If you want to practise in the evening without taking the neighbours along, brass players quickly reach for Yamaha Silent Brass. The system cuts the volume sharply while still delivering a natural tone through headphones. The first question, though, is rarely technical but simply: which Silent Brass fits my instrument.
The answer is clear, because Yamaha builds the systems instrument by instrument. The mute has to fit precisely into the relevant bell, and that is what decides the right model for trumpet, flugelhorn, horn or trombone. This guide sorts it out for you.
01How Silent Brass works
Every Yamaha Silent Brass system consists of two parts that work together. The first is the Pickup Mute, a light mute with a built-in microphone that slots into the bell. It is noticeably more compact and freer-blowing than classic practice mutes, so it constrains the playing feel far less.
The second is the Personal Studio, a small control unit you plug your headphones into. This is where Yamaha s Brass Resonance Modeling sits: a sound treatment that processes the muted tone so it sounds open and natural again through headphones, rather than like a stuffed practice mute. An Aux input also lets you feed in a backing track so you can play along to a recording. Which further connection and control options a module offers depends on its generation.
02Trumpet and cornet: the SB7J
For trumpet and cornet, the Yamaha SB7J Silent Brass System für Trompete is the right system. The Pickup Mute is matched to the narrower bell of these instruments and seats cleanly without throwing the intonation off.
For trumpeters practising in a flat or hotel room, this is the most requested variant.
03Flugelhorn, horn and trombone: SB6J, SB3J, SB5J
For the flugelhorn, with its conical, wider bell, there is the Yamaha SB6J Silent Brass System für Flügelhorn. The mute is shaped for this bell and is not to be confused with the trumpet model.
French horn players reach for the Yamaha SB3J Silent Brass System für Horn. On the horn the mute sits in the rear-facing bell, which calls for its own mute shape.
For the trombone the Yamaha SB5J Silent Brass System für Posaune is intended, sized for the larger trombone bell. Here too the mute is built specifically for this instrument.
04The model-to-instrument table at a glance
The overview below sums up the mapping. The deciding factor is always the bell: the Pickup Mute has to suit the shape of your instrument, because the systems are not interchangeable.
For tuba, euphonium and baritone, Yamaha offers further Silent Brass systems that are usually available to order. These are not permanently listed in the shop but can be sourced on request.
| Instrument | Silent Brass model | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Trumpet / cornet | SB7J | trumpet and cornet |
| Flugelhorn | SB6J | flugelhorn |
| French horn | SB3J | horn |
| Trombone | SB5J | tenor and bass trombone |
| Tuba / euphonium / baritone | further models | available to order |
The choice is simpler than it first looks: you pick not by features but by instrument. Trumpet and cornet get the SB7J, the flugelhorn the SB6J, the horn the SB3J and the trombone the SB5J. They all share the same technology of Pickup Mute and Personal Studio with Brass Resonance Modeling.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one Silent Brass for several instruments?
How quiet does my instrument really get with Silent Brass?
Does it sound like a stuffed practice mute through headphones?
Can I play along to a backing track?
Is there Silent Brass for tuba or euphonium too?
The right Silent Brass for your brass
Find the system for your instrument or browse our mutes and brass selection.
View trumpet mutesSilent Brass for trumpetPassende Produkte
Yamaha SB7J Silent Brass System for trumpet
Yamaha SB6J Silent Brass System für Flügelhorn
Yamaha SB3J Silent Brass System for Horn
Yamaha SB5J Silent Brass System for trombone