Violin Shoulder Pads And Rests – All You Need To Know About Them

The subject of violin shoulder pads has attracted much controversy and discussion. The fact that they are a more recent innovation and their effect on the quality of sound that an artist is able to produce from the instrument are some of the most prominent arguments made against the accessory. There are various players, violinists as well as teachers who recommend against using these shoulder rests completely. There certainly are many artists who manage without using shoulder pads have been playing quite well. But it has been observed that these people often have the advantage of shorter necks. For the rest of us, using violin shoulder pads can provide much needed relief and convenience to the artist while handling the instrument.

These accessories have come as a welcome addition to the violin playing fraternity where many artists found it difficult to handle the instrument because of their unique body shape. Shoulder rests can make violin playing very comfortable indeed. 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.

When it comes to buying violin shoulder pads, one has to understand that choice will largely depend on what feels comfortable to the artist. There are basically two types of this accessory available in the market. The first are is the group of "soft" rests such as curved foam pieces, sponges and the Play-on-Air, which is formed of a "bladder" filled with air that can be adjusted by varying the amount of air contained in the bladder. Many teachers and artists prefer that the shoulder rest should not be rigid as it will allow some movement flexibility while playing the instrument. A rigid rest may lock the position of the violin player, adding to tension and discomfort which will eventually affect performance. However the soft pad against the back of a violin can muffle or create a fuzz in the sound of the instrument.

Then there are the rigid violin shoulder pads, which as the name suggests, provide limited flexibility and more stability to the instrument. They usually come with feet that attach to the sides of the violin and a curved, rigid, shaped bar that connects the feet. Different brands offer different shapes and sizes of these violin rests which means that an artists can choose the one that bests fits with the unique physiology of his/her body. There will be an effect created on the sound of the instrument as a result of using a rigid shoulder rest but it will be lesser than what would have been generated if you were using softer pads.

In the end, the choice of buying the right violin shoulder pad will ultimately depend on the comfort and convenience of the instrument player. My suggestion will be that you try out both options before selecting the one that best fits your playing style. Visit Zaretandsonsviolins.com to know more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tony McWilliams is a stringed musical instrument expert who likes to share his immense knowledge about the topic through the many articles and blogs he writes. His recommendation for buying cellos and violins for sale would be from ZaretAndSonsViolins.com

• the world renowned bass bar inventor company whose stringed instruments are considered to be top class by the music fraternity.