Name: Choosing Violin Mutes
Brand: Superprof
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“Of course the most difficult thing on the violin is always intonation. The second one is rhythm. If you play in tune, in time with a good sound that's already high level. Those three are the main things.” - Ruggiero Ricci

In 2018, a pawnshop in Massachusetts bought a stolen violin. It turned out the violin was from a collection ade by Fernando Gagliano in 1759 and valued at $250,000. While you won’t pay this much for your first violin, it just goes to show that violins aren’t necessarily cheap! In addition to all the practice you have to do, learning to play the violin also means that you’ll have to buy a number of accessories. After the bow, rosin, chinrest, shoulder rest, and replacement strings, the practice mute is one of the most important accessories. In this article, we’re going to have a look at mutes for violins.

The best Violin tutors available

Why Should You Get a Violin Mute?

A mute is a device that dampens the sound of an instrument. You can also get them for a violin as well as violas and cellos. It attaches to the strings by the bridge of string instruments.

How do you make a violin quieter? — Sometimes, not everyone will want to hear your violin. (Source: philm1310)

Why? By absorbing the vibration from the strings, it can reduce the sound produced by the instrument’s soundbox. When a string instrument is played with a bow, the vibrations travel down the string to the bridge where they’re transferred into the sound box which amplifies the sound. If you place a mute by the bridge, less of these vibrations will make it to the soundboard. The principle is simple: it reduces the vibrations from the strings to make the instrument quieter. Even the greatest violin players can use mutes. Really? Yeah! There are two main types of mutes: those for reducing the volume of the instrument so it can be practised quietly and those for orchestral performances. In fact, during concert performances, a violinist may be obliged to use a mute as the sheet music states con sordino (with a mute). This means that at this moment, the violin isn’t the soloist and other musicians may need to be heard more clearly. In some cases, you don’t want the violin to be playing over the other instruments. On the other hand, you may also see senza sordino which means play without a mute. Different models of mute will have different effects on the violin. A mute designed for orchestral performances (which are often made of rubber or ebony) may absorb around 20% of the vibrations. Mutes for practising can absorb up to 80% of vibrations and can be made of metal. These types of mutes cover a large part of the bridge.

Why Install a Mute on a Violin?

So why should you install a violin mute? We’ve sort of already explained the answer: to allow other orchestral instruments and soloists to be heard more easily or to not bother your neighbours or flatmates.

Which are the best violin practice mutes? — A mute is a good idea if you live in a block of flats. (Source: Pexels)

Fitting an Orchestral Mute

Fitting a mute will increase the weight of the bridge. As a result, fewer vibrations will make it to the sound box. According to specialists, the less intense a violin sounds, the better its timbre is. This is one of the arguments for using a mute: you get a better timbre and therefore a better sound, something your listeners will greatly appreciate. It’s protection for both the musician and the audience. When a musician plays as part of an ensemble, the mute can be used so that the violin isn’t too prominent.

Practice Mutes

There are plenty of reasons to buy a practice mute, too. Firstly, for your neighbours when you’re practising with the help of a Superprof private tutor, for example. When you’re getting started with violin scales and trying to improve, it can be an absolute nightmare for anyone living in the same building as you. A practice mute will allow you to stay in everybody’s good books. You might just be lacking in confidence and not want anyone to hear you playing until you’re good. With a practice mute, you can play and practise quietly. Additionally, you mightn’t be able to practise at acceptable times of the day because of work. A practise mute means you can play late at night or early in the morning without bothering anyone. Additionally, you won’t have anyone calling the police on you! Finally, it’s great if you live with others as you won’t wake them up when they’re sleeping or having a nap.

Choosing the Right Mute for Your Violin

You can play an electric violin with headphones if you don’t want to bother your neighbours.

Which are the best violin mutes? — If you don't have a mute, you can use a clothes peg in the meantime. (Source: jill111)

But what if you can’t bring yourself to buy a modern version of the world’s most famous classical instrument? Here are some ways to help you choose your violin mute. Keep in mind that like with other violin accessories, there are plenty to choose from:

Tourte shaped violin mutes: This is the most commonly used mute in orchestras. It’s made of rubber and has a magnet in the middle.
Round tourte violin mutes: Just like the previous one, this can be used in chamber music and performances.
Three-pronged practice mutes: These rubber mutes will drastically reduce the volume of a violin.
Metal practice mutes: Similar to the previous mute but with a different tone.
Wire practice mutes: This only slightly dampens the sound so it’s perfect for performances.

There are also objects from everyday life, such as clothes pegs, that can act as makeshift mutes. If you peg one onto the second and third strings, you’ll get a similar effect to a metal mute. Make sure you don’t get a mute that’s too high as you’ll not be able to see where you’re placing the bow. Finally, make sure you buy the appropriate mute in terms of how much you want to reduce the volume of your violin. A metal mute will reduce the volume by around 70%, a rubber mute by 50%, and an ebony mute by 40%. Some models (such as those from Otto) can reduce the volume by up to 80%! It all depends on how much you want to dampen the sound:

Heavy muting
Moderate muting
Light muting

You can get mutes for different combinations of strings, too. You can even cut some in half to reduce the effect of them. Again, it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you are looking for violin lessons near me, consider Superprof!

How Much do Mutes Cost?

So how much do they cost and where can I buy one?

Which are the best violin books? — If it's too late to practise, you can always read a book on the violin. (Source: Gellinger)

Generally, you can buy mutes in most brick-and-mortar music stores selling violins, rosin, cases, etc., as well as from online retailers. Thomann is Europe’s largest music retailer and they offer a number of different models. Here are a few other places you can get violin mutes from.

Thomann

As you may have guessed, Europe’s largest music retailer sells violin mutes. They start at just under £2 and go all the way up to nearly £60.

gear4music.com

Similarly, gear4music.com has violin mutes. Just like Thomann, they start at under £2. Keep in mind, that if you’re a beginner buying a mute, you probably want one that dampens a lot of the sound! Search for violin lessons now.

Fair Deal Music

Birmingham’s largest independent music store also has a website where you can get a variety of violin mutes. Again, the cheapest is less than a couple of quid! Whether you play the violin or fiddle, viola, cello, mandolin, bass, guitar, piano, or drums, most of these stores have plenty of accessories for percussion and stringed instruments. You can get replacement violin strings, tuners, a metronome, violin bows, chin and shoulder rests, replacement parts like tuning pegs, a violin case for either an acoustic or electric violin, as well as resources for beginners. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and a violin is only as good as the worst part on it. That means that in addition to being carved and made by a good luthier (a violin maker), your violin needs a good fingerboard, violin bow with horsehair, and violin rosin for your bow in order to improve the playability and tone of your musical instrument. Search for violin lessons London now. It's always a good idea to have a replacement violin string since you'd hate to be practising and have a string break. A violin string, especially the e string (as the thinnest), can snap at the worst possible moment, so make sure the next time you're in your local violin shop, you pick up an extra pack of strings. Don't forget that the other members of your orchestra or string quartet might need cello strings or viola strings, so you can pick some up for them in these stores, too. Popular string manufacturers include D'addario and Thomastik Infeld, but you don't need to buy really expensive violin parts and accessories if you're just a beginner. After all, a good sounding violin still won't sound good in the hands of a complete beginner. Right-handed musicians can learn the regular way, but left-handed musicians have different learning options. You can read more the violin in our other posts.

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Joseph

Joseph is a French and Spanish to English translator, language enthusiast, and blogger.

Practice Mutes for Discreet Violinists

Why Should You Get a Violin Mute?

Why Install a Mute on a Violin?

Fitting an Orchestral Mute

Practice Mutes

Choosing the Right Mute for Your Violin

How Much do Mutes Cost?

Thomann

gear4music.com

Fair Deal Music

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