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This article was co-authored by Jason Kleinberg. Jason Kleinberg is a Musician and Music Teacher based in San Francisco, California. He is a Professional Violinist, Songwriter, and Composer who has performed across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, both solo and with the group Diego’s Umbrella. Jason composed the film score for the documentary “Gumby Dharma”, released in 2006. He teaches fiddle and violin lessons online and creates video content through his channel called FiddleHed.
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Violin mutes are used to soften the sound of a violin. There are two main categories of mutes: one or two hole mutes, used for performance, and practice mutes, used for practice.[1]
Steps
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Attach your mute to your violin. The mute should attach to the one or both of the two middle strings, D and A. It should attach between the tailpiece and the bridge, with the prongs facing the bridge.- When you do not need to use the mute, leave it between the tailpiece and bridge. If it gets too close to the bridge, it will cause a rough, buzzing sound, so be sure to keep it away from the bridge.
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Slide your mute up the string toward the bridge. While the violin is still in playing position under your chin, slide the mute up. Do not touch the strings.Advertisement -
Hook the mute on to the bridge. Lift the mute at the bridge, and press it down gently onto the bridge. Do not apply much force onto the bridge.
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Line the mute up with the bridge. A practice mute will have the same curve down the bridge has because it will cover the entire bridge. Line the curve up with the curve of the bridge. -
Place the mute onto the bridge. Line the space of the mute with the strings. -
Push gently down on the mute. To secure the mute, push it down gently. Only a very small amount of force is needed. Do not touch the bridge or the strings.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionAre there any other types of violin mute?
Jason KleinbergJason Kleinberg is a Musician and Music Teacher based in San Francisco, California. He is a Professional Violinist, Songwriter, and Composer who has performed across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, both solo and with the group Diego’s Umbrella. Jason composed the film score for the documentary “Gumby Dharma”, released in 2006. He teaches fiddle and violin lessons online and creates video content through his channel called FiddleHed.
MusicianThere's also the sordino mute, which, when placed on the bridge, creates a softer orchestral sound. The wrist mute, which is attached to your wrist, subtly dampens the sound for discreet practice. And lastly, electronic mutes that offers silent practice and additional features like metronomes and tuners.
Video
Tips
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Consult a music instructor if you have trouble or you do not wish to risk harming the instrument.Thanks
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Do not press or pull too hard as you may break the strings or the bridge.Thanks
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Do not touch the strings or bridge, so that you do not get oils or dirty on them.Thanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about string instruments, check out our in-depth interview with Jason Kleinberg.
References
- ↑ Jason Kleinberg. Musician. Expert Interview
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