Tourte Mute

The Tourte mute, invented by Henryk Kaston in 1968, is one of the most popular mutes today. The mute can stay on the instrument when it's not in use and can be applied by sliding towards the bridge from one side in order to position it between the D and A strings. There is also a variation of Tourte Single Hole mute, which the mute only hangs on single string.

It's made from rubber which provides high friction resulting in security both when it's in use and not. Also, because of its softness, there is less chance of damaging the strings, instrument, and the bridge, compared with other stiffer materials such as metal. However, it can leave a black mark on the bridge over time.

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The sound it gives in the lower register is gentle and round yet full-bodied, providing enough presence and stableness for various occasions. The mid register comes out slightly sharp-edged depending on the note, which the player may need to manage in certain situations. This trend gets stronger in the higher register, where the sound gets thinner and can be piercing and bare.