Mute and Range

[PaulyC]

Is it harder to play high notes when using a mute?

[HERMOKIWI]

Not necessarily. A mute tends to increase resistance and more resistance (up to the point of too much resistance) makes playing high notes easier. The point of "too much resistance" varies from player to player and from equipment to equipment. For that reason I can't give you a solid "yes" or "no" that fits every situation.
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HERMOKIWI

[Turkle]

In general, the extreme registers of the instrument - both low and high - are more difficult to play with a mute, particularly regarding intonation. As someone on TH recently remarked, composers that write muted trumpet parts in the low or high registers are just asking for trouble.

Even if it might be easier to get a note out of the horn in certain situations with a mute in, whether that note will be in tune is quite another story.

I'll finally note that there are some mutes - "Sotto Voce" or whatever - that are explicitly designed to help trumpet players get quiet notes out of the horn in high-pressure situations. I haven't ever used one, but it's conceivable that it might help you get a quiet high note out of your horn in an orchestral or chamber setting.
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Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3.

[PaulyC]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate the information.