A shoulder rest is an accessory to a musical instrument like a violin or a viola. It is usually attached to the back edge of the violin to compensate for low shoulder height which allows for a more comfortable position when playing. There are many types of shoulder rests that are available today. They are made from different types of materials like wood, carbon fibre, and plastic amongst other materials. For maximum comfort when playing, the normal shape of a shoulder rest tries to follow the shape of the shoulder. Others are made from a material like sponge which can take on the shape of the shoulder. The shoulder rest is something that has been recently created and its use is not that widespread yet.
There are those who say that the disadvantages that one gets from using a shoulder rest for violin playing far outweigh the advantages that it brings. One example of the disadvantage of using a shoulder rest that has been cited by experts is the claim that it can decrease the volume of the instrument by as much as a third of its natural volume. This is caused by the shoulder rest decreasing the vibration at the back of the violin. This is one of the reasons why many world renowned violinists have refrained from using a shoulder rest. Another disadvantage to using this device is that the surface of the instrument can be marked or scratched because of the friction between it and the shoulder rest. That is something that is not acceptable to those who are using valuable instruments.
Despite all of these drawbacks, the best violin shoulder rest can help the musician greatly especially beginning violinists. The normal playing of a violin requires constant tension and pressure in order to place the instrument in the right position for playing. If you are using a shoulder rest, you can have a more comfortable time playing, also your hand and shoulder can be freed from having to support the instrument all the time.
There are two types of shoulder rests that are available for the violin today. The first one is the rigid type and the second one is the soft rest. The soft rests are the ones made from foam and other soft materials. The rigid rests are those that are made from hard materials and are shaped to fit your shoulders comfortably. Some players prefer soft rests because they are more comfortable but the material they are made of which rests on the back of the instrument will dampen some of the vibration of the violin to a greater degree than the rigid violin rests.
Kun is one of the best brands of shoulder rests for both violin and viola. They are the makers of the original rigid shoulder rests. They have several types of violin shoulder rests that are available and they can fit almost any player type. You can buy a Kun shoulder rest for about $20.
Playonair is one example of the soft shoulder rests. This rest has an inflatable design that will give you a very comfortable time when playing your violin. The Deluxe model is a pear shaped attachment and you can buy it for about $23.