Son just got his first mute...a "pignose" Tourte. He hankers after the old-fashioned 3-pronged comb type, and even tried to talk the local luthier into selling him one of the antique ones he has on display...

Any comments on preferred type of mute?

QUOTE (all ears @ Nov 25 2004, 07:14 AM)

Son just got his first mute...a "pignose" Tourte. He hankers after the old-fashioned 3-pronged comb type, and even tried to talk the local luthier into selling him one of the antique ones he has on display... Any comments on preferred type of mute?

The great merit of the Tourte is that it is there when you want it
not back home, or in the case, which is back in the green room, or on the floor under the leader's chair.

How are mutes fitted and how do they work ?

Fiona

Here's a site with photos...scroll right down to the mutes section.
[URL=www.folkrevolution.co.uk/ accessories.html]pix of 3 mutes in place on bridge[/URL]

The Tourte is a round of rubber, with two slits in the side so that it sits on the two central strings, between the bridge and the tailpiece, when not in use. To use, you can pull it up onto the bridge, where it dampens sound. The 3-pronged type has to be physically pulled off the bridge and stored separately.

Ah....I see.

Thanks for that link.

How much of an effeect do they have ?

I've just used 2 clothes pegs on mine. 1 each side !

Fiona

I like the Tourte mutes because I don't lose them... although I used to carry a spare, lent it to someone and never got it back...

Three-pronged mutes are useful if you play violin and viola, or have several violins/violas, and have to switch from one to the next frequently. But it's just as easy to buy two Tourte mutes, one for each instrument.

I use a Tourte mute, very handy little things they are!

Tourte mutes are about the best and most portable - from the point of view of not leaving them in your violin case.

But as they hang on the strings near the tailpiece while not in use, you just have to make sure it doesn't drop forward and end up making a rattly buzzing sound against the bridge. It's an incentive to keep the violin 'up', instead of playing with the scroll pointing at the floor .

Lots of other mutes are available too. If I've got to practice late at night or at a time when the neighbours might start whinging , then I use either a metal practice mute or a thick rubber practice mute, both of which really deaden the sound down. I don't recommend using them though if you want to work on tone production, as the violin's sound will be very weak and thin.

Amanda

Just out of interest, can you use the same mute on a viola as well as a violin (not at the same time obviously!)?

QUOTE

Just out of interest, can you use the same mute on a viola as well as a violin (not at the same time obviously!)?

If it's one of the ebony 'trident' style mutes, possibly yes.

But, since viola bridges are decidedly large and thicker than that of a violin, I'd suggest you use a proper viola mute.

I know that you can use the Tourte mute on both viola and violin, but I'm not sure about big violas, as my viola isn't much bigger than a violin.

QUOTE

The Tourte is a round of rubber, with two slits in the side so that it sits on the two central strings, between the bridge and the tailpiece, when not in use. To use, you can pull it up onto the bridge, where it dampens sound. The 3-pronged type has to be physically pulled off the bridge and stored separately

May I know if students are allowed to use the 3-pronged type mute if there is a passage 'con sordini' in the sight-reading in the exam? Or should use the round shape mute?

I only have a plastic 3-pronged type and my exam is around the corner! Pls help!

likeviolin

QUOTE (likeviolin @ Nov 27 2004, 03:50 PM)

May I know if students are allowed to use the 3-pronged type mute if there is a passage 'con sordini' in the sight-reading in the exam? Or should use the round shape mute? I only have a plastic 3-pronged type and my exam is around the corner! Pls help! likeviolin

you can use either, it doesn't make any difference, but make sure you have somewhere you can put your mute for easy access

Sorry, very old thread but found this while browsing old topics... Anyway... I just found this - How cute!!!



And small question -

What is the difference between a single hole mute and a regular round mute - apart from the obvious of course!!

A single hole mute??! not sure I know what you mean.

I have seen regular round "tourte" mutes, wooden ones with 3 "prongs", metal and rubber practice mutes... and novelty ones.

They are both the same price on most sites, others, this one seems to be more expensive by a few pennies.

Never seen one like that. Looks like it is similar size and would therefore presumably do a similar job to the normal round ones though.

Some cellos have a wolf note suppressor on one of the strings between the bridge and tailpiece and this usually prevents use of a normal torte mute so this may be an alternative which can be fitted in these situations. You will probably have noticed if you have a wolf note suppressor even if you didn't know what it was. It is a small weight (normally a brass cylinder shape) attached to one of the strings to damp resonance at a certain pitch. If you look at the cellos in orchestras, particularly childrens ones with a lot of 1/2 and 3/4 cellos you are bound to see one or two.

Malone - I want one of those!

I got a heavy-duty rubber mute after reading that the sound reaching your left ear from a violin can reach 100 decibels. However, in practice, the resulting tone was so pathetic that I felt I had just gagged a nightingale. So I'm back to playing muteless; I just wonder if my ears will take it long term...

Oops! Someone just pressed one of my buttons!

It may not make any difference to an examiner, but IMHO it makes a HUGE difference to the sound. I always laugh to see 'authentic' players using painstakingly reconstructed period instruments - with modern mutes!

For me, the three-pronged one is infinitely best in terms of sound. Try one and see if you agree. Just one problem - where to keep it? I could do with some kind of fridge magnet affair that would keep it attached to the instrument. Or maybe a lanyard of some kind?

Tinnitis (ringing, buzzing, whining noises in the ear) is a worry of any musician.

It's a progressive disorder that often starts off sporadically, but in it's worse condition can become unbearable and affect sleep. It's possible to slow it's progress if correctly identified in the early stages and cochlea implants can improve things for those with more problematic conditions, but it's not curable.

Basically, damage occurs to the small hairs in the inner ear, leaving them sending permanent signals to the brain that it translates into sound. Repeated loud noises can start it off, but sudden loud noises are the worst and do the most damage. If you leave a venue with your ears ringing, or a sudden loud noise that has the same effect, then damage is being done.

I wear earplugs when teaching young children who play small violins. The sound waves coming from them in confined spaces actually makes my ears hurt, so in order to save my hearing - and my job! - earplugs are the only solution. Similarly, practicing in confined spaces is not good for the hearing.

The alternative to a mute is a pair of musicians ear plugs. They can be made specially to fit your ear, but it's also possible to buy them off the shelf. They're not particularly cheap as earplugs go, but on the other hand, what price your hearing, once it's gone it's gone. They can reduce sound levels by about 20 decibels, without actually affecting what you are hearing - you just hear it as though the volume has been turned down, rather than muted.

All musicians, especially those who teach or play professionally, should have regular hearing tests too.

Tinnitus with a 'U', Amanda, actually. Yes - spot the anal retentive...!

Hi AmandaL, a belated thanks for this reply - I'm just back online after a break. Yes, I think musicians ear plugs are the way to go. I will price some up and go for the custom-made type if I can run to them. Well perhaps I'll just go for broke. As you say, what price your hearing...