Resistance - Mute

[jicetp]

Hi everyone

Lately I have been warming up with a harmon type mute ( why ? trying to get to the center of the notes by having the mute buzz ).
I feel the mute gives me comfort, limits my overblowing and thus I am much more at ease.

I guess it's a matter of added resistance to the air column but maybe I am wrong.

How would you have this same ( or at least more of it ) without a mute ?

First guess would be a ' tighter ' mouthpiece but I fear the tone would suffer ?
Tighter horn ?

Eager to read your thoughts

Thanks

JiCe

[Rhondo]

I like mutes too but usually prefer something less restrictive, like an adjustable cup mute or a straight mute.

You can also increase resistance playing with the bell pointed toward and close to something like a shirt on a hanger.

[Andy Cooper]

Since the Pandemic, my playing is feast or famine. When I'm not quite up to it, I switch to a slightly tighter backbore on my mouthpiece. (Threaded top and backbore system.)

So right now I'm in fair shape and using a Warburton PT backbore but could drop back to the Warburton 6 if needed. The Warburton 6 is tighter than a stock Bach #10 backbore but is a dark sounding backbore.

This is cheaper than changing trumpets - I've tried that too.

[JVL]

hello
don't try to research the same things nor feelings, which would be detrimental to your playing. Getting used to muted playing risks to false your marks while playing open, and you'll crack notes and will make your high register more difficult.
If you want to avoid overblowing by playing by feeling, do what Bobby Shew teaches : put cotton ball in 1 or 2 of your ears
best

[kehaulani]

Some people have no choice.
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[kehaulani]

[Robert P]

Your rationale for using a harmon doesn't seem valid to me. To improve your playing with an open horn play an open horn.
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[jicetp]

I think my original post wasnt clear.
I'll try and explain my goals and hopes

I am in the process of changing some of my playing characteristics ( I wont go into details )

For this process, I have to let go some of my habits and have to commit to a specific process.

One of my goals is opening up the sound ( yes and no sound - JVL would understand if he is who I think he is ; ) . And the harmon is just a way I found to know instantly if I hit the spot ( or not ).
I dont play much with it, just to grasp the concept and then I go open.

What I discovered is I kinda like the resistance the mute offers and was wondering if a tighter set up would give me a little of what I like.

Thanks for your input

JC

[Robert P]

[tomba51]

I don't remember the exact details, but the great NY studio trumpeter Bob McCoy used to teach students to play a passage in one type of mute, then to repeat it in another mute, then repeat it open horn. Unfortunately, as I said, I don't remember the specific instructions of what types of mutes he wanted you to use.

Bob McCoy bio in case you're not familiar with him - from https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Bob_McCoy

Bob McCoy (1929-2011) was the original trumpet player in the Sesame Street house band (with Mel Davis later assuming the chair).

McCoy was a long-time member of The Tonight Show band under Doc Severinsen, and played under Severinsen on records. He was also an active session player for jingles and commercials recorded in New York. McCoy played with pianist Peter Nero, The Manhattan Transfer, Enoch Light, and jazz trombonist Urbie Green.

McCoy also played trumpet on The Electric Company. He played for Broadway shows, on the cast albums, for Hello, Dolly!, The Wiz, and others. In the 1980s, McCoy worked with Yamaha designing a custom-made trumpet and mouthpieces
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[Jaw04]

I like to do some exercises with a practice mute (shh mute) to see how easily I can play it really flexible, slippery, easily, and through the full range. I also do some bending exercise with it. It has been helpful.

Harmon, however, is a little trickier to practice with. I find to get the full buzz you need to give it more gas, which can lead to poor playing habits, for me. It depends on which mute you are using. I mostly use a Jo-Ral aluminum bubble mute.

[LarsHusum]

Playing with a Harmon or a very open practice mute, in the way you describe can be helpful for finding the center of the tone. Playing where the mute resonates reveals if you're in the zone
Playing too much with a mute is never good, but in smaller amounts, it can be a helpful check up.
When we play open horn, we color the sound to our liking. Which some times can distract us from playing in the center of the tone.

[abontrumpet]

[Billy B]

You need to practice using all the mutes.

As far as practicing fundamentals, my teacher Bill Adam would sometimes have me put in the Harmon and “blow the hell out of that thing “ in order to help engaged the buccinators.
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