Mutes

There are three basic kinds of mutes that all trumpet players need. Straight mute, Cup mute, and Harmon Mute. Each kind of mute changes the timbre of the sound in a unique way. There are plenty of variations and different kinds of brands but these are the basics to get started with. For a straight mute, I'd recommend:

This Alessi/Vacchiano mute is a classic. I bought this when I first started playing. I use it all the time even though I have many other brands of straight mutes. The straight mute is probably most often used in symphonic orchestra or band settings.

For Cup Mute, I'd recommend:


Humes & Berg is another classic. There are lots of fancy products out there but for some reason this one is the industry standard. It's not as durable as a metal mute so you have to be careful with it. This one is used for more jazzy things. It's a must if you are doing some playing with a jazz group.

or

The Denis Wick model is a great cup mute for more orchestral settings. I would recommend it to more advanced players to add to their collection after they get a more basic mute, like the Humes & Berg.

and for Harmon I'd recommend:



The "bubble" mute is great. I see lots of players using it around town in NYC. It's got a great sound and the pitch is more consistent than most mutes. You'll still have to pull out your tuning slide cause it will be a bit sharp. This is a cool one because with the stem in, it sounds like the teacher from Charlie Brown and with the stem out it sounds like Miles Davis.

also this guy looks pretty good for Harmon (sometimes called "wa wa mute")


This is just another brand of harmon. I think it's pretty solid though. I see less people using this one than the bubble Jo-Ral mute.

For beginning/intermediate trumpet students, they can build their mute collection slowly, no need to buy them all at once. Unless they need something for a particular piece. But better to be prepared than to scramble at the last minute to find what they need. I am usually very guilty of this. As you develop as a player, it's a good idea to get many different mutes of different shapes and materials.