General Review of Shoulder Rests

The subject of shoulder rests has generated a lot of controversy amoung teachers and violinists. Because they were not used until fairly recently and also because they may affect the sound somewhat, there are still some teachers who recommend against using them at all. Certainly, there are some violinists who do fine without a shoulder rest. Often, these people have short necks.

For example, David Oistrakh, one of my favorite recording artists, fits this mold!
For the rest of us, a shoulder rest can make playing the violin much more comfortable. It frees the left hand from having to support the instrument and should allow the violinist to play without raising the left shoulder. The choice of shoulder rest depends on the unique physiology of each student. Sponges (even a kitchen sponge with a rubber band) and Play-on-Air are examples of padded rests.

Play-On-Air. Some teachers prefer rests that are not rigid, such as this Play-on-Air model. However, the sound can be affected by the pressure of the pad against the back of the violin.



There are also various rigid models with feet that are produced by many manufacturers. Each fits slightly differently.

Everest. The Everest is made in America and is relatively cheap. The padding is thick and the rest seems to fit well for medium to long necks. One model offers collapsible folding feet.

The Bonmusica is made of flexible metal with a "hook" that can be molded to fit over the shoulder. It is a heavy rest that can affect the sound more than some but can work well for violinists who have not found any of the other rests to be comfortable.

Kun is the original inventer of the rigid rest with feet. There are several different models. They tend to fit most people fairly well but can be expensive.

The Mach One is light and made of a nice quality maple. Some people find it very comfortable but it is rather short and the padding can seem slippery.

The Wolf is an excellent rest for very tall necks, but can feel very rigid. Though it appears to have no curve, it can be bent to suit the player.

The viva comes in many colors and adjusts in two planes. This extra adjustibility allows it to accomodate certain violinists who have had difficulty finding a comfortable rest.



In sum, my recommendation for selecting a shoulder rest is to try several and look for a comfortable fit. In the case of the rigid models with feet, the pad should rest securely against your shoulder and collar bone without any gaps between you and the rest. Try to find a violin shop that has a selection of rests and will allow you to try them. Adiditionally, your teacher should be able to help you assess fit.