How to Adjust a Violin Shoulder Rest

A shoulder rest helps a violinist hold the violin more firmly and makes the instrument more comfortable to play. It is necessary to make sure that the shoulder rest is properly adjusted so that it is comfortable for the player and properly fits the violin without slipping.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Assemble your shoulder rest. Depending on the company, the shoulder rest may come already assembled or in pieces.
2. Decide where the shoulder rest should sit on the violin. Every person's body and the way they hold the violin is different so it won't the be same for each person. Make sure that the shoulder rest sits at the best possible place for you.
3. Adjust the shoulder rest to the width of the violin. You want the shoulder rest to fit snugly against the edges of the violin. If the shoulder rest is loose there is the possibility that it will slip off during playing.
4. Adjust the feet of the shoulder rest so that they hook snugly against the edges of the violin. The shoulder rest should come with rubber feet to ensure this. This adjustment will also ensure that the shoulder rest doesn't fall off.
5. Adjust the height of the feet. The feet of the shoulder rest screw into the main section of the shoulder rest so that they can be adjusted. Decide how tall or short these feet should be to make the shoulder rest comfortable.
6. Tweak the settings of the shoulder rest. Small adjustments make a big difference in how the violin feels while playing. Adjust and play to decide how comfortable the shoulder rest is and make the necessary adjustments so that it is comfortable.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out different shoulder rests. Shoulder rests from different companies are not all the same. Some have more foam padding, some none at all. This can make a big difference in how comfortable certain shoulder rests are. Find the one that is best for you.