6493]

That’s what stormtroopers use to practice on the death star. They should just make it a bit bigger so you can get inside ;)

[@brianpite0893]

Hi Nigel, I'm moving from my house to an apartment. I ordered the new Yamaha digital Saxophone just for this reason. Volume control. Btw I think a towel in the bell works better than the Amazon piece.

[@Kai-iq2ps]

Which model of yamaha. I doubt they are anywhere similar to the real sax.

[@brianpite0893]

YDS 150. It sounds good especially on baritone. No, it's not really like the real thing. It's a lot easier

[@Kai-iq2ps]

@@brianpite0893 I just found out this model through comment section too. I am super glad we finally have a digital sax that's very similar to the real sax (all the digital "sax" before were not even "sax"). I am super hyped! Brian, so this 150 has a reed, i wonder if it will produce any sound at all if not using speaker or amp or headphone?

[@brianpite0893]

Kai, you have to at least use the batteries and internal speaker. BTW, there are many KZbin videos on this instrument. Good luck

[@Kai-iq2ps]

@@brianpite0893 Brian, when you use it with a headphone, can people around you hear any noise from it? If so, is that noise louder than a cat meowing? Thanks.

[@Robyn19fnq]

I use a rolled up pair of thick socks in the bell. It works as well as your el cheapo mute, basically just takes the edge of the sound.

[@user-theodor-agathos]

Nice video Nigel as always. I have modified a guitar soft bag as a sax mute. For my tenor sax a bag from a semihollow guitar (ES335) was needed. For an alto sax a bag for a strat or telecaster is enough. Three holes are needed for your hands and the ring, as on on the top for the neck. As a bonus there was spare space for sound absorbing material. Stay healthy and keep on with the good work.

[@grahamwebsdale9453]

I bought the original Saxmute One and have used it attached to a neck strap, but found that the lower notes were difficult to play. I then bought an Esax Whisper Mute, but found that because it was an enclosed space (without the hole at the top like on the Saxmute One) it was hard to blow into and I had to keep stopping every minute or two to get my breath back. I have now got the Saxmute One/3 which I have attached to a Hercules Stand and I have two of the legs facing me so that I can lean the stand over towards me, which makes playing easier. I haven't tried using the back strap yet.

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

Did the e-sax Whisper mute offer more sound attenuation than the Saxmute One?

[@oladayostephen3246]

My wife got me a sax mute 1 for my alto. It's cool especially with the ear phones and echo effect!

[@martatacus6104]

Hi Nigel, I bought the one mute sax for alto sax, the VIBES one, is pretty good bud really bad on low notes, is cracking the notes, but still useful because I live in a apartment how you said my neighbours are happy :), not very confortable to play but good to practice anytime you like. Thanks so much for the video!!

[@spaceisbig7910]

Hi I've been using a similar mute for the alto for the past year It has three metal lock clips and a electronic input and output for headphones and metronome ap on my phone It cuts the sound down considerably My decibels are about 60 I paid £185 and use it most days I brought it on ebay there are many on there now for about £200. Cheers

[@sol19539]

Hi Gary, can you please let me know what specific brand or model you purchased? Thank you

[@spaceisbig7910]

@@sol19539 Hi I brought this alto saxaphone mute for £185 in 2019 the writing on the case is in Japanese The name from who I bought it from is Facaishu. Hope this helps

[@sol19539]

@@spaceisbig7910 thank you very much

[@davidmiller8665]

Hi Nigel. I use an E1 Sax Mute. It is more expensive but I find it really does mute the sound very very well. The reason I bought it is so I could practice in my motorhome without disturbing the other campers. It works superbly and my Wife tells me she can barely hear it outside the motorhome. I like the E1 because you can put backing tracks through it from your iPhone headphone socket for example and then listen to yourself with the mix via a headphone socket from the E1. The sound is great. Really makes you want to practice. The closest thing you can get to silent practice. I think there are even effects on the E1 to play with. I recommend it over the Mute One personally.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cool, great to hear that Windy. I want to try one now!

[@sol19539]

Thank you for your comment David. Im having trouble finding an E1 online to purchase. Where did you purchase yours from please?

[@davidmiller8665]

@@sol19539 Thomann in Germany. I often buy from them. Delivery is usually about 5 working days and quite cheap to UK. If I remember rightly, this was the only place that had them in stock at the time. Others were sold out and waiting for stock.

[@sol19539]

@@davidmiller8665 thank you very much David..This is the only place I can find them after multiple online searches.

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

Does the E1 cut out more sound than the Saxmute One (the one in this video?). Thanks.

[@yab0411]

May I know 03:16 What is the name of this song? I've heard you play it, BetterSax played it, usually in testing. It's so calming, i would love to learn how to play this song!

[@xxczerxx]

It's a kinda embellished version of the jazz standard Emily. The Paul Desmond version is lovely, great alto piece to learn.

[@LucaszJazz]

I tried a 2.50$ mute a few years back, it didn't go down one decibel.

[@deemerta7339]

Well done Nigel, another great video! Keep up the good work mate.

[@bluekingdom6301]

I own a sax mute 2 whisper 3 years now, without it i would have been evicted, it makes a big difference, it silences better than the mute 1(i tried both when purchasing). the biggest problem is that it takes a while to adjust your playing when not using the mute, it takes a while to get your true sound back. If you can afford it go for the mute 2. Oh the mute 2 is more compact and you don't need a stand, but might require a harness to protect your neck from all that extra weight..

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

What do you mean by "mute TWO"? Is that a newer version? Or is that the "E Mute." Thanks.

[@Maximus92400]

I have one and I definitely recommend it. I can play whenever I want 😁

[@gib321]

If you have the room outside and can afford it buy a shed or cabin. I started with unused kids playhouse with light from car battery but upgraded to log cabin with light and heat. Best thing I ever done. No more practice problems. Appreciate others may not be as lucky.

[@mimantis]

I have sax mute one for my alto when I really want to play on real sax when it is late. Otherwise I plan my practice hours when noise allowance is higher or I use Aerophone when I want work just on fingering techniques. For me it is a great piece of kit to have available at hand, but nothing beats the wild and free sound of open sax.

[@P.Saxophonist]

Would you use the mute with a saxophone or a tool such as Aerophone AE-10 as a practice option?

[@hansmathiasthjomoe4817]

I’m using the sheep “lid” from time to time. It’s reducing the sound a little bit, especially in the lowe register. It seems to remove some of the overtones so the saxophone doesn’t sound so shrill. It’s helping me in my situation.

[@samnelson2132]

Sax mute one is killer. The low notes get a bit muffled and it can feel a little awkward, but overarching volume reduction has been perfect for me. Living in an apartment, this is a totally reasonable way for me to be able to practice casually on a regular basis. Definitely a thumbs up if you live in an apartment and going to a park/open space isn't quite as accessible or reasonable for you.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Awesome Sam, great to hear you are enjoying your SaxMute One.

[@craigray4775]

I tried using the top of a martini shaker made out of silicon. It was indeed useless. Made the sax harder to play and off tune. Played a low Bb and it popped out rolled under the desk haha! I didn't have a sax the times when I was living in apartments but if I did, I wouldn't have even considered practicing. Having said that, despite that thing looking like an alien cocoon that something is going to pop out of and attach to your face; I might consider that if I lived in an apartment.

[@ggauche3465]

I tried one of those mutes you put in the bell. Not good! I've bought foam sound absorbers that I've stuck on windows and doors and that's pretty good, but to cover the ceiling and the whole room would be expensive! Not that I need to. I've got enough in place to make it quieter and I just play between 9 am and 6pm. I bought a Roland Aerophone Go to play at night when people are in bed.

[@gedduncan2454]

Did you know 'colonnadear' are using this vid and your image to promote their version of the cheapo mute? Have taken a screenshot if you would like me to send it to you.

[@rayopeongo]

So, it still looks like the only mute option for a baritone is a steamroller.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Ha!

[@stveloop9452]

Im trying out the saxmute foam inserts as they are a 10th of the cost. I would get the saxmute one, but it costs as much as my student horn!

[@sol19539]

How are the foam inserts working out Stve?

[@alsiemens2186]

I bought the "el cheapo" as an add-on to my Amazon order so I could get free shipping. The net cost was not so much which is good because the mute, at best, is scrap metal. The lower you play in the scale the more resistance it creates, bell notes do not play at all and intonation is terrible. Now I never practice above a mezzo-piano level, and that is a skill in itself!

[@MegaVladam]

It’s ridiculous .....and incredible expensive ! As much as my sax.....

[@LieuNoir]

....it's because you have a cheap sax! :-D ;-) :-p

[@frankzona9867]

Thanks for testing this Nigel. I have the cheapo version. It doesn't work. I also have the Neotech "Sax Filter" it's about $10USD. Some muffling and does not interfere with the low notes. I have to practice quietly during the time my wife is working at her in-home job. So I simply go into an upstairs bedroom when I have to play quietly and play into the side of a bed and let the pillows and mattress do the sound absorption. There's also the isolation rooms sold by Whisper Room, Inc. but they are really expensive at around $4kUSD.

[@brucechamberlain5042]

I went to the Roland AE-10 for my "quite" sax time - so far so good

[@jay54733]

I have the sax mute one alto, It's a great piece of kit for muting sound, but the alto one, doesn't come with the string on top to keep it altogether, So you have to be gentle with it, otherwise the mute comes apart.

[@pgreen3657]

Nigel, have you heard of Travel Sax? If so, do you plan to test it?

[@kelvinwu4599]

Hi Nigel, I am a complete beginner, just starting to pick up saxophone.I also enroll in one of your paid classes. Need your advice on choosing equipment. For between the Yas 26 & Yas 280, there is a price difference of 700 USD. Do you think the 280 is worth extra 700 over the 26? i also want a horn that i can practice for years to come.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

That’s a tricky one Kelvin. I’d probably say go for the 280, or even have a look for a second hand YAS62 which is a cracking pro level sax. Mine is 30+ years old and still plays amazingly. Happy shopping.

[@kelvinwu4599]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Awesome Thank you Nigel!!!

[@markhadfield6408]

Informative video, thanking you, Nigel. Hi everybody, i've the Vibes sax mute and it is a definite beauty. It came with a stand too. Not so long ago 'though i knocked the muter over, that is with sax enclosed, w spinning around in my desk chair.. So, bent the F# top hole out of shape and damaged octave key mechanism. $400 repair bill later i do not use the stand anymore. Just sayin' :-)

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Thanks for letting us know Mark. I would be careful about leaving the sax in the mute on the stand too.

[@stephenriley6541]

as daft as it sounds... A small towel into the bell does work.. if you have no other way to play that is ..

[@barryjones872]

Bob Reynolds from snarky puppy uses this method

[@billreed1889]

Hi Nigel, i use an Akai ewi with headphones as i live in an apartment... i know you have an ewi usb also, sure i saw two ewi's in the background in one of your videos... find the new ewi Solo to be the best ewi out there and great for playing at night silently through headphones... has 14 good sax voices out of the 200 voices in the solo... also use a Jazzlab mouthpiece silencer when working on my embouchure....

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Nice one Bill. Yes I have the EWI 4000s, but the EWI Solo is on order. I actually had one that had two go back (small fault on it) but the sounds were fantastic.

[@1024gain]

It seems like it is made of cheap materials. I don't get what costs 400 bucks in this.

[@guydelorme417]

Hello Nigel, Fantastic, I always wonder if it was worth the price. Forget about the cheap one, but I did not think that they made a model for tenor. What I see on Ebay are all made for alto, so less expansive, and I believe you can plug in earphone or your computer to record yourself. This lesson is very interesting, I always learn something with you, great!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cheers Guy. Yes they definitely do an alto model too (smaller of course).

[@JoaoVieira-bv9cy]

Hello. Would it work on a conn 10m tenor?

[@agchambers1]

Very helpful. Had looked at a while ago. Thinking about it again. Thanks for sharing this.

[@erickruse4679]

My first question is how much is muted when it's on the stand with only the front half of the case attached? Seems like maybe that could potentially do a lot toward muting and work as a compromise?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Interesting question Eric, to be honest I think you could really only use this mute with both parts attached. On or off stand makes no difference to how it works, just your comfort.

[@russellguyver7746]

Helpful video. What was the tune you played when testing the Sax-mute 1?

[@saxesq]

My One And Only Love

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Yep that’s it (thanks Jeff) “My One And Only Love” - there are lessons on it inside the Sax School members area. Www.mcgillmusic.com

[@BlowhardyMcBee]

Yeah... I bought a sax mute-one. I hated it. It affects the response of the sax enough to practice bad habits. It might be ok with a beginner mouthpiece that you can't blow loud on to begin with, but everything below middle G choked up on me without bitting down on the reed real hard... and forget about subtonning without without screwing up your ambechure. The problem with enclosing the sax is the volume of the interior needs to be at least twice the width and (I think) length of the horn. I ended up building a sound resistant chamber out of a large wardrobe box. I have one video on my chanel demonstrating it. Check it out if you like.

[@mrcrowleyoz]

Yeah the Sax Mute one didn’t work for me either. It was messing with my embouchure and feeling the resonance. It also made my hands humid inside.

[@ian_s7481]

Can you put the space helmet you made for Fireball XL5 on top of the Mute 1 ?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Now that would be a picture. Where did I put that Fireball XL-5 helmet?.......

[@chrisabraham8793]

Shove a cleaning cloth in the bell, that keeps it down and is cheaper.

[@fkustaa]

Have you tried those mute tests on the alto saxophone?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Not yet but will be testing some alto mutes in 2021 for sure.

[@saxramirez-diaz1189]

Wow for me it is necesary yo mute sociales these days thanks for your testing. The problem it is the price. I rather isolate my room

[@robstevens9590]

Interesting review. Since the beginning of "lockdown" it has been an issue to be able to practice without disturbing people nearby. I have managed to do some practicing using a towel as a mute, but then -- no low notes. More recently, when the weather has been nice, I have been playing in the park, which has been enjoyable, and also brought in a bit of needed coin.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Practicing in the park is a nice idea Rob! I remember travelling in the US and going to practicing on the beach in LA early morning. Central Park, NY too!

[@davidmadle5007]

thanks for this very helpful

[@keelanp53]

I have the SaxGourmet mutes for the tenor and alto and they're junk.

[@Sue20022010]

Thanks!

[@mattsax_music8439]

I play bari sax so my mute is playing softer when you have to.

[@eulaleewiggan4292]

It may keep the noise down . But it is not practical, it looks clumsy and painful and uncomfortable

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

It is pretty big. Depends on how much you need to play quietly I guess.

[@wildboy1983]

I looked at all the options available and ultimately decided to make some removable sound panels to hang in the toilet which is in the center of the house. Cost me £50 and I can blast away.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cool, great solution.

[@kablammy7]

I made a mouthpiece silencer from a large vitamin bottle - carved out the front flap opening a little and the mouthpiece fits snug - put a wash cloth in and a hole in the bottom and it works great - costs ? $ 0 I think it reduces the volume at least by half . You cannot tell by the video, I guess because the phone recording volume is maxed out . Maybe if I put the phone farther away during the sound test it would be apparent . However, you can hear the sound resonate in the room at the end of the first test . In the second test, you can tell there is no resounding resonance present . Here is a video showing what I have . kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3mscquaibSpoZo Maybe I will try making a saxophone cover-all silencer with a cardboard box and some shredded newspaper ...

[@flrn84791]

Can we talk about mutes for baritone? 😅

[@Samuel-ge7im]

Great video Nigel

[@ВікторіяТеліженко-ж5з]

Maybe people have already invented something mute for soprano saxophone ?

[@garysnowdon1918]

I got the model below this one. Extremely expensive I I even payed an import tax as well. Probably spent £400 on this cheap piece of rubbish. Its a very cheap build and is so cumbersome. For the money you could buy another sax. What a waste of money. Its like playing a sax in another room via two holes in a wall.

[@garysnowdon1918]

Please please don't waste your money.

[@James87987]

Come on Nigel, everyone at Sax School knows your house is massive and there’s no way your family can hear you playing in the west wing when they’re all in the east wing lol. Seriously though, I’ve gone down the wind synth route to solve this problem. Still play the sax regularly but there’s only so much scale practice the other half can tolerate. The wind synth extends my playing time basically. Currently have an Aerophone but have the new Yamaha YDS 150 arriving soon which looks, and hopefully feels, closer to a real Sax.

[@velvetimpulse]

Man let me know how that Yamaha goes for you! I'm on the fence about it

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Ha! I wish Les. Interested to hear how you get on with the YDS150. I’m waiting for my new EWI Solo to be delivered!

[@James87987]

@@velvetimpulse will do. I sure there will be a lot of videos on it soon.

[@James87987]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool will do Nigel. All these new toys around lol.

[@ian_s7481]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool you haven’t bought a ‘solo’ have you? 🙄 They sound like a basic Casio keyboard from the 80’s.. you must have money to burn or is it ‘lockdown’ fever.? 😆😆

[@simonsimon5124]

Better to buy an old van and go and practice in a van down by the river.

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

Well that's what I'm looking at but they are expensive in LA CA USA because people live in them. I have one on the east coast and it's great.

[@suchaperfectday]

Instead of this device, you can simply buy a clarinet ;-)

[@gustavoreis1686]

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