13 best brass practice mutes

Brass practice mutes are essential accessories for brass instrument players, particularly trumpet players. These mutes serve the purpose of reducing the volume and altering the timbre of the instrument, allowing musicians to practice quietly without disturbing others while maintaining a similar feel to playing the instrument at full volume. Here's what you need to know about brass practice mutes:

  1. Sound Dampening: Brass practice mutes are designed to reduce the volume of sound produced by the instrument. They achieve this by partially blocking the airflow through the instrument, resulting in a quieter tone.

  2. Muffling Effect: These mutes also create a muffled or subdued sound compared to the instrument's natural, open sound. This can be useful for practicing specific techniques, dynamics, or passages that require a softer or more muted sound.

  3. Materials: Brass practice mutes are typically made from various materials, including metal, rubber, or plastic. Metal mutes are often preferred for their durability and the ability to produce a clearer, more defined muted tone.

  4. Types: There are different types of brass practice mutes designed for specific brass instruments such as trumpet, trombone, and French horn. Each type is tailored to fit the unique shape and size of the instrument's bell.

  5. Adjustability: Some practice mutes come with adjustable features that allow the musician to control the level of muting. This can be helpful for fine-tuning the muted sound to suit the practice session's requirements.

  6. Intonation and Resistance: It's important to note that practice mutes can affect intonation (the instrument's pitch) and resistance (the ease of blowing air through the instrument).Musicians may need to adapt their playing technique to compensate for these changes while using a practice mute.

  7. Portability: Practice mutes are relatively small and lightweight, making them easy to carry in a trumpet case or gig bag. This convenience allows musicians to practice quietly wherever they go.

  8. Use Cases: Brass practice mutes are commonly used by brass players in situations where loud practice is not feasible or appropriate, such as in apartments, hotel rooms, or late-night practice sessions.

Overall, brass practice mutes are valuable tools for brass instrumentalists, enabling them to practice effectively and considerately in various settings while maintaining their skills and musical development.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best brass practice mutes on the market
  

Yamaha SILENT Brass Trumpet Mute SB7X-2, Complete System

Yamaha

Based on 291 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Practice anytime, any place with SILENT Brass! The Yamaha SILENT Brass practice mute system includes a high-quality practice mute that fits inside the bell of your instrument and reduces the sound that comes out of your horn to a whisper. A microphone inside the mute captures your sound and sends it to the Personal Studio receiver. When you connect earbuds or headphones, you’ll hear yourself playing at full volume while people around you hear almost nothing!

  • Practice anywhere, any time! Other people hear practically nothing, but you can hear yourself playing at full volume. Note : Model number SB7X-2 or SB7X is same item.
  • The pickup mute combines a high-performance mute with an internal microphone to pickup sound.
  • The mute offers superior muting performance, excellent intonation over a wide pitch range, and natural playability.
  • The silent brass features this unique Yamaha Technology which uses the Modeling of non-muted brass instruments to correct your instrument's tone when the pickup mute is in place.
  • By connecting to portable audio players or smart phones with audio playback capability, you can play along with your favorite tunes or practice with popular "minus-one" backing tracks.
  • Included accessories: Cable, stereo Earphones, Owner's manual

User questions & answers

Question: What is included in the box
Answer: It has held up very well for a year. It is as strong as any violin, which are all fairly fragile, but it will last with reasonable care.
Question: Would this work for my alto saxophone
Answer: Yes
Question: Where is this made
Answer: As of 2017, yes it comes with a shoulder rest, although mine has ready broke in less than 6 months of purchase.
Question: Can you use this to record directly into Abletion Live
Answer: Yes, a rosin cake.

Product features

Practice without disturbing others

Every SILENT Brass system starts with an advanced Practice Mute that reduces the sound that comes out of your horn to a whisper. You can play at night, in a dorm room or apartment, or even in a hotel without disturbing your family or neighbors.

Hear yourself playing

A microphone inside the mute captures your sound and sends it to the Personal Studio receiver. Plug in the included earbuds or your own favorite headphones to hear yourself at full volume.

Amazingly natural sound

Yamaha added digital technology to make the sound you hear in the headphones incredibly realistic, just like what you'd expect if you were playing normally. It's so natural you might even forget you're using a mute at all!

Play along with your favorite songs

Use the AUX IN jack on the Personal Studio to connect an audio player, smartphone, or other music source. You'll hear both your own playing and the music through the headphones - perfect for playing along with recordings or "minus one" practice aids.

Yamaha SILENT Brass Trombone Mute, Complete System (SB5X-2)

Yamaha

Based on 75 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Practice anytime, any place with SILENT Brass! The Yamaha SILENT Brass practice mute system includes a high-quality practice mute that fits inside the bell of your instrument and reduces the sound that comes out of your horn to a whisper. A microphone inside the mute captures your sound and sends it to the Personal Studio receiver. When you connect earbuds or headphones, you’ll hear yourself playing at full volume while people around you hear almost nothing!

  • Practice anywhere, any time! Other people hear practically nothing, but you can hear yourself playing at full volume.
  • The SILENT Brass system combines a high-performance practice mute with a built-in microphone that plugs into a receiver unit. With headphones connected, you'll hear yourself playing clearly.
  • The mute offers superior muting performance, excellent intonation over a wide pitch range, and natural playability.
  • Brass Resonance Modeling technology makes the sound you hear through the headphones incredibly realistic, almost as if you didn't have a mute at all.
  • By connecting to a portable audio player or smart phone with audio playback capability, you can play along with your favorite tunes or practice with popular "minus-one" backing tracks.

User questions & answers

Question: Could this be used with a Yamaha tenor trombone
Answer: Yes...this will work great...
Question: Will this work with the jiggs pbone plastic trombone (pbone is distributed worldwide by conn-selmer
Answer: Here is a link to Yamaha showing the Yamaha models this will work on. These are pretty much standard in size bells and work on my brands of trombones, The bell size for your pbone is 8" and I don't see where you would have a problem. https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/winds/silent_brass/silent_brass/compatibility_table.html#product-tabs
Question: Will this mute work with Bach trombones
Answer: I have a Bach and yes it works.
Question: What is the difference between this (sb5x2) and the sb5xc model? (not the sb5x, which mrsilvertrumpet explains already, but the model with the "c
Answer: Yamaha never came out with a SB5XC. Prior to the SB5X series was the SB59 and then later the SB59C. The "C" stood for an extra 1/8" male to 1/8" male cable that Yamaha provided so that you could hook up your CD or MP3 player to the ST9 Module. When the SB5X model come out the still included this extra cable. So the SB5X has the extra cable the and the SB5X-2 does not. Again, Yamaha never listed the new SB5X with a C. If you are see that somewhere, it is a seller that has created that that model number not Yamaha. I am a authorized dealer with Yamaha for 14 years and know this particular product line very well.

Product features

Practice without disturbing others

Every SILENT Brass system starts with an advanced Practice Mute that reduces the sound that comes out of your horn to a whisper. You can play at night, in a dorm room or apartment, or even in a hotel without disturbing your family or neighbors.

Hear yourself playing

A microphone inside the mute captures your sound and sends it to the Personal Studio receiver. Plug in the included earbuds or your own favorite headphones to hear yourself at full volume.

Amazingly natural sound

Yamaha added digital technology to make the sound you hear in the headphones incredibly realistic, just like what you'd expect if you were playing normally. It's so natural you might even forget you're using a mute at all!

Play along with your favorite songs

Use the AUX IN jack on the Personal Studio to connect an audio player, smartphone, or other music source. You'll hear both your own playing and the music through the headphones - perfect for playing along with recordings or "minus one" practice aids.

PAMPET Trombone Mute French Horn Practice Mute

Based on 11 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Choice of the world's finest professionals

  • Allows a player to practice almost anywhere
  • Choice of the world's finest professionals

User questions & answers

Question: why does it say french horn
Answer: It is located on the bottom next to the battery compartment.
Question: will this mute work for flugelhorns
Answer: No, you will need to string and tune. I suggest using YouTube or just searching online on how to set up violin.

Denis Wick DW5526 Trumpet Practice Mute

Denis Wick

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Denis Wick offers a range of mutes to suit all players and playing situations. British-made Denis Wick mutes are acclaimed worldwide for their sound quality, intonation in all dynamic ranges and superb workmanship.

  • Denis Wick practice mutes are perhaps the best teaching aid ever invented
  • Enormous improvement in tone quality using the entire vital capacity as a vibrating air column by opening the throat spaces through playing loudly in the low register
  • Most practice mutes are infamous for their deficiencies in pitch, intonation and excessive resistance.
  • Painless practice essential to developing every player
  • Proven to be the indispensable "hotel mute" for the professional
  • Most practice mutes are infamous for their deficiencies in pitch, intonation and excessive resistance.

User questions & answers

Question: is this for a Bb trumpet
Answer: It comes with traxxas plug so your going to have to change the connection on the battery or change the connection on the esc
Question: Can this be used for baritone
Answer: Talon EXT wheels
Question: Can this be used with a cornet
Answer: yes it comes with a wheelie bar
Question: Is this the mute that can be both a straight and cup mute by removing the metal portion
Answer: You'll still need the 20T pinion gear along with the traxxas 11.1v 3s 6000+ mah lipo battery

Product features

Denis Wick Practice Mute for Trumpet or Cornet

Denis Wick mutes have set the standard for tone and intonation for many years. They bring an amazing range of tone colours to any brass section and are essential for the performance of a huge range of music, from classical composers such as Mahler and Shostakovich to film scores, avant-garde music, big bands and small group jazz.

Denis Wick DW5512 Practice Mute for Euphonium

Denis Wick

Based on 25 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Most practice mutes are infamous for their deficiencies in pitch, intonation and excessive resistance. Through careful design, Wick has created a practice mute that stops nearly all sound while retaining a stable pitch, accurate intonation and the ideal level of resistance. Whether they are being used in teaching or practicing, Wick practice mutes can bring the sound to the edge of silence.

  • Specially designed air transfer for a natural feel
  • Perfect intonation throughout all registers
  • Helps build healthy air support
  • Painless practice essential to developing every player
  • Proven to be the indispensable "hotel mute" for the professional

User questions & answers

Question: Will this mute fit a marching baritone
Answer: I believe it is. I broke a stabilizer arm and had to order a few parts. The part number of the model sold on amazon coincides with the #’s of the truck sold at traxxas
Question: How badly is the intonation affected when centering pitches? How even is the back pressure across the ranges
Answer: No

Heavy Brass Practice Mute for Cello

Based on 30 reviews Check latest price

Product description

This heavy practice mute greatly reduces volume for apartment and late night practicing. Made of nickel-plated brass.

  • Nickel-plated brass
  • Practice anywhere
  • Maximum dampening of sound

User questions & answers

Question: Can you tell me the exact dimensions of inner and outer side of the prongs? Also the width of the bridge this accomodates
Answer: Yes you can use it as a Straight mute if you take the cup off. The Cup slides off easily.
Question: Will this fit a full size (4/4) cello bridge
Answer: Yes it comes with controller. This was a gift for my Dad. He enjoys this RC car. Thanks
Question: Does this fit a 3/4 size
Answer: It can use either LIPO or the nimah. LIPO seems to have longer battery before charging

Anton Breton VP-50 Violin Practice Mute

Anton Breton

Based on 71 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Play violin to your heart's content in the privacy of your own bedroom, apartment or anywhere else you like to practice with the popular Anton Breton VP-50 Violin mute. Each one is cast from solid brass then is heavily nickel-plated for a lustrous look and a lifetime of use. Uniquely shaped and perfectly weighted, the VP-50 is special because it provides just the right amount of dampening force to effectively mute string volume; while still allowing each note to be heard clearly. From the professional musician keeping up their chops, to the beginning student learning to pull the right notes out of their instrument, the VP-50 is an absolute must. Fits most violins, and easily stores in the accessory pocket of any violin case. Anton Breton the first name in violin parts and accessories!

  • A must-have for all students–allows for practice at all hours without disturbing the neighbors
  • Easily attaches to any violin in seconds
  • Heavy, nickel-plated brass construction for the perfect balance and a lifetime of use
  • Can be stored conveniently in the accessory pocket of any violin case
  • To learn more, please see our Product Description below

User questions & answers

Question: Does this fit a full sized violin bridge
Answer: I believe it can but I am not 100 percent sure. Most accessories for trumpets can be used for cornets.

Honbay Lightweight Aluminum Practice Trumpet Mute Silencer for Jazz

Based on 657 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Very useful when you feel like playing your mute in the middle of the night

Quiets the trumpet noise so you can re-learn how to play without your neighbors complaints



Package include

1 of Aluminum Practice Trumpet Straight Silencer

  • Length:135mm;Inlet diameter:18.5mm;Outlet diameter: 61mm
  • Fit all type trumpets;this aluminum mute has a nice sound and does not distort pitch
  • It produces the type of sound that is considered the "standard" in cup mutes, for most jazz musicians
  • Your family members, neighbours and pets will not be disturbed any more
  • Enjoy your practice with this Trumpet mute

User questions & answers

Question: Do you deliver to PO boxes
Answer: The mute, ear buds and the interface/amplifier unit are in the box. I don't remember if mine came with a battery but I keep a stock of AA and AAA batteries for the various devices, on hand. I love the mute, it makes it possible to play without disturbing others and sounds pretty good in the headset. I wear hearing aids so the ear buds are useless to me but my Sony 7506 rig plugs in, instead. Hope you get one of these setups or at least have a chance to try it out.
Question: Can you use it on trombone
Answer: The Short answer is no, sorry to disappoint. The sound that comes out of your saxophone is emitted through the holes throughout the whole instrument not just from bell. We use to import and sell gig bags from Italy that you would put your instrument into and there were pockets on each side of the bag for your hands to go into so you could play your instrument. They are still available just search for silent gig bag for a saxophone. - Have a Merry Christmas and stay safe - Bob - MrSilverTrumpet
Question: Does anyone know if this will work on a staggs ws-cr215 cornet
Answer: It's made in China. My husband (and I!) are very happy with it.
Question: will this fit in a pocket trumpet
Answer: You should be able to plug the mic into the audio interface to record on Ableton. It looks like the mic has an 1/8" jack so you would have to get an adaptor, but it should work just fine.

Pro Tec ML203 Liberty Trumpet Compact Aluminum Practice Mute

Based on 197 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Protec’s Liberty aluminum mutes are known for their high-quality craftsmanship and materials, excellent playability, while being value priced. Compact practice mutes are practically free-blowing and allow horn players to quietly warm up before a performance and are small enough to store inside a bell. Available for trumpet, tenor trombone (Protec Model# ML204), and bass trombone (Protec Model# ML205).

  • High-quality material and construction
  • Long-lasting cork
  • Free-blowing and well-balanced
  • Value-priced
  • Stores inside of bell

User questions & answers

Question: How should I choose between "compact" and "straight" practice mutes? is there a difference, apart from size
Answer: I don't think there is much of a difference. All I know is this mute makes my trumpet really quiet. I can practice all I want and the wife in the next room never hears me.
Question: Can this size be used with a Flugelhorn
Answer: No, this mute is too small for the flugelhorn.
Question: Can the Liberty practice mute fit a mini trumpet
Answer: It did on mine. That's what I purchased mine for was a mini-trumpet.
Question: I want to start learning to play trumpet but I live with family who would be asleep while I practice. Will this mute keep the trumpet quiet enough
Answer: While this will mute (muffle the sound) it would not be quiet enough unless your house is large and you are a good distance from them. But if you are learning you will want to hear your sound. Not sure if you would want to invest in this since you are in the learning stage but a silent brass system is the best for quiet practice and still be able to hear yourself. They are on the expensive side though.

Yamaha SILENT Brass Euphonium Mute, Complete System (SB2X)

Yamaha

Based on 4 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Practice anytime, any place with SILENT Brass! The Yamaha SILENT Brass practice mute system includes a high-quality practice mute that fits inside the bell of your instrument and reduces the sound that comes out of your horn to a whisper. A microphone inside the mute captures your sound and sends it to the Personal Studio receiver. When you connect earbuds or headphones, you’ll hear yourself playing at full volume while people around you hear almost nothing!

  • Practice anywhere, any time! Other people hear practically nothing, but you can hear yourself playing at full volume.
  • The SILENT Brass system combines a high-performance practice mute with a built-in microphone that plugs into a receiver unit. With headphones connected, you'll hear yourself playing clearly.
  • The mute offers superior muting performance, excellent intonation over a wide pitch range, and natural playability.
  • Brass Resonance Modeling technology makes the sound you hear through the headphones incredibly realistic, almost as if you didn't have a mute at all.
  • By connecting to a portable audio player or smart phone with audio playback capability, you can play along with your favorite tunes or practice with popular "minus-one" backing tracks.

User questions & answers

Question: Can you use this for a tenor saxophone
Answer: I do not believe this can be used for a baritone trumpet or a baritone horn. Would probably be too small. -Jesus The Music Store

Product features

Practice without disturbing others

Every SILENT Brass system starts with an advanced Practice Mute that reduces the sound that comes out of your horn to a whisper. You can play at night, in a dorm room or apartment, or even in a hotel without disturbing your family or neighbors.

Hear yourself playing

A microphone inside the mute captures your sound and sends it to the Personal Studio receiver. Plug in the included earbuds or your own favorite headphones to hear yourself at full volume.

Amazingly natural sound

Yamaha added digital technology to make the sound you hear in the headphones incredibly realistic, just like what you'd expect if you were playing normally. It's so natural you might even forget you're using a mute at all!

Play along with your favorite songs

Use the AUX IN jack on the Personal Studio to connect an audio player, smartphone, or other music source. You'll hear both your own playing and the music through the headphones - perfect for playing along with recordings or "minus one" practice aids.

Yamaha SB7Xc Silent Brass System for Trumpet

Yamaha

Based on 498 reviews Check latest price

Product description

SILENT Brass allows you to practice when you want, where you want! With the included earbuds, you can hear yourself playing while people around you hear only a whisper. This complete system includes the PM7X practice mute, the STX receiver unit, earbuds, a cable to connect the mute to the receiver, and an additional cable to connect an external music device so you can play along with your favorite songs or "minus-one" tracks. Please note: Yamaha discontinued the SB7XC in 2016 and replaced it with the SB7X-2.

  • Internal Microphone: Electric condenser microphone, Pickup Output Jack: Mini phone jack
  • Nominal Level: -25dB to -35dB, Brass Resonance Modeling: Yes
  • Power Supply: AA alkaline or nickel-metal hydride batteries x 2 (3V DC) sold separately
  • Control:. Volume, Reverb type, Power ON/OFF
  • The Pickup Mute combines a high-performance mute with an internal microphone to pickup sound

User questions & answers

Question: Could this work with a flugelhorn
Answer: They're huge... I don't have an exact measurement right now but I put them on a 2000 F150 and I only had 3 options: (BARELY) fit it on the outside of the frame, put it in the bed, or put it on the roof. If you have an SUV, don't expect to put it underneath the vehicle. I was barely able to make it fit under my pickup truck. I had a centimeter or two that allowed me to fit it where I have it. It's gigantic and the amount of noise reflects its size.
Question: Is it possible to record while playing
Answer: I have a better air solenoid.I'll look up the part number.support ring no
Question: Does it still have the concert hall and church reverb features as the old one
Answer: Yes, I used a 3/8' NPT threaded air solenoid valve from truck parts dealer, using a 3/8" female reducing adapter to match the threads on the horn air inlet. Even with the slight restriction in size down from 3/8" line and fittings to the smaller threaded hole size on the horn set it works GREAT. Of course, I'm using Vi-Air compressor set to shut off at up to 200 psi. They will make bystanders swear there is a train about to run over them.
Question: What's the difference between the st9, sb79c, sb7xc, and sb7x
Answer: It's rated 140db. At 120psi it vibrates the ground under my truck! They are awesome.

Heavy Practice Mute for Violin or Viola - Metal

Based on 128 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Chrome Plated Brass Practice Mute for Violin & Small Violas

User questions & answers

Question: how much does it weigh
Answer: Hello Yes this will fit a 3/4 and full size cello. Thanks
Question: Will this fit the bridge of a 15.5" viola
Answer: Not sure. Only if the opening of the marching baritone is close to that of the average concert variety of the horn. Since the mute is tapered, I would, however, guess that it could fit in it and be effective.
Question: Does it fit the bridge of a 16 inch viola
Answer: It tends to blow an easily correctable range of sharpness across the middle range, Anson. I don't even bother to correct it when I practice with it, which is pretty often since if my wife is home, she insists that I use it. The back pressure is quite even.
Question: Is the mute PERFECTLY smooth? I have ordered other metal practice mutes that damage the bridge
Answer: C or Bb flat trumpet, although tuned in the two different keys ( the C is concert and the Bb is trasnposing) are the same as regards mutes.

Pampet Lightweight Practice Trumpet Mute Silencer,Trumpet Straight Mute (Black)

Based on 604 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Light Weight, Affordable, Colorful Practice Mute for Trumpet or Cornet.

Through careful design, It has created a practice mute that stops nearly all sound while retaining a stable pitch, accurate intonation and the ideal level of resistance. Whether they are being used in teaching or practicing, it practice mutes can bring the sound to the edge of silence.

The trumpet practice mute allows you to warm up quietly and practice silently at home, no worry about disturbing your neighbors, family members or pets. The trumpet mute produces a clear mute sound at any volume and performs instantly in all registers. The practice mute trumpet is a must for all trumpet players.

  • Light Weight, Affordable, Colorful PAMPET Practice Mute for Trumpet or Cornet.
  • Allows a player to practice almost anywhere
  • Trumpet mute is designed and tested to perform evenly in all registers
  • Small amount of back pressure compared to other practice (silent) mutes
  • Perfect mute for music lovers to practice or warm up quietly at home or before performance

User questions & answers

Question: Is it easy to blow with this trumpet mute in place? Is there much resistance/back pressure
Answer: No it cannot be used for tenor saxophone
Question: Does the mute fit in a pocket trumpet
Answer: Yes mine is a full sized violin and it fits well
Question: Is it possible to order a replacement for the styrofoam piece that goes on one end
Answer: The mute is 1.5 inches wide and 1.75 inches long by approx .5 inch thick. The space between the prongs side to side is approximately .9 inch. The front to back space between the prongs is approximately .3 inch at the bottom tapering to a point approximately .7 inch from bottom, conforming to the taper of the bridge. I have a standard full size cello with a bridge measuring 2.25 inches wide at the top where the mute sits and it fits just fine.
Question: Does it work with pbone ptrumpet1b plastic trumpet
Answer: Hello,Yes these are for full size cellos. Although how well they fuit really does depend on the thickness of your bridge rather than the over all size. They also offer thesee metal mutes which are larger also for 4/4 cellos.http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Chrome-Plated-Brass-Practice/dp/B00SYQ2ZS2/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1453915947&sr=1-1&keywords=cello+mute+chrome

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