Hi all,

Just having started out in Violin, I have come across a few teething problems that I would like some advice on.

Firstly as per the Subject line its with regards Shoulder rests.
I must admit to having quite a boney collar bone and resting the Violin is causing a bit of discomfort (I have taken to using a large dust cloth wrapped up and placed on my collar bone but still its uncomfortable). Do many of you use shoulder rests? Are they particularly good or do they just make things awkward? Any particular makes I should avoid/look out for?

Secondly and possibly more annoying is that when going further up the fingerboard (say for instance to G on 2nd string and further up) I am starting to catch the other strings when playing single notes. If I travel even further up I fail to see how you can only play 1 note when the string pressed is almost below the level of the 2 adjacent strings. I am sure I am doing something wrong. Any ideas?
I only wish I could find a tutor who is available earlier, but apparently all are booked due to the summer hols.

Thanks for any help

Pitt

Most people use a shoulder rest and there is a wide choice available.

It sounds to me as if your bridge has insufficient curvature. That used to be very common indeed in beginners` instruments but it is not common these days. Did you by any chance buy your violin used? That could explain it.

Liz

Thanks for the email Liz, sorted.

As Liz said, the bridge may be too flat. Also, the string length might be incorrect.

I do use a shoulder rest. When playing early works however, I try not to use them when I don`t have to.

Thing is, later on, you learn how to play without holding the violin in your hand, and using your rest.

Anton

I think it`s better, these days, to use a shoulder rest...but I don`t and I`m still progressing.

I find them too uncomfortable and they make me play in a `strange` position (for me) and then I end up only being able to play for a short while (10-15 min.) before I have to quit...

...without the rest I can now play up to 1 1/2 hours in relative comfort. However I have sacrificed more rapid advancement in shifting positions and vibrato I believe...

...I don`t need cloth padding for playing my violin...but I sure do for my viola...and even with the cloth I`m getting what looks like a permanent bruise on my collar bone...

I would definitely reccommend a shoulder rest. They`re inexpensive and easy to use, and with someone like myself who has a very long neck, much more comfortable. I also find it much easier to shift positions and do vibrato without having to tense up. I use a Kunn and am very happy with it, if that helps.

Thanks,

I now have the rest and it makes life a lot easier at present.

thanks

change of contact point with the bow

I would think that it`s almost impossible to do modern technnics on yr violin decently without a shoulder rest. Unless yr playing baroque music...but that`s a totally different thing already.

O not at all. Plenty of people don`t use shoulder rests.

Liz

Yap, that I have realised.
But I think it depends on your jaw line also...
I can`t vibrate without a shoulder rest. Too painful. Ouchie! I can`t play decently without it, can`t even shift actually. Maybe we ought to have a head count...see how many can play with or without one.
Me start first... 1.) Cannot.

Baroque, can; everything else, cannot.

You know, if someone had the time and money to try out different shoulder rests and report how it affects the playing and sound, it would be interesting.

It would be interesting...except I expect that everyone would come to a different conclusion based on what felt most comfortable to them...

Roger Coull, 1st violinist of the Coull String quartet, many of whose Schubert recordings are radio 3`s recommended recordings, does not use a shoulder rest. He is a stunningly brilliant violinist who doesn`t play much baroque. On the other hand it would be fair to say ET wouldn`t lose any sleep over Roger`s entry in the "how long is your neck" olympics. People are all different shapes and sizes and should not be afraid to experiment.