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We don't manufacture shoulder rests, so you well wonder why we choose to discuss them here. Well, we get a lot of queries about shoulder rests, and for good reason: the violin is held between the chin and the shoulder, so chinrests and shoulder rests have to work together if a player is to achieve a comfortable instrument. So, let's begin..

Many players find a shoulder rest very helpful, like me for instance. I've used one for many years. What newer players don't always know is that the two adjustable feet should be set at very different heights -- one high and one low. That's because when you hold the instrument up to your chin, your left side will actually touch the instrument,. while the right side will not contact the instrument at all -- in fact, there may be a gap 3 or 4 inches between the instrument and your right side. This means that the foot of the shoulder rest on the left side should be shortened as much as possible, while the foot on the right side should be lengthened -- to fill the gap. In my case, I lengthen it to the maximum.. Each player, however, should experiment with these height adjustments to get the right fit. See below .. . .



Here'e how I set up my shoulder rest. Notice that the foot on the left is very low, while the foot on the right is quite long. Each player will adjust the right foot somewhat differently, depending on their playing style and physical size, but the left side should always be as low as possible. Experiment with the right foot height to find the position that's right for you.

	Looking down from the neck of the instrument. The extended right side is easy to see.

		Another view. Note that the shoulder rest is also angled across the back of the instrument. You can see that the left side is pushed towards the front of the violin, while the right side is toward the back. The exact angle is a matter of personal preference, but if your shoulder rest doesn't feel comfortable for you, try changing this angle.