I've been looking at cello mutes online, but can't for the life of me work out how these things work. Do you get a reduced sound with them, or do they entirely silence it? How well do they work? There seem to be a bewildering range of styles, is any particular one better than another?

With the disclaimer that I am not a cellist, or indeed an expert... I can tell you what mutes do for violins/violas! (to my knowledge... )

There are two basic sorts of mute, normal mutes such as one would use when it says "con sordino" (with mute) in music, which mute the sound, making it more hollow and with a very different colour.

These can (on violins at least) be made or wood, wire, metal, plastic or rubber.

"Normal" mutes I have seen include: wood or plastic ones which look very approximately like an m, where the 3 spokes of the M fit between the strings on the bridge; wire ones which look frankly a bit weird (I don't think I've ever seen one up close ), a wire contraption that again fits onto the bridge, and when not in use hangs on the strings on the tailpiece side of the bridge; and little round rubber ones that are circular (I've certainly seen these for cello) with a sort of niblet that fits over the bridge between the two middle strings, and again when not in use hangs on the strings behind the bridge.

Practice mutes are considerably heavier and bulkier, and not intended for use to actually play in orchestras or for solos. The one I have is a little metal weight attached to a metal clippy thing (again, vaguely m shaped) that attaches to the bridge, and deadens the sound to the point where you can hear it, but it's very quiet and not at all vibrant, and has little carrying power. I believe you can also buy ones made of heavy rubber.

Hope this helps/makes sense!

The small rubber mutes are used to alter the sound slightly to produce a darker and less intense effect. They are all much the same, and normally sit on the strings behind the bridge, and are pulled up onto the bridge when required. Example:


The large rubber or metal practice mutes aim to reduce the sound massively so you can practice late at night, for example. However, they really do interfere with the way the strings on the instrument respond, and so they can't be recommended for long-term use. Example:

I've seen the round tourte ones in the music shop and bought one just to see what it did, but couldn't work out how to apply it to the cello, so gave up!

I'll try and explain, it's so much easier to show than to write!

The two holes will end up around the D and G strings of your cello.

Once side of the tourte will be just flat, the other will have a sort of flap that you can loop over the bridge.

If it has writing on it, the writing will be right side up when the mute is!

It will be made of fairly malleable plastic, ie you can bend the thing around easily.

There are two slits in the circle that allow you to put the strings through the holes.

Hope I'm making sense here...

Take your mute, with the writing at the top, and put it flat between the two middle strings. Twist it so that the little flappy bit faces the bridge. With a little fiddling, the two slits in the circle will allow you to put the D and G strings through the holes. The mute should be freely suspended on those two strings. To mute the instrument, move the mute to the bridge and place the niblet over it.

If this makes any sense I'll be amazed... I'm finding it hard to explain. If you have a teacher or a friend who plays string instruments, they'll be able to show you in about 5 seconds flat! But it's much easier done than said

Someone more eloquent may be able to help more

lol. My brain just fused! I'll take it to my teacher next time I see him. I was just a bit too embarrassed to admit I'd bought it on impulse with not a clue as to its function or application!

Sorry, it's hard to explain and I don't think I did a good job

If your teacher shows you you'll have it in 5 seconds flat - and then possibly my waffle above *may* make sense *grin*

you can clip a wooden clothes peg onto your bridge and it works almost as well, but i'd recommend buying a proper mute, they're easier to use and less likely to damage the instrument!