Imagine being able to play the violin for hours without getting tired. How cool would that be? Today we'll help you get the best violin chin rest that will allow you to have a comfortable time and experience as you play.
Following your passion is a great thing, and we want you to be comfortable as you make your music. So let's look at what a chin rest is.
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What Is A Violin Chin Rest?
Violin chin rests are attachments that you place on top of your violin to improve your posture as you play and hold the violin in place. The chin rest was created to help properly align your head, neck, and shoulders.
It also provides a comfortable place for you to rest your chin. We've selected the best violin chinrests that will give you great service for years.
Now that you know why you need a chin rest let's look at the best in the market.
What Is the Best Violin Chin Rest?
1. Chin Smart Chinrest
- Comfortable, with removable, thin foam lining
- for violin and viola
- Brown
- Durable with Chamois-like Material
If you've been getting reactions on your chin and wondering what's going on, it's time to get this best violin chin rest. These chin rests protect your skin and your chin from reacting to the surface of the violin.
These violin chin rests have a great balance between safety and comfort. You get to protect your chin and also have a great comfy playing session. No more stopping before time because of discomfort. You can use these chin rests for your violin and viola.
If you are a beginner violinist, this is a great choice. You'll be able to find your playing position with ease without worrying about chin aches or the weight of this chinrest. In addition, this chin rest keeps skin irritations away and comes with a removable thin foam lining for added comfort.
Made from Chemois-like material, you can expect this side-mounted rest to last for years.
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2. Strad Pad Black Chinrest Pad
Our second violin chinrest is this standard-size chinrest that is perfect for your viola and violin. Designed to give you a comfortable and seamless practice session, you'll barely notice as the hours creep by while you practice.
You can also get the large-sized violin chinrest if you prefer. Again, you will notice that your posture will become more poised, and you'll feel more confident as you practice. In addition, once you get these chin rests, you'll be able to toss out the make-shift protective pieces you've been using.
An advantage of using this chin rest is that you get more tonal clarity than you'd get with a handkerchief. The pad rests directly on the chin rest, and you can remove it when washing it. The fact that it is easily detachable means that you can remove it whenever you please.
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3. Wittner Composite 4/4 Violin Chinrest
- Non-allergenic
- Package Dimensions: 2.032 H x 16.764 L x 8.89 W (centimetres)
- Package Weight: 0.45 pounds
- Country of Origin : Germany
These chin rests ensure that you are comfortable as you play and practice. Made of non-allergenic material, you know that your skin is safe, and you'll hardly get any reaction. These chin rests are easy to install and allow you to have a good posture as you play.
These chin rests are made in Germany and weigh around 0.45 pounds. This means that they are lightweight enough for you to forget that they are on your violin. In addition, because these chin rests are made of plastic material, you'll be able to clean them as much as you want without much hassle.
If you have sensitive skin, these chin rests are a great choice. Since they are made of plastic composite and are non-allergenic, you can be sure that your skin will be safe from negative reactions. In addition, you get a screwdriver with this purchase to allow you to adjust the chin rests when you see fit. So get ready for a comfortable experience.
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4. Soarun Black 4/4 Violin Chinrest
- Ebony - crafted from the finest Indian woods.
- With standard bracket, easy to attach to violin.
- Smooth and durable
- Center mount
- Fits 4/4 Violin
Do you have a 4/4-stringed violin and are looking for the right chin rest to use? We've got you covered with our fourth pick. The center mount will fit your violin perfectly and allow you to have a better and more comfortable experience.
This chin rest is carefully crafted from some of the finest Indians woods. Therefore, you can expect to have a blast while using this best violin chin rest. The surface of this chin rest is smooth and durable. You will surely enjoy every minute of using this chin rest.
You can use this chin rest with a shoulder rest if you feel the need to. Your violin dealer will be impressed that you've found an elegant and affordable chin rest to use. Take care of the sharp edges to avoid any injuries. The more you use it, the smoother the edges will get.
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5. Dresden 4/4 Violin Chinrest
- Dresden-style
- Ebony - crafted from the finest Indian woods
- Standard bracket
- Side mount
- Fits 4/4 Violin
Our final pick is this Dresden chinrest that is super easy to install and use. Side-mounted to your violin, you'll feel a difference as you practice or play. This Dresden-style violin is crafted from some of the finest Indian woods, just like our previous pick.
This standard bracket Dresden chinrest fits any 4/4 violin very well. In addition to being crafted from high-quality wood, you'll find that this chin rest is very easy to use. As a result, you'll get good value for your money from this chin rest without struggling.
In addition to looking good, this chin rest feels amazing against your skin and will hardly alter your performance. The screw posts are placed very well, and everything else about the quality of this chin rest is spot on.
The aesthetically pleasing design of this chin res also adds to its appeal.
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How Do You Choose Violin Chin Rests?
When choosing the best violin chin rest for yourself, you need to consider where you feel most comfortable placing your jaw. Considered what will give you the best comfort and got the chin rests that represent that.
Here are some tips to follow when choosing the best chin rest.
1. Check Playing Position
The playing position affects the type of chin rest you choose because it affects where you place the chin rest. Once you get the most comfortable position for you, you can then choose a chin rest that matches that and will give you the most comfort.
2. Locate Position of Chin
Just like in the point above, you'll be able to choose the best chin rest once you've found your playing position and know where you place your chin. Is it in the middle of the violin or on the side of the violin?
The answer to this will help you out a lot. But, first, you'll know whether you need a higher chin rest or not.
3. Choose the Best Shape
What shape best fits your jawline? Here you'll have to consider the distinct width and shape of your jawline. Afterward, you'll be able to tell which chin rest is the best for you.
Whether you decide to get a Kaufman chinrest, Guarneri chinrest, Flesch chinrest, Morawetz chinrest, Fleshy Jaws chinrest, or the Dresden chinrest above, you'll be doing it from a conscious position.
4. Choose the Best Height
We mentioned that height and comfort are extremely important. Therefore, for this step, place your instrument in your playing position and have your friend measure the height between your jawline and the body of your violin.
If you normally use a shoulder rest, ensure you have your own while taking this measurement.
5. Choose A Material
What material do you feel most comfortable having as your chin rest? We've looked at some great options above, and being able to choose the best one can go a long way towards boosting your comfort.
If you're not comfortable with using one that's made from unsustainable farmed wood, you can look for more eco-friendly options.
What Should You Consider When Choosing the Best Violin Chin Rest?
1. Quality
You always want to get the best chin rest within your budget. We've taken this into account while selecting the chinrests today because we want you always to have the best to choose from. Therefore, you don't have to worry if these chinrests are a good idea.
You can check for the materials that have made the chinrests to consider the best quality. The better the quality, the more durable your chin rest will be. The same goes for your shoulder rest.
2. Ease of Use
You can want a chin rest that you can comfortably and easily use alongside your instrument. We also considered this factor as we were choosing the best chinrests for you. You can either get one that remains on your instruments permanently or choose one that you can take on and off.
The easier it is to use, the more convenient it will be and the more comfortable you'll get.
3. Comfort
The whole point of getting a chin rest is to get the most comfort. Therefore, ensure you follow the steps above to get the best violin chin rest for you. We've looked at different models for your instrument that are all great options.
Whether you settle for plastic chinrests or wooden ones, ensure that you get one that will make you most comfortable. For example, if you prefer padding and memory foam for added comfort, check whether the wooden or plastic chinrests you want have these.
4. Material
We've touched on the material, but we believe it deserves to be a point on its own. Whether you choose the Guarneri chinrest or any one of our options above, you should consider the material it's made of for maximum comfort.
Some of the different types of materials include wood, polyester, nylon, memory foams, cotton, and more. The material also affects the durability of the chinrest
5. Size
Consider your neck, head, collarbone, shoulder, jawbone, and position you play in a while determining the size. Then, get chinrests that are narrow and tall. This way, it won't matter which side of your chin is higher than the other side while playing.
The size also affects portability. You want a chinrest that you can comfortably carry around. If it is attached to your viola or violin, it shouldn't hinder the portability of your instrument.
What Are the Popular Types of Violin Chin Rests?
The style of the chin rest is one of the most important factors to look at when choosing the chin rest you want. There are three main types of chin rests. These include side-mounted chin rests, and center-mounted chin rests.
There's also one that falls in the middle of these two categories. So let's look at the two.
a). Side-Mounted Chinrest
The main feature of this side-mounted chinrest is that the clamp of the chin rest is placed on the side of the bass bar. Again, remember to consider your chin's playing position and location before you settle on the type of chin rest.
b). Center-Mounted Chinrest
For this type of chin rest, you place the chinrest over the tailpiece. Note that this type is considered the safer option of the two types. This is because the clamp of the rest is supported by the lower block or the bottom.
If you tighten the clamp by mistake, there's less chance of damaging your violin than the previous type.
Frequently Asked Questions About Violin Chinrests
1. What are some benefits of using a violin chinrest?
Increase comfort and improve posture while playing. For example, getting a good chin rest for your violin can reduce chin aches, neck aches, and skin reactions to the surface of the wood.
2. Do professional violinists use shoulder rests?
Depends on their preference. The choice to use a chin rest or shoulder rest is very personal. If you are okay with not using a chin rest, then you don't have to get one.