Friday, November 8, 2013

The Different Violin Chinrest Styles

By Katrina Wheeler


There are various violin chinrest styles in today's market. However, the majority of them can easily fit into just two categories. There are the extended chinrests that can be mounted under the instrument's button and go past the tailpiece, and there are the regular chinrests that can be mounted on the instrument's side and don't go past the tailpiece.

Either way, you will have a lot of choices in terms of materials, shapes and sizes, too. There are a lot of names for you to choose from, too, including Dresden, Flesch, Guarneri, Hill, Strad, Tekka and Wittner. You may find styles that can fit your jaw shape perfectly, as well, and styles that are more flat overall.

It is hard to decide which model would be the best one for you to get, though. This is because everybody is different. While one violinist might find a certain chinrest exceedingly comfortable, another one might not like its fit at all. So, the minute you realize that you aren't comfortable with your violin's chinrest, make it a point to visit an instrument store nearby and try out different ones. This would be a much better idea than asking other violinists which ones to get and following their advice.

The best stores to visit for this are the ones with a wide range of products available. This way, there won't be a need for you to visit a lot of different stores for the trials. You'll just have to go to one and try all of the available models out there.

Whenever people try out a lot of chin rests yet still feel uncomfortable with them, they tend to find it helpful to add an extra layer of padding between their skin and that of the rest. The Strad-Pad, for example, is one of these protective layers and has a cushion known as a gel rest. This gel rest can be found all over the World Wide Web nowadays.

This cushion comes in different shapes, too. However, what really makes it stand out is the fact that it is made out of a hypoallergenic gel, which won't irritate the skin and which fits perfectly over the rest's wood as needed. If you have a tall neck, then you will be happy to hear that they also provide separate gel toppers to make violin-playing even more comfortable for you. These products usually have double layers for the utmost comfort.

Other than that, gel rests are also beneficial in various other ways. As mentioned earlier, it consists of a hypoallergenic gel, so it won't irritate the skin in any way. Aside from that, it will never make your chin slip, no matter how much you sweat. It can also help support the neck better whenever you play the violin. Plus, due to the friction that will occur between the body and the cushion during play, the neck won't cramp up in any way, making playing much more comfortable overall.

Aside from evaluating violin chinrest styles, you shouldn't forget to evaluate shoulder rest styles, either. After all, both of these designs will play a big part in how safe, secure and comfortable your violin will actually be in the end.




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