Violin Mute.. Rubber or Metal?

Question

I'm undecided between the rubber practice mute and the metal practice mute. Do they both mute equally well? I notice the metal one is quite heavy.. will it become a chore while practicing?

Answer 1

Metal practice mutes mute better than a rubber mute, but if you drop a metal mute on your violin, it can do some damage.  I have a rubber practice mute and It mutes really well and is not difficult to use.

Answer 2

It all depends, so you should try both to see which one you like better or you might find they both are useful at different times.

Violin mutes are inexpensive so why don't you get both and try out for yourself.

Answer 3

The metal mute will mute a lot more. The two also affect the pitch differently. Compared with holding your arm up in the air all the time the weight is insignificant. You should have both mutes to choose between for different circumstance. They are not that expensive you know, and the rubber one in particular takes up almost no space, and the metal one only a bit more.