Mutes

[gnrguitar64]

I heard a rumor that if you practice with a mute in, it makes you louder, is this true?
Anyone have experience with this situation?

[tubaguy9]

Because playing loud is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing that tuba players need to do...

[tubaguy9]

when you feel 10 pounds lighter, does it help you run faster?

[Karl H.]

Do you have to pull your slide out when you get lighter? And if so, how much?!

Karl "a little too feisty tonight" H.

[Chobbie]

What's the point?

[Kevin Hendrick]

Do you have to pull your slide out when you get lighter? And if so, how much?!

Karl "a little too feisty tonight" H.

Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

[imperialbari]

Do you have to pull your slide out when you get lighter? And if so, how much?!

Karl "a little too feisty tonight" H.

Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

You take out your gum when going to bed?

Just put it on the back of your dentures. Helps securing them.

Klaus

PS: On the OP’s question one might note that with straight mutes the sound tends to brighten and the balance between the overtones tends towards going odd. More or less automatically most players tend to compensate for those tendencies by playing with a fuller and better supported airstream. Right after taking out the mute the improved air supply continues, which pays off in a better use of the given instrument’s potentials, soundwise.

Sadly humans tend to fall back to their usual sloppiness, so the positive effect tends to fade. But it can be revived and consciousness will let it last longer.

[Gilligan]

The best way to develope greater sound volume is to practice playing loudly IN TUNE somewhere where the neighbors won't throw rocks. Remember you want the sound to stay full, musical in quality, and not start breaking apart or become blatty like a high school sousaphone section. As you play louder you will find that you wil need to drop your jaw, roll your out lower lip and add a little tension to keep your tone from breaking apart.

A better mouthpiece might also make a difference. The classifieds are a great place to get trial pices and you can almost alway resell a piece you don't want for about what you paid for it.

I see you are playing a CC and an Eb. The PT-44 is a great mouthpiece for CC and maybe good for the Eb too. I'd start with one of those or something very similiar.