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How to make a practice mute for your ukulele
Suck something awful at your new instrument? I do. Not wanting to cause massive grief to your nearest and dearest? Me neither. But here's the conundrum - how to get good enough without upsetting people's musical sensibilities in the meantime? This simple hack allows you to make a mute that will deaden much of the sound emitted by your uke (or guitar, or whatever) so you can get your playing action sorted without causing household disharmony.
Kit
- One packet of Sugru
- Small piece of cling film or very thin plastic.
- Thin craft knife or scalpel
Step 1
This is best done next time you go to change your strings, just in case you get some Sugru on your new Aquilas... Before removing them, lay a piece of cling-film over the saddle of your uke. Don't worry about getting it into any gaps or laying closely around the strings - it's just there to protect your instrument.
Step 2
Get a pack of Sugru, soften it up in between your hands, and then roll it into a sausage about the length of the saddle. If anything, you want it thicker rather than longer - as long as it comfortably fits over the spread of the four strings plus a bit extra on either side, you're good to go. Press down firmly, but not too much - you're looking to make an impression of the strings and saddle in the Sugru. Check that you can clearly see the indents in your Sugru sausage, and then leave it to one side for a day.
Step 3
Slip the mute over the strings and slide it towards the bridge. It should fit snugly, and probably move onto the saddle slightly too. When you play, it should make a dull 'thunk' sound instead of something more harmonious, but will be still be in tune, and considerably quieter than without the mute. Of course you lose most of the feeling with the instrument, so it isn't good for developing a delicate touch, but for learning chord progressions, strumming or fingerpicking patterns it's ideal. Also, since you shouldn't hear too much from your uke even in the next room, it's great for playing in communal areas late at night.
Step 4
Once the Sugru has hardened, use the knife to cut along the impressions of the strings through about half the depth of your Sugru sausage. Don't cut through the impression of the saddle, as you'll weaken the structure of the mute. Just leave it as an indentation.
