banj5000 - Posted - 09/08/2010:  21:15:26

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Anyone have advise for finding a good mute to practice with?

I have found that as I'm getting a little better my playing is getting louder. My wife used to enjoy the soft background music, but now would really like me to not practice at night anymore. I'm getting nervous since I'm replacing my cheapo import with a Deering Deluxe (to arrive early next week) that its going to just get louder (and better). Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

Kevin

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Edited by - banj5000 on 09/08/2010 21:16:16

Bigbadbucksnort - Posted - 09/08/2010:  21:52:19

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Clothespins work pretty well. Clip one onto one end of your bridge, running parallel to the head. If one don't work, try two, one on each end.

The bad thing about the clothespins is that they kill the sound dead. Janet Davis has some mutes that, if they do what they claim, allow you to hear the banjo tone better while keeping it quiet.

janetdavismusic.com/mutes.html

BobbyE - Posted - 09/08/2010:  22:14:59

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While I understand the necessity of using a mute in consideration of other family members or neighbors I do remember reading one pro player saying that 'we should always practice the way we want to sound.' I have always felt that a mute is going to do something tone wise to our playing that will keep the banjo from producing what it otherwise would if not for the mute, thus preventing us from hearing the sound we are producing with our picks. That being said still don't know much of an alternative if you have to use one.

Bobby

dneal - Posted - 09/08/2010:  22:53:35

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I use a Fielding-Cutler Banjo Mute. It has made it possible to practice more. The sound is different and I've found I have to get use to playing without it whe I take it off. But it allows me to practice songs, finger position, timing and speed. It would not be possible to play as much as I do without it.

Roll Player - Posted - 09/08/2010:  23:02:44

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A little bit of poster hanging putty (Blu-tack, Handi-tack and the like -- lots of brand names) and an old AOL cd works very well to take some of the edge off and bring the volume down quite a bit. For more muting, use some of the putty right on the bridge.

Another Way of Muting

Faux-Bro2 - Muting

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 09/09/2010:  00:05:44

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quote:

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Originally posted by banj5000

Anyone have advise for finding a good mute to practice with?

I have found that as I'm getting a little better my playing is getting louder. My wife used to enjoy the soft background music, but now would really like me to not practice at night anymore. I'm getting nervous since I'm replacing my cheapo import with a Deering Deluxe (to arrive early next week) that its going to just get louder (and better). Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

Kevin

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Hi Kevin

Maybe your wife has good taste... That's not to say your playing is getting worse but have you given much thought to the 3 T's.

Playing better doesn't mean you NEED to play LOUDER.

Playing LOUDER is like SHOUTING, it's AGGRESSIVE to some people as is playing too fast to the point where it drowns the melody. It can be in bad TASTE.

I started off playing loudly and as I've got better I made a concious decision to play more softly. Why you might well ask...

Study this video clip closely. Watch how this young singer has to strain to be heard over the banjo player.

youtube.com/watch?v=_unee-B2x7E


Now if this guy eased back on the volume his sister would not have needed to raise her voice to the point of having to strain her vocal chords and the overall performance of the band would have been a lot better.

He appears to be in his own little world, oblivious to everything going on around him, Goodness he doesn't even ease up when the mandolin takes a break.

IMHO and for what it's worth.

Learn to play more softly without the mute. There will come a time when you will be glad of this advice.

Tuppen - Posted - 09/09/2010:  03:49:59

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I use one from Gold Tone (called Lucci), and it works pretty well. Playing sounds okay but itīs not like the real thing of course. Itīs really easy to use too.

Thereīs lots of people saying you should never use one and just play softer. Well, that might work for some people, but I sometimes take off my picks and play with my fingers and still use the mute, my wife can still hear it if the TV is not on, but sheīll think itīs okay.

So, if you want to stay married and still play as much banjo as you want to, go for a good mute. Better to play than not to play at all.

dgreen20 - Posted - 09/09/2010:  04:30:26

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I agree with previous comments that better doesn't translate to louder. Sometimes better is softer.

That being said, I use a Mike's Mute mikesbanjomute.com/ at certain times to to avoid annoying my wife ... especially when practicing the same lick over and over again. She also mentioned that some songs seem to sound better with the mute regardless of how soft I play without it.

7M4 - Posted - 09/09/2010:  05:46:53

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I have a newborn and I use the Mike's banjo mute. I am a ble to play with him sleeping in the room and it never wakes him. I love that mute!

joemcd - Posted - 09/09/2010:  06:07:13

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Hi I agree with the clothespegs if you want quick and dirty. when I first started and didn't even want to hear myself I used them and they worked well. I still even keep a couple in my bag. The other mutes I've tried are one of those heavy over the bridge jobbies but it never stayed on so never used it for more than 2 secs and a leader brass mute which worked very well also. Now though if I'm playing late I just take my picks off or play quieter. My wife will still complain though but that's her job isn't it?

Richard Mitchell - Posted - 09/09/2010:  06:07:50

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Hi. If you go to the `Folk of the Woods' website there is a video clip of a Deering Calico being played with one on it. I have one from them and it it is easy to use and sounds great.

PS. I've had my new Deluxe for a week now, you're going to find it hard to put down.

quote:

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Originally posted by banj5000

Anyone have advise for finding a good mute to practice with?

I have found that as I'm getting a little better my playing is getting louder. My wife used to enjoy the soft background music, but now would really like me to not practice at night anymore. I'm getting nervous since I'm replacing my cheapo import with a Deering Deluxe (to arrive early next week) that its going to just get louder (and better). Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

Kevin

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John Allison - Posted - 09/09/2010:  06:08:31

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I do not like to use a mute as it does change the tone somewhat and does muffle fingering errors (not the wrong note). However, there are those times when this is required. I would rather play without pkcs than use a mute to produce a softer/quieter sound.

Martian - Posted - 09/09/2010:  06:57:17

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Do a little of each I tend to agree a little with what Tam had offered up. You can get great touch, or feel and cleanliness through playing softer , (and slower)and is not a bad thing to do at all in your practice routine, however , if you still need a mute, you have a ton of them in your sock drawer, just slide a sock, or a handkerchieve under your strings against the front of the bridge, and you are alone. I learned this from a pro, who during warm-up, ( though I would doubt very much he needs it), he will sit offstage and watch the previous band and pick this way, and you cannot hear him, and it is not rude or offensive to the player an stage A "handky" I think works best , just slide it under and fold the ends back out iof the way. It is as good as amy mute on the market, and no one will want to borrow it

WildBillNECPS - Posted - 09/09/2010:  07:04:28

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I learned this from James McKinney - stuff one of those pink foam rubber hair curlers (take out the plastic piece) under the strings just in front of the bridge. Works great. A rolled up scrap of shelf liner also works. Both can be found at the dollar store.

jbraun002 - Posted - 09/09/2010:  07:14:34

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I use Mike's Banjo Mute and like it a lot. One way it alters the tone is by extending the sustain of the note.

If you're practicing rolls, I can't see why someone wouldn't use a mute.

I personally don't like the mute for songs because of the note lengthening, but I can foresee situations where it would actually be an asset (e.g., maybe a classical piece).

banjer5 - Posted - 09/09/2010:  07:21:25

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I HATE A MUTE! That said, you need to address the problem of too much sound. I have (infrequent use) a mute which clips on the bridge. I don't know who made it but it is very effective. IMHO the clothespin would get in my way. My sympathy to all who must choke their banjos voice. I love the statement "Let The Banjo Ring".

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Edited by - banjer5 on 09/09/2010 07:22:54

John Allison - Posted - 09/09/2010:  07:40:53

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Like I pointed out earlier, I do not like mutes but when I do use one it is kind of like WildBill's foam rubber hair curlers. Mine is made from those foam rubber strips that come with the window airconditioners. Works great, does not change the tone a whole lot but does muffle out fingering errors.

torpedo - Posted - 09/09/2010:  09:55:39

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Hey Roll Player! Man that is sick, now I know what a frankenbanjo looks like. lol. Joe