Should You Use a Shoulder Rest for the Violin?
One of the questions violinists frequently ask is whether they should use a shoulder rest.
My answer is that the decision is personal. There is no single setup that works for every violinist. Our bodies differ in neck length, shoulder shape, flexibility, and physical proportions, and these differences influence how comfortably we hold the instrument.
Based on my own playing and teaching experience, I generally recommend exploring a shoulder rest as part of a balanced violin setup.
I have experimented with playing without one. I was interested in experiencing the instrument more directly against my body and feeling its natural vibrations. However, after many years of playing with a shoulder rest, I found that going without one introduced discomfort and tension.
For my body, a shoulder rest remains the more comfortable choice.
Why Violin Setup Matters
The way we hold the violin influences much more than our comfort during a single practice session.
Over years of playing, repeated physical habits can affect our coordination, freedom of movement, and muscular balance.
In my teaching, I have observed students raising the left shoulder to support the instrument. This can create unnecessary tension through the shoulder, neck, and upper back.
A shoulder rest may help some violinists maintain a more balanced position by providing additional support between the violin and the shoulder.
However, a shoulder rest is not automatically a solution. Its height, shape, and placement must suit the individual player.
The goal is always the same: a secure instrument position without unnecessary muscular effort.
Bring the Violin to Your Body
I often encourage students to imagine standing tall and strong, like a tree.
Your body should remain balanced and naturally supported.
Bring the violin to you rather than reshaping your entire posture to accommodate the instrument.
Notice whether you are:
- Raising your left shoulder toward the violin
- Tilting your head excessively
- Clenching your jaw against the chin rest
- Holding unnecessary tension in your neck
- Restricting the freedom of your left arm
A well-organized setup should allow you to move, breathe, and play with greater ease.
Finding the Right Shoulder Rest Height
Shoulder rests are adjustable, but the highest setting is not necessarily the most comfortable.
The correct adjustment depends on your anatomy and the relationship between your shoulder rest and chin rest.
A useful starting point is to have someone observe your posture while you hold the violin in playing position.
Does your head remain relatively balanced over your spine? Are your shoulders relaxed? Can you support the violin without excessive pressure or strain?
The instrument should feel secure without requiring you to squeeze it continuously between your jaw and shoulder.
It is also important to examine the chin rest. Sometimes a change in chin-rest height or shape makes a greater difference than adjusting the shoulder rest alone.
If you experience persistent pain, numbness, or significant discomfort, seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional familiar with musicians’ physical demands.
Playing Without a Shoulder Rest
Some excellent violinists prefer to play without a shoulder rest.
This approach can offer a different sense of contact with the instrument and may suit certain physical proportions and playing traditions.
However, playing without a shoulder rest does not automatically produce a more natural or relaxed technique.
Likewise, using one does not guarantee good posture.
What matters is the coordination of the entire body and the freedom of movement available to the violinist.
The question is not whether one approach is universally superior, but whether your setup supports healthy, expressive playing.
Watch: How to Position Your Shoulder Rest
In the video below, filmed beside beautiful Lake Dospad in Bulgaria, I discuss violin shoulder rests and demonstrate how to attach and adjust one.
I also explain what to observe in your neck and shoulder position as you develop a comfortable playing setup.
[Keep your existing shoulder-rest teaching video here.]
Shoulder Rests Mentioned in the Video
The original KUN shoulder rest is one of the models I have used and recommended in my teaching.
[Keep or update your existing KUN product links here.]
If you purchase a shoulder rest, check that the model is compatible with your violin’s size. Smaller instruments require appropriately sized rests.
Affiliate disclosure: Some product links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I recommend products based on their usefulness to violinists.
A Thoughtful Approach to Violin Setup
The violin should become an extension of your musical intentions, not a source of unnecessary physical struggle.
A balanced setup allows you to concentrate on tone, intonation, phrasing, and the freedom of your left and right hands.
Take time to investigate what works for your body. Small adjustments can make a meaningful difference in how comfortably and expressively you play.
Do you use a shoulder rest, or do you prefer playing without one? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments.
Happy practicing,
Heather Kaye Broadbent
Violinist · Pedagogue · Founder, Broadbent School of Violin Artistry
Heather Kaye Broadbent is an American violinist, performer, and pedagogue whose career has taken her from American concert halls to the chamber orchestras of Europe.
A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, she has held orchestral leadership positions throughout the Chicago–Milwaukee region and performed internationally, including appearances as a soloist with the Gabrovo Chamber Orchestra in Bulgaria.
As Founder and Director of the Broadbent School of Violin Artistry, Heather brings decades of performing and teaching experience to her work with adult violinists around the world. Through her online courses, educational videos, and private instruction, she emphasizes balanced technique, tonal refinement, musical expression, and thoughtful, independent practice.
Her students have earned awards, won concerto competitions, held orchestral leadership positions, and performed at Carnegie Hall.
Heather’s teaching is grounded in the belief that violin artistry develops through the integration of technical understanding, musical imagination, and the whole musician.
I like to use a shoulder rest. Since shortly after I started learning the violin, I saw your video about a good setup, I do use a shoulder rest. I love how you explain that our neck should be straight and everything should feel natural without any strain. It works very well for me with the shoulder rest. I did do some adjusts a couple of times but my shoulder rest and setup feels great now, thanks to your detailed video about this topic.
Awesome! So glad to hear Marikoli! It really can make a world of difference for the violinist. You may have heard me say I experimented going without but it is just not an option for me.
I have played in many an orchestra where older violin soloists come to perform that have played without a shoulder rest for 30 some years if not more and they seriously do have one shoulder higher than the other.
It is so important we take good care of our bodies to reduce injury and pain. Violinists are like athletes and the body is such an integral part of the journey. xoxo
I require a shoulder rest as prescribed by my chiropractor for good neck and carotid artery blood flow. Unfortunately,I have been un-successful in getting the correct shoulder rest to date. My Luthier has moved my chin rest around and ordered several shoulder rests for me to try….I have experimented with 7 thus far. We shall see and I am hopeful for a solution real soon. I have a short neck and slumpy type shoulders. It definitely seems a must to have a shoulder rest as an integral part of our violin equipment. Stay tuned….I’m on a mission.
How is your shoulder rest search going Tourey?