I was just wondering when using my mute today. Both normal mutes and practice mutes, although they block most of the air do not change the mute. Is there a simple answer to this, purely out of curiosity?

And what makes a mute different from simply hand-stopping? Thanks

Very good question. Straight mutes, cup mutes, and practice mutes all allow for some air to pass by. Look inside these mutes and will almost always see a tube in the center. These mutes are actually 'resonators' and how they work is air pressures builds up in them and then it spills over out through your bell and the process repeats itself many times over and over every second.

The math formula for your instrument is f=nv over 4(L+0.4d).This is known as the Bessel Function. Your sound wave is actually being completed outside the end of the bell and then reflected back in which we call 'end correction' and also known as a 'phantom node'.The sound waves being produced are what we call longitudal sound waves. The begin at one end and move left and right to the oposite end of the tube.

However, stopping with your hand or using a transposing stopping mute raises your pitch. Actually there are arguments about lowering or raising; regardless you are changing and shifting to a different set of harmonics. When using the stopped technique correctly you are removing the phantom node from the equation and removing the ability for end correction. In fact you are changing to a completly different instrument because instead of an open end you have now closed both ends. You no longer have a longitudal wave because there is no destination for the sound wave to go. So the sound wave is now going back and forth inside your instrument. This is called a transverse wave and behaves much like a stringed instrument.

That makes sense yet why does partial hand-stopping say half-closed change the pitch if the 'transverse waves' can escape? I think my question makes sense haha

As long as your bell is not fully closed you have a longitudal wave. It only becomes transverse when you fully close the bell.

If you play a note and slowly close your hand the pitch will go flatter and flatter; even when you get it all the way closed. If you start a note in closed position, or push the air pressure as the hand closes when doing it the slow way; you get your transverse wave at the moment no more air can get pass your hand and the end of the bell.

Transverse waves can never escape. Anytime a supposed or alledged transverse wave excapes it automatically becomes a longitudal wave for the mere fact that it is no longer contained within the vessel of origin.

Now the mute you want to get a hold of is the mute they used back in Beethoven's time. As you probably know they were using natural horns back in that time. They had a mute that had a ball on a stick inside the mute so that the natural horn players could get all the notes (since you can't use your hand while you are muting). The mute has no corks on it, so when it is all the way in the bell and the ball is fully engaged you have a stopped horn.

They had a mute that had a ball on a stick inside the mute so that the natural horn players could get all the notes (since you can't use your hand while you are muting). The mute has no corks on it, so when it is all the way in the bell and the ball is fully engaged you have a stopped horn.

That's way cool! I've never heard of this before. I want an organic blaster and one of those cool mutes. That would be so fun to learn. I'm often asked to play in small chamber orchestras to accompany choirs & suchm especially this time of year. The directors always complains about how loud the horn are . . . well, I do play a modern horn, so what do they expect? Any recommendations for a good source to buy a good natural horn?

Valerie Wells
http://bebabe.wordpress.com/

Your insane Val!.
If you are really interested in a natural horn my suggestions are:
James Patterson - he's doing really good ork right now.
Richard Seraphinoff - Been doing it forever.

It is an entirely different creature, I doubt most people will appreciate the intonation differnces between notes, and changing keys during a modern piece of music is difficult. If all you want is quieter look into an old Cortois single horn with piston valves. The bell size is similar to the natural horn and the tone between notes will be more universal. You also might consider a Ballad horn - mine is in C.If you want I can send you some pictures I think I have your home email. Probably can't do it until tomorrow late morning though.