Practice mutes of 2026

[BrianJohnston]

Hi all, looking for help for a particular mute. I’m looking for a practice mute where blowing resistance is as close to the open horn as possible. So far I’m seeing the salt shaker a the soft-tone mutes are the closest to this.

I don’t need the mute to be dead quiet, just quieter so I don’t disturb my neighbors in my apartment. Looking for more open/even blow resistance so I can practice with this A LOT without getting fatigued mentally/physically. Thanks

[tbonesullivan]

I am a big fan of the Bremner "shhh" line of mutes. IMHO very free blowing and on pitch. Someone I play with is head over heels for the Rejano practice mutes.

I do not have any experience with the Salt shaker mutes, and will say that being able to try a practice mute before you buy it is a real help.

[muschem]

I just picked up one of Ben's Practice Mutes (https://benspracticemute.com/) for tenor, and it plays great. I haven't tried as many practice mutes as I'm sure some here have, but I've spent some time on the Yamaha Silent Brass, Bremner's Sshh, Rejano 1st gen, and Best Brass - I prefer Ben's mute to all of those. The response is more even across the full range, and I feel less back-pressure. Intonation seems generally good and volume reduction is great. They're a bit pricey to get here in the US.

[NathanSobieralski]

The Salt Shaker mute, while not designed to be a practice mute, can work great to cut down on the sound and is very free blowing with good intonation. I have a customer or two who use them when warming up at gigs etc just to cut some of the sound. Its also great in ins intended role, as a velvet tone/stand in for bucket mute.

If you were to use it as a practice mute of sorts, the removable/adjustable cork system and felt system are great features that let you experiment to get the sound/volume you want.

[CalgaryTbone]

I've got a Rejano (2nd generation) on the way. Everyone who has one has raved about it to me.

Jim Scott

PS - Sh... mute is pretty good too

[mbarbier]

I really like the blue Wallace practice mute, though I think they're now made by Voigt. The smaller compact one is nice and convenient for travel, but not quite as enjoyable.

[CalgaryTbone]

Just by coincidence, my Rejano arrived at my opera rehearsal tonight. I partnered up with a friend on an order to save on shipping.

It's the 2nd generation - softer, more in tune and 3D printed using a softer material that resists cracking when dropped. My first impression is that it's really great - I think it's the best practice mute I've played on. Really quiet, in tune, plays the range (including pedals), lightweight so it doesn't make the horn front heavy. Low profile too, so it should fit in the bell in most cases.

I'm pretty confident in recommending them.

Jim Scott

[MStarke]

I am practicing largely with a mute for the last 6-7 years now and have a bit of a collection with multiple options from alto to contrabass (and euphonium).

I got a full set of Ben's Practice Mute last year. In my experience:
- Overall very good response, really pleasant sound (which is important if you are using it a lot), really light and quite small/mostly in the bell
- However there is one downside: At least for me it substantially "shortens" the octaves, high range becomes considerably flat

So I mostly got back to the Sssshhh mutes which I used before. They are considerably heavier - which is tiring especially on a horn that is already unbalanced in itself. They may sound a little more unpleasant and are obviously much larger. But intonation is the best I found in practice mutes until now and also response and playing feel are the very good across the full range.

Also I have started simply using H&B cup mutes. This can be an alternative if it can be a little louder. May feel even more natural/open. However these mutes typically have some (low) notes that do not slot properly. May be better with other cups.

I also have the Softone, but use it almost exclusively as bucket replacement. As a practice mute it is not really good imo.

The regular Wick practice mute is very heavy, the travel mute may be worth a try depending on the instrument.
I own the best brass for tenor and bass, but don't really use it anymore.

Also the Wick EUPHONIUM travel mute is ... bad. Response and sound are somewhat ok. But intonation is so bad - at least on my instrument.

[Vegasbound]

For anyone needing the best practice mute for euph or tuba then Schlipf are the best imho

https://www.tuba-mute.com/

[Fidbone]

I’ve had one of these for a while, made me give my Best brass one away.

https://onomutes.com/

[kenkugler]

I’ve had one of these for a while, made me give my Best brass one away.

https://onomutes.com/

Anyone in the US bought an ONO Mute? Not sure where they are shipped from. Since the De Minimus rule was ended what was the tariff?

[SamBTbrn]

I’ve had one of these for a while, made me give my Best brass one away.

https://onomutes.com/

Anyone in the US bought an ONO Mute? Not sure where they are shipped from. Since the De Minimus rule was ended what was the tariff?

They are made and shipped from the Netherlands

[tbonesullivan]

It's the 2nd generation - softer, more in tune and 3D printed using a softer material that resists cracking when dropped. My first impression is that it's really great - I think it's the best practice mute I've played on. Really quiet, in tune, plays the range (including pedals), lightweight so it doesn't make the horn front heavy. Low profile too, so it should fit in the bell in most cases.

How do they "stick" in the bell? Is the material soft enough to substitute for the usual foam or cork?

[GabrielRice]

I have both generations of Rejano mute and just got a similar mute from CalderPips, which has the advantage of being flexible enough to fold the end inside so that it's flush with the end of the bell for storage in my MB case.

All 3 of these mutes play great - they are finally practice mutes that I can warm up on without feeling like my chops are all blown apart and I don't know where the pitch is. The only other one that was ever close to that for me was the original Bremner Shh Mute with the straight sides - but that one never really stayed in the bell.

[CalgaryTbone]

My new Rejano has a "bump-out" ring around the top of the part that inserts into the bell. Seems to be the same material as the mute itself. It stays in the bell without any issue. It's new, so it hasn't been used much yet, but it hasn't fallen out of my horn or my colleague's instrument either. They are specific to tenor, bass, alto etc., so I could imagine that some horn with a larger bell throat area could present an issue. My horn's an Edwards and our 2nd player has a Shires - it fit both well. The material is slightly flexible, but it won't bend into a different shape. Super lightweight. So far, I'm really happy with it.

Jim Scott

[mrdeacon]

I have both generations of Rejano mute and just got a similar mute from CalderPips, which has the advantage of being flexible enough to fold the end inside so that it's flush with the end of the bell for storage in my MB case.

All 3 of these mutes play great - they are finally practice mutes that I can warm up on without feeling like my chops are all blown apart and I don't know where the pitch is. The only other one that was ever close to that for me was the original Bremner Shh Mute with the straight sides - but that one never really stayed in the bell.

Is the Calderpips mute lighter than the Rejano Gen II?

I was wondering if it might be due to the extra flexibility. The Rejano Gen II is pretty darn sturdy.

[Doldom]

I use Sshhmute regularly. Good feeling and good intonation. but maybe a little loud and heavy.
For the minimal resistance, I use Qoomute from Japanese maker. The mute have 3 specific capsules, one for minimal resistance, one for sound, and one for maximal dB suppression. It's very interesting feature. And it's very light and compact, too. But intonation is worse than other mutes I think.
Onomute light and feels ok,, a little different feeling than Sshhmute. a little weird for me.
Cookiemute XL feels very good and intonation is also very good and I like the sound,, but it's very heavy.
I had used rejano first gen, stomvi upmute, best brass, yamaha silent brass, but eventually sold them.

[GabrielRice]

Is the Calderpips mute lighter than the Rejano Gen II?

I don't know. They're both pretty light.

[Johnstad]

I am really liking the latest From Ben Van Dijk and his son Erik.

I have used their practice mutes for a while and recently took delivery of the Dolce Mute. Designed also to fit inside your bell and inside a cut bell case. It fits really well inside my case.

The picture shows is compared to the Ono mute. Dolce on the left hand side.

Intonation is spot on, it fits great and the blow/resistance is very easy. Not much of a transition back to the open horn.

[FullPedalTrombonist]

I’d love to love 3D printed items, but for the most part every product I see is unfinished. I really want to spend money on a good product that someone took the time to complete. It’s not necessary for their function, but sanding at the very least shows me a maker cares

[tbonesullivan]

I’d love to love 3D printed items, but for the most part every product I see is unfinished. I really want to spend money on a good product that someone took the time to complete. It’s not necessary for their function, but sanding at the very least shows me a maker cares

Yeah, I am also not a fan of the "right out of the printer" look from many of the 3d printed mutes. I also would prefer actual foam or cork padding where it is going to stick in the bell. I know that the plastic cannot really hurt the instrument, but I still worry.

[dukesboneman]

I`ve used 1st Generation Silent Brass - really front heavy - BUT effective
I've used one of the Klien Practice mutes - Awful
I really like the Protec Liberty Mutes
Best Brass - Similar in design to the Liberty, a little better response
1st and 2nd Generation Rejano
1) I really liked the 1st generation. Good response and good intonation . Dropped and cracked
2) Good response and good intonation. A little louder than generation 1. I prefer Gen 1
I have used the Salt Shaker with the extra padding - works ok
Just my opinion

[MTbassbone]

My favorite for playing was the Wallace but only if the cork was modified to let more sound/air out. I cut three channels into the cork. My favorite for playing/portability was the Best Brass. However, I found I never really used them that much and sold all of them.

[harrisonreed]

I’d love to love 3D printed items, but for the most part every product I see is unfinished. I really want to spend money on a good product that someone took the time to complete. It’s not necessary for their function, but sanding at the very least shows me a maker cares

Sanding or buffing symmetrical / round objects is difficult to do properly unless you have a lathe, in my opinion. And then in that case, why are you 3D printing your mutes?

Also, the resolution on one of those prints is crazy. Sand that down and you lose half the thickness of your mute!

I don't mind the 3D printed look so much, and I kind of get it. Sticking something like that in a lathe and sanding it down will make a huge mess, and turning it on a sanding belt will slowly give you cancer (who knows it might not, I'm just imagining a fine mist of micro plastics getting everywhere).

I bet the low res "cork" area gives decent grip, depending on the plastic used.

[FullPedalTrombonist]

I’d love to love 3D printed items, but for the most part every product I see is unfinished. I really want to spend money on a good product that someone took the time to complete. It’s not necessary for their function, but sanding at the very least shows me a maker cares

Sanding or buffing symmetrical / round objects is difficult to do properly unless you have a lathe, in my opinion. And then in that case, why are you 3D printing your mutes?

Also, the resolution on one of those prints is crazy. Sand that down and you lose half the thickness of your mute!

I don't mind the 3D printed look so much, and I kind of get it. Sticking something like that in a lathe and sanding it down will make a huge mess, and turning it on a sanding belt will slowly give you cancer (who knows it might not, I'm just imagining a fine mist of micro plastics getting everywhere).

I bet the low res "cork" area gives decent grip, depending on the plastic used.

It’s one of those “why bother” parts of making that’s the difference between a thing that functions and a thing that’s completed. Taking a round edge bit to the edges of some plywood home project when I could have just sanded it real quick is the attention to detail I want consistent in my garage or my house for myself. Paint work done at a restoration shop vs a pay and spray then out the door job at Maaco. I don’t dabble in 3D printing, but I’m sure there are higher fidelity printers for these materials. And even printing thicker and taking the time to throw on a respirator and sand by hand would add cost that someone like me is happy to pay for.