Fiddle mute advice please..

Subject: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 03:52 PM

I've got a mute on my fiddle but it doesn't quieten the sound enough for my liking. It's basically a small piece of wire covered in plastic. Does anyone know of a better type that dampens the sound more? I live in a flat and dont want to annoy the neighbours.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 03:55 PM

THIS is the kind I've always used.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Megan L
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 03:57 PM

You could always do what mum made dad do with his saxaphone :) play into the airing cuppoard. and the melodeon was banished to the shed.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 04:09 PM

Look out for antique mutes too; I use a Victorian brass mute on my kemence (Black Sea Fiddle), and I've got an antique brass & bone mute that I use on the viola. Such things turn up in antique shops, but keep checking ebay.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 04:32 PM

What kat said. If you want a Practice mute, then use the heavy wooden ones. The ones like you have are an Orchestra mute

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: GUEST,Sarah, Barnsley
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 04:36 PM

I've got a rubber practice mute like this one somewhere and I find it's better for sound reduction than other ones i've tried.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: GUEST,Chris Brownbridge aka Ebor_fiddler
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 05:41 PM

The point of a violin mute is not to cut the volume, but to alter the normal tone to a nasal sounding one, it has also a secondary effect in that at the same time it smoothes out the sound and can eliminate errors in pitch - they are still there, but the human ear can't hear them easily. Mutes for brass function similarly.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Mark Ross
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 05:51 PM

A set of clothes pins works real well, the kind with a spring. Fairly inexpensive too.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: GUEST,Stu sans cookie
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 05:52 PM

Blu tac = use as much as will reduce the sound enough. Sure mutes alter the tone, but they sure as hell reduce the sound level

Stu

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:03 PM

What you NEED to do is stop most of the vibrations from the bridge. The bridge transfers the sound to the sound post, and thence to the back and belly, which send out the sound. Stop the bridge from vibrating, and VIOLA!



No, actuall, it's still a violin. Violas burn longer.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: s&r
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:17 PM

Stick the blu tac on the bridge of course

Stu

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:18 PM

LOLOLOL...er, yes

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: GUEST,KT
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 02:11 AM

Here's the one I use. Works very well! (and jsut so happens, it's on sale now).

KT

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Melissa
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 10:25 AM

I used a rolled up papertowel (and occasionally a sock) tucked under the strings behind the bridge when my mute seemed too loud.
It wasn't pretty, but it was cheap.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 10:44 AM

I use two alligator clips on my banjo bridge. Should work on the fiddle too.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 06:16 AM

Think I'll go with KT's - it looks the heaviest!

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 03:50 PM

I bought this heavy metal one -

http://www.sharmusic.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=1167&Cat=

(sorry, I cant yet do blue clickies). The question is, how does it fit on the fiddle?? I got no instructions with it.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: strad
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 04:22 PM

Just sit it astride the bridge - don't push it down to hard, though.

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 04:41 PM

Oh I see now - yep it works real well. thanks for all your advice on here, much appreciated. Now I can get squeaking away! x

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 11:35 AM

This mute is a godsend. It really quietens the noise. Plus I think it may improve my sense of pitch, as I have to listen much more carefully and concentrate to hear the notes. Ideal for me too, as someone returning to playing fiddle after quite a few years not playing, to get quietly back up to scratch!

Subject: RE: Fiddle mute advice please..
From: GUEST,Chris Brownbridge aka Ebor_fiddler
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 04:23 PM

Is the Heavy Metal one alright for other kinds of music?