Why Don't Sax Mutes Work? Plus, the bizarre mute that actually... works!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ก.ค. 2020
- Do you want to practice sax silently, without disturbing others? Perhaps you've tried a saxophone mute! But, why don't these mutes work? Find out why, and which strange mute actually does!
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Why don't sax mutes work?
If you live in an apartment building, with housemates, or with family in close proximity, practicing without disturbing others has to be a major consideration for a saxophonist.
Looking on Amazon, eBay or AliExpress can turn up hundreds of different options for sax mutes. But, as many people can attest, these mutes rarely work as intended.
In this video we'll cover the following topics:
- The 3 different types of mutes available
- How these mutes are INTENDED to work
- Why they don't work as advertised
- The mysterious 4th mute which may hold the answer!
- Other suggestions for lowering your saxophone volume so you don't disturb others.
Questions about anything in this video? Please leave them in the comments section below!
If you enjoyed the video, please hit the 'thumbs up' button and subscribe to SaxTuition TH-cam channel for more great saxophone content.
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#saxophone #saxmutes #saxtuition
If only the saxophone didn't have so many holes! (Just kidding...) If you're interested in learning the saxophone from scratch (and you don't mind annoying the neighbors), check out the SaxTuition Beginner Series: www.saxtuition.com/beginner-series
I'm at night owl, and could practice more if noise were not an issue.
Hi, you have helped me start playing the saxophone. Your voice always makes me smile. Thank you
Thanks so much mate! So glad to hear the channel has helped you :)
The "window" method is the one I've been using for the past 30 years :P
I'm glad I didn't waste my money on one of those mutes
The arm hole case thing is horrible for a beginner as you can't see the instrument and you can't see the keys. This sucks. Really thought there was an answer to this. Loved the video either way
This super helpful i was really close too buy one thanks
You have a great sense of humor... thanks for all you do.
Thanks Smokin' Joe, I try!
Want more proof that sax mutes don't work? 😬 Check out this TH-cam short! th-cam.com/users/shorts10wWzhg_TIE
How about playing under your covers and duvet?
As stated none of the trumpet type mutes work. I was faced with the problem of disturbing others and not being able to purchase that massive box type I was forced to devise my own mute. I found that a tiny bottle washer brush cut off either at the small end or the large end to suit and inserted either into the mouthpiece or the end of the neck. It will be noted that some notes are lowered in pitch but this may be corrected by using a harder reed. This type mute does most certainly prove totally effective and any degree of muting may be obtained by cutting the brush till desired muting effect is obtained.
That's what i was thinking! You're esaentially palm-muting your sax
Great explanation!
This is the first time I've been to this channel, and already it seems like Jeremy is a nice, fun person lol. Thank you for acknowledging the mutes really don't work. I wish the sellers would stop lying. Also, I refuse to play my saxophone through a casket with armholes 😂😂😂😂. So I guess I just have to free ball it🤷🏾♀️
Interesting argument Jeremy, since I started practicing about 2 months ago my actual issue now is making too much noise.
Only have an hour frame to play each day, but still, sometimes it affects my progress because I unconsciously think I'm being too loud
therefore try to play quieter but in the end I'll either break the tone or just lose the note.
This is why I just bought the Roland Aerophone. What do you think about it?
Hey AnyDany, yeah it really is a shame if you have to limit your volume during practice because it can affect your tone production a lot, especially when you're just starting out!
I love everything I've seen about the Roland Aerophone so far, it looks like it fits the saxophone concept much better than any other electronic sax - particularly the EWI. I think it could be a great tool for practicing your fingerings and rhythms etc, although it would be impossible to develop a good concept of tone or embouchure without an opportunity to play on a real sax.
As long as you have the ability to practice on a real sax from time to time, I think it could be a very useful tool for practice :)
@@SaxTuitioncould you do a review on the EMEO, please?
Thank you for the video on mutes. I was just looking at buying one myself. What you said about mutes on the mouth of the horn not working due to all the tone holes makes perfect sense. The mute cases however look like a nightmare for a beginner who is not yet able to play by feel. As the sound originates in the mouthpiece, you might think that some sort of suppressor inserted into the crook of the sax or on the outlet of the mouthpiece itself, would be effective. I've seen people using techniques on duck calls (and other similar devices) to modulate the outputs of those devices. I'm just wondering if applying that to a sax mouthpiece wouldn't do the job. The sound would be affected, of course, but that's the intent. Maybe I'll do a little experimenting. What do you think?
I wish found your channel before I bought a mute from Amazon. 😢😢😢
The case looks like 2077 version of Sax.
No demo??
Hi Jeremy, I live in India and as a classical player I wanna buy the d'addario reserve reeds .
It's costing 37 $ according to usa. is it overpriced?
Hi Aparajit, that sounds about right! That's actually quite a good price, as they are expensive reeds.
I had one of the mutes you stick your hands into. It didn’t mute the sound enough. My neighbors told me they still heard me playing.
That’s a shame Kate, thanks for the feedback, I’m sure people will find that useful 👍 Do you remember the brand you had?
SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME THE SONG AT THE END IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IT
Hi Simon! It’s actually a royalty free track included with the Apple sound library for GarageBand / Final Cut Pro etc.. I believe it’s called 44th Street 😊
I made a mouthpiece silencer from a large vitamin bottle - carved out the front flap opening a little and the mouthpiece fits snug - put a wash cloth in and a hole in the bottom and it works great - costs ? $ 0
I think it reduces the volume at least by half . You cannot tell by the video, I guess because the phone recording volume is maxed out . Maybe if I put the phone farther away during the sound test it would be apparent . However, you can hear the sound resonate in the room at the end of the first test . In the second test, you can tell there is no resounding resonance present .
Here is a video showing what I have .
th-cam.com/video/yHIAxdTOvk8/w-d-xo.html
Maybe I will try making a saxophone cover-all silencer with a cardboard box and some shredded newspaper ...
I feel like the main issue is not that mutes don’t work. It’s a misunderstanding of the purpose of a mute. Even trom & trumpet mutes are not for silencing the instrument it’s for manipulating the type of sound you produce like the wah sound of a jazz trumpet. That’s achieved using a mute and has nothing to do with ‘silencing’ the instrument. What is like to know more about is the manipulation using a mute.
Hey Jayne! Interesting point, however even mutes that are designed for manipulating the sound unfortunately won’t work on a saxophone due to its design.
@@SaxTuition thanks and this is what I’m trying to get to the bottom of. Every resource seems to be about volume rather than the traditional use. I’ve been playing a lot of jazz and swing but i’m playing trumpet parts so I’m trying to figure out how I might replicate some
of those muted and wah techniques on sax. You’re right even traditional looking mutes remade for sax don’t appear to be providing people the same results as we see in a true valve brass instrument.
i got sensible front top teeth... bought a sax and i dont know what to do now.
i played for 3days and made very good progress, but i feel pain in those teeth. is there a solution?
Hey Francois, I think what will really help you is to buy a mouthpiece patch, which is basically a rubber cushion that goes on top of your mouthpiece. I made a video about them over here: th-cam.com/video/aSd2wqrpAlI/w-d-xo.html
They can also help to set your embouchure correctly and to avoid the mouthpiece sliding around in your mouth. Hope that helps!
@@SaxTuition thank you very much.
The sounds comes out from the different holes, at least (the mute) it's so cheap I can just throw it away 😂
Looks like the only solution is to drive out far away into a forest, bush or beach and start practicing away from civilization 😂👌🏼
A other option : electronic wind instrument. The roland aerophone or yamaha yds 150.
That would help if all you need to practice is the fingering, but it won't help with practicing breath control or projection.
I bought ear protection/noise protection for all my neighbors, it was much cheaper
Can't this bizarre mute work as an enclosure with all the holes closed? It should have enough room to store removed neck and mouth piece somewhere inside.
What if putting mouthpiece brush inside the neck??
No don't do that! It might get stuck up there...
That case is horrible. It makes fingers humid, you can’t hear your sound properly, it’s awkward to hold, and it limits your ability have proper form.
Maybe people have already invented something mute for soprano saxophone ?
You get a guitar soft case. Two holes for your hands, and you cut the uper part for the neck.
For an alto sax a case from a tele or strat is ok.
For a tenor you will need a case for a semihollow (335).
You will also find enough place for sound absorbing material.
Good luck.
Haha I don’t recommend this 😂
the bizarre mute that actually works, is play with no mute at all
Yeah, it is basically a portable version of the soundproofed walk in closet.
Good video bro, so far the only one of your channel that I have seen. Maybe I would recommend you to speak a little faster in the moments that you do not speak about technical things or that require a lot of attention, since like me, perhaps there will be a lot that only look for the answer rather than the justification or """Filling""". Even so I emphasize, good video.
You can also skip ahead. The video wasn't made for you personally. Plus TH-cam has way too many alternatives for you to find what you like, without asking someone to change their personal style to accommodate people "like you". And then there would be complaints from people who like his current way of doing things, if he changes to accommodate people like you.
@@Whol3NothaL3v3l it's just feedback, ty for ur feedback tho
Practice in the closet …the clothes soak up the sound
british seth macfarlane
It's expensive, it's inconvenient... and it's not available for baritone 😂
THe sax case. The one you mentioned is a copy of the "original" brand --forgot the brand name. :) But acccording to other reviewers it DOES work. Plus that model has a headphone jack. So I'm guessing you can go near "silent...to others".
In the end.....the reality is there are virtually no instruments we can play at home wtihout being the annoying family member or neighbour. :) I have a neiighbor who praceds his (or her?) sax in the park. :) Not often so I guess he (or she) still got complaints as the park is flanked by condo's. :) The sound is still loud "enough". heh...though not as loud as if he or she played in their condo unit or condo parking garage.... you need to be able to afford to build a "recording studio type room" in your home. :...for ALL instruments except a "hyprid/digital piano" ---you can plug headphones into it and go "silent" (to others around you). ...and they approximate the soun from other pianos near identically ..elctronic or acoustic.
Sax and the case....I elieve works
Hey Anderson - absolutely, the mutes that cover your entire saxophone (look like a giant case) are the mutes that DO work. I hope I made that clear enough in the video :)
The mutes that I was referring to that don't work are basically anything that involves placing something over or down your bell. These are all over eBay and Amazon and I didn't want anyone to get fooled into thinking they can actually play softer this way. Thanks for watching!
Are you reading?
Ur fada. Play something u just Sidon der dey talk talk 🥺
Pease investigste the Whisper Room. I saw an advert in DOWNBEAT magazine sone years ago