“What violin shoulder rest is the best?”

It’s a common question I receive from my violin students. I’ve tried dozens of styles of shoulder rests myself in order to find the absolute perfect fit and I’ve gone through the same process with my students in order to help them find the best shoulder rest for them.

If you are just starting to play the violin, you might be overwhelmed by the many options for shoulder rests. There are hundreds of versions out there, all promising to deliver stability and comfort. But which violin shoulder rest is the best for you? Since every person’s body type is different, finding the perfect violin shoulder rest might involve some trial and error.

The shoulder rest that works for one person may not work for someone else, but I’ve found that there are some violin shoulder rests that work with most body types. After teaching thousands of students, I’ve found these three violin shoulder rests are the best place to start.

These violin shoulder rests are best for beginners because they don’t break the bank. You’ll find there are many very expensive violin shoulder rests out there and if you’re just starting out, you don’t want to drop several hundred on a shoulder rest until you understand your body type and what you need.

So here are the best shoulder rests I recommend to my students!

*Remember, these are a good place to start but continue to experiment to find the perfect set-up for you as you learn the violin.

(Make sure you purchase the size of shoulder rest that matches your violin).

1. Wolf Forte Secundo Shoulder Rest

This is the violin shoulder rest that I use and I love it! For years I thought that since I was short (5’4”) I had a short neck. Nope. It doesn't work that way. I’m short but I have a long neck. When I finally realized I needed a shoulder rest for medium to long necks, so many of my posture problems improved. For those of you with longer necks, this is a good option with feet that twist out farther for a better fit. The screws or height adjusters are also very thick so the shoulder rest won’t wobble if you do adjust the feet for a taller height. It’s extremely customizable. The width is adjusted with a metal bar and a screw, allowing for a very customized fit to your violin. You can even bend the metal backing plate to fit your shoulder.

This shoulder rest also works well for people with shorter necks too.

Pros:

-Great for longer necks

-Sturdy feet don’t fall off

-Sturdy when feet are extended

-Offers the most options for customization

-Tilt-able and bend-able

-Crescent shape is good for narrower shoulders

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2. Everest Shoulder Rest

This violin shoulder rest is a great place to start and seems to suit most students well. The curve of the cushion hugs your shoulder very nicely making for a comfortable fit. My only complaint is that the feet do not screw out very much so if you have a long neck, this shoulder rest may not give you the support you need. Since the feet are firmly attached to the shoulder rest, it doesn’t allow you to tilt the rest. It’s not a big deal, but the rigidity makes it a little less customizable. The lack of customizable options can also make this shoulder rest a great option for beginners, because it’s less variables for you to deal with!

Personally, I love this shoulder rest and used it myself for years. It’s the shoulder rest I always recommend for brand new beginners (as long as they don’t have a really long neck).

You can also buy a collapsible version so the feet fold down to better fit in your violin case. As far as shoulder rests go, it’s pretty cheap so it’s worth a try.

Pros:

-Inexpensive

-Doesn’t fall off your violin

-Comfortable cushion

-Comes in lots of fun colors

-Better for medium to small necks

-Not very customizable which can be good for beginners (fewer variables)

Cons:

-Feet don’t screw out very far.

-Not good for long necks

-Does not tilt (limited customizing)

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3. BonMusica Shoulder Rest

Many of my students love their BonMusica shoulder rest. It curves around the contour of your shoulder for a stable hold. For people with longer necks, the feet also extend quite a bit for more height. The shoulder rest is very customizable and versatile with many different options for heights and angles.

All of those options can make this shoulder rest overwhelming for beginners who just want to get somewhat comfortable and start playing! But if you don’t mind spending some time experimenting and tweaking, this violin shoulder rest can be a great option.

Pros:

-Adjustable and customizable

-Hooks around your shoulder for improved stability.

Cons:

-Can look clunky

-Might take some time to find your perfect adjustment.

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Finding the best shoulder rest can sometimes be a challenge, but all three of these shoulder rests are great places to start.

If you’re just starting out, focus on getting a comfortable shoulder rest. But if you’ve been playing for a little while, it’s worth talking about the other part of the setup equation: the chinrest!

The chinrest is just as responsible for comfort and tension free playing as the shoulder rest. I usually recommend not going crazy trying different shoulder rests and different chinrests all at the same time while you’re first learning the basics, because that is WAY to many variables! But if you’ve got some basic fundamentals under you belt and you’re ready for the next level of comfort and customization, then check out my Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Chinrest!

Happy Practicing!