I played in the local symphony orchestra yesterday, and of course, I was the only bass player without a mute. I never thought I'd need one. In bigger orchestras or in playing more advanced music, how often do you actually use your mutes?
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Double Bass How Often Are Mutes Used?
- Thread starter moopants
- Start date
What Jallen said.
I've gone an entire season without needing one, then used one for nearly every concert the next season. Still, they're among the least expensive "accessories" you can buy for your bass, are easily removed from the bass when not needed and easily stored in your bass bag. Little reason not to have one.
I've gone an entire season without needing one, then used one for nearly every concert the next season. Still, they're among the least expensive "accessories" you can buy for your bass, are easily removed from the bass when not needed and easily stored in your bass bag. Little reason not to have one.
I found the Torte model ones to be pretty useless. That's the round one that slips on between the D and A strings. I found it hardly changed the quality of the notes and when it wasn't on the bridge the other 99.9% of the time, it tended to flop around on loud notes.
I tried an ebony mute for a while. It really alters the tone but it is very noisy to put on and off the bridge and makes an audible clunk when you put it down on a chair or the stand. It also it fairly breakable and expensive. And it's extremely loud if you drop it on the floor during a slow movement! (That was embarrassing
)
The best mute I've found is to take an Ultra practice mute and cut off the end wings so there is just the three prongs left in the middle. It alters the sound significantly and you can adjust the amount "muteness" by putting it on a little bit or pushing all the way down. (When pushed all the way down it still acts as a practice mute.) The rubber material is much quieter when placing it down on a chair or lip of the stand. The rubber is easy to grip where the ebony is rather slippery.
I hear the leather mutes are good as well but they certainly cost a lot more than an Ultra.
I tried an ebony mute for a while. It really alters the tone but it is very noisy to put on and off the bridge and makes an audible clunk when you put it down on a chair or the stand. It also it fairly breakable and expensive. And it's extremely loud if you drop it on the floor during a slow movement! (That was embarrassing
)The best mute I've found is to take an Ultra practice mute and cut off the end wings so there is just the three prongs left in the middle. It alters the sound significantly and you can adjust the amount "muteness" by putting it on a little bit or pushing all the way down. (When pushed all the way down it still acts as a practice mute.) The rubber material is much quieter when placing it down on a chair or lip of the stand. The rubber is easy to grip where the ebony is rather slippery.
I hear the leather mutes are good as well but they certainly cost a lot more than an Ultra.
I have an ebony and a rubber one.
For practice purposes I use the rubber one because it dampens the sound more. The only drawback to this rubber mute (at least the one I have) is that it smells very bad, a really chemical smell that doesn't go away.
Do all rubber mutes smells that bad?
And are there any mutes that dampen even more than the rubber one?
I use the rubber mute and put my bass on a pillow but that still is too loud for late night practicing.
For practice purposes I use the rubber one because it dampens the sound more. The only drawback to this rubber mute (at least the one I have) is that it smells very bad, a really chemical smell that doesn't go away.
Do all rubber mutes smells that bad?
And are there any mutes that dampen even more than the rubber one?
I use the rubber mute and put my bass on a pillow but that still is too loud for late night practicing.
I also found the Torte mute pretty ineffectual initially. Then I tried placing the mute between the D and G strings, rather than the A and D strings, after noticing someone do the equivalent on their cello. This seems to mute the D and G strings more than the E and A, which is a good thing IMHO - the A and E generally don't need muting so much as the others.
I've found its utility in the orchestra to be marginal. However, when playing exposed amplified arco solos in a rock band, it has proven very useful, as it softens the sound and volume a bit, reducing some of the amplified scratchiness without resorting to effects or EQ that ruin the pizz tone.
Jennifer
I've found its utility in the orchestra to be marginal. However, when playing exposed amplified arco solos in a rock band, it has proven very useful, as it softens the sound and volume a bit, reducing some of the amplified scratchiness without resorting to effects or EQ that ruin the pizz tone.
Jennifer
i don't know what you guys are talking about. there's plenty of difference in the sound/color with the tourte mute. it's true that they bounce around and create noise (as well as make your bass sound out of tune - not good). i just take it off completely when i don't need it and keep it in my pocket.
I suspect there is great variation in the magnitude of the effect a mute has, depending on playing technique, string type, setup, double bass type, maybe even the bow hair and rosin, and no doubt many others. It would certainly explain the differences in perception of the effect the mute has.
Jennifer
Jennifer
My experience is that the amount of effect a mute has is mostly due to how heavy the mute is in relation to the weight of the bass. So a smaller mute only works well on a light bass like mine, and does nothing on a really heavy bass.
Lol hey moopants, i didnt realize you were on here. I was sitting second. just let me know next time your playing with us and i'll bring an extra one for you. If u just want the look of having a mute get the rubber one that slips on bridge, if you want one that actually mutes get an ebony one like what i had. Or i guess i shouldn't say one that actually mutes, as just about anything thats touching your bridge will change the sound.
Actually I ordered a mute after practice that day lol. Thanks for the offer though. Hopefully I play again but I guess it's all up to Mrs. Reed.
think I have to order a new one then.
Any brands you can advise me? the smelly one I have is a Westin (it never got wet by the way)
Any brands you can advise me? the smelly one I have is a Westin (it never got wet by the way)
I've been lurking on this thread because I was asking myself that same question lately.
Just recently as I joined a community orchestra I realized everyone had mutes. luckily I juts got a Tourte, which in fact does not mute the sound that much. But my teacher told me that sometimes it has more to do with a different quality to the sound than actually cutting the sound too much.
So on my very first rehearsal we were playing Ravel, and guess what? Ravel likes mutes! I am glad I had mine. It worked just fine. As long as you can blend with your section I think those are pretty adequate.
If I am practicing and I really want to cut down the sound, those big rubber mutes that pretty much cover your bridge are the best.
Just recently as I joined a community orchestra I realized everyone had mutes. luckily I juts got a Tourte, which in fact does not mute the sound that much. But my teacher told me that sometimes it has more to do with a different quality to the sound than actually cutting the sound too much.
So on my very first rehearsal we were playing Ravel, and guess what? Ravel likes mutes! I am glad I had mine. It worked just fine. As long as you can blend with your section I think those are pretty adequate.
If I am practicing and I really want to cut down the sound, those big rubber mutes that pretty much cover your bridge are the best.
