| Author |
Comment |
CelloTron
Registered User
Posts: 1
(8/9/01 11:16:40 pm)
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Practice
mutes
OK, I keep hearing about these magical little devices called
"practice mutes;" considering how thin the walls are in my new dorm
(and also since my mom tells me daily that she's sick of hearing the
Elgar), I'm seriously considering buying one.
But I don't
know the first thing about them.
What makes for a good mute?
I've poked around on the Internet and found ones made of, to wit,
wire, rubber, ebony, and chrome. Probably plastic/resin, too, but I
don't remember one of those.
What does the best job of
deadening your sound? What kind would best conform to a weird
bridge? Is chrome really worth $15 more than rubber? Should I just
stop overthinking it and buy one already?
Any advice would be
appreciated....
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AaronReeves
Registered User
Posts: 221
(8/9/01 11:25:32 pm)
Reply
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Re: Practice
mutes
I have a rubber one. Works just fine. Kills your tone while you use
it, but I'm under the impression that any practice mute will do that
when in use. Many people prefer a metal mute, many others prefer
rubber. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Sorry to
be so obscure, but I really don't know much to say. Other people are
far more knowledgable. 
Aaron
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JacquiOfStars
Registered User
Posts: 19
(8/9/01 11:39:14 pm)
Reply
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Re: Practice
mutes
i just got a metal one and it works wonderfully. the only thing i
dont like is that it makes little scratches on my cello's bridge.
but i don't care much...i play a beat up old rental one anyway.
i've never tried any others, but i doubt that your chrome
mute is worth $15 more than the rubber one, i mean sound wise. i
hear they are all supposed to deaden your sound pretty equally. i
think i would probably get the heavy rubber one if i were
you...unless you don't mind the bridge scratchin than get the metal
one, its so pretty and shiney
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Ellen
G 
Registered
User
Posts: 838
(8/10/01 6:38:39
am)
Reply
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Re: Practice
mutes
You may have trouble fitting some of the metal mutes on your bridge
effectively. One model is cut very flat and if your bridge is curved
just wrong, the mute sits on the strings. This is also a poor fit
anyway and your mute could fall off and land on your cello. Another
requires a very thin bridge or you can't slide the metal mute on in
the first place. There is one metal, the TonWolf or something like
that, which is more U-shaped, will fit more bridges, and definitely
won't interfere with your strings. I would still go with rubber. It
is surprising how many mutes fall off. Some people use clothes pins
though I've not tried this. Oh, the difference in muting didn't seem
substantial enough to risk possible damage. The sound is irritating
either way, so I put cello safety first. E
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CelloBass
Registered User
Posts: 44
(8/10/01 11:05:00 am)
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Re: Practice
mutes
Cellotron,
there is good news and bad news. The good news: A
heavy rubber or metal mute will mute the high register pretty well,
the high and expressive notes of your Elgar will wisper. The bad
news: A mute will turn your cello into a plywood box when you play
the low register. The mute will introduce new wolftones, it will
shift existing wolftones, and it will even amplify some low notes.
And the strings speak totally different. Some notes speak easier,
some are more difficult to bow. The whole deep register is changed
completely. I have tried all except the big heavy metal mutes
because they scratch the bridge and the top when they fall on it. I
would go with a big heavy rubber mute because it absorps most of the
energy. Don't practise too much with a mute because you will learn
to play your muted cello and you will automatically adapt your
bowing to the muted cello. After a while you will overdo the high
registers and bow with too much pressure on the low strings to get
them working with the mute. When you remove the mute after having
played with mute for an hour or so, it will take some time to loose
those habits.
Horst
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zambocello
Registered User
Posts: 717
(8/10/01 4:01:21 pm)
Reply
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Re: Practice
mutes
I prefer a rubber practice mute to a metal one. The rubber mute
fits on the bridge better, and there is less down side to dropping
the rubber mute.
With the practice mute on you can practice
finger gymnastics and intonation, but you won't be practicing for
sound (and therefore, music.) To me the contact of bow to cello
actually feels different, because of the cello's different response
with the mute on.
The best answer would be to practice where
you don't need to use the mute.
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CelloTron
Registered User
Posts: 2
(8/10/01 5:53:34 pm)
Reply
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Re: Practice
mutes > mute dropping
I'm observing that a lot of mute-users seem to have a problem with
dropping their mutes on their instruments......I wonder if mute use
causes ones' fingers to become weak. 
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Ellen
G
Registered
User
Posts: 840
(8/10/01 7:38:15
pm)
Reply
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Bad fit, they
fall off
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CelloTron
Registered User
Posts: 3
(8/10/01 9:04:54 pm)
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Oh, ok. Silly me
:)
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CelloTron
Registered User
Posts: 4
(8/10/01 9:09:27 pm)
Reply
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I'm sure they'd
fall off MY funky bridge (picture)
<img src=64.6.12.33/~musician/cello.jpg
>
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zambocello
Registered User
Posts: 719
(8/10/01 9:25:10 pm)
Reply
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Dig that crazy
cello!
(This message was left blank)
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bridge
Registered
User
Posts: 159
(8/10/01 9:41:28
pm)
Reply
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Yeah. That's
preety neat.
(This message was left blank)
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mcello
Registered User
Posts: 111
(8/11/01 10:34:35 am)
Reply
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I only use a
practice mute when....
I only use the practice mute when I'm in a motel room or we have
company or something and I don't want to bother others with my
practicing.
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