Finding Your Fit

Finding the right setup is a uniquely personal endeavor. Each person's height, build, arm length, neck length, posture, clothing, and many more factors influence the way you connect with your instrument. Here is how we suggest finding your fit:

The setup is built in two steps — bottom up (using a shoulder rest) and top down (using a chinrest). Both parts are equally important and distinctly different.

Step one is positioning the instrument in the correct place on the body with the shoulder rest. At this stage, we completely ignore the chinrest to ensure we get the shoulder rest correct.

For the violin or viola to be most secure, it needs to rest on the collarbone and naturally extend out at about a 45 degree angle from the body. To do this, hold the instrument up as if you are about to play, but without a shoulder rest and without putting your chin on the chinrest. Just let the instrument settle into a position that is comfortable and stable.

Once you find that position, the shoulder rest should be configured to place the instrument in the exact same position, but provide stability underneath. Adjust the feet height and placement on the instrument to find that same positioning. As a general rule, moving the left foot further up will angle the instrument further to the left, and vice versa.

Once the shoulder rest is in place, you can build top down with the chinrest.

First, you need to determine what chinrest is best for your setup — the positioning of the shoulder rest and instrument will determine this. To test this, hold the instrument and shoulder rest up without placing your chin on the instrument. It is best to do this with the chinrest removed. Turn your head approximately 45 degrees to the left, but don't clamp down. If your chin is above the tailpiece, you likely need a center mounted chinrest. If it is above the side of the instrument, you need a side mounted chinrest. Choosing a chinrest that matches your natural alignment with the instrument will ensure your posture stays comfortable and stable.

Once you have decided where the chinrest should go, you need to find the correct height and angle. Choosing a chinrest that is too low requires you to drop your neck, harming your posture and potentially causing pain. A chinrest that is too tall will be uncomfortable and impossible to play. And one that doesn't match the angle of your jaw will cause you to make adjustments with the angle of your head.

We recommend finding a chinrest that can adjust, letting you find the perfect height — approximately two fingers below your jaw — and allowing you to adjust with clothing, temperature, setup changes, and anything else that affects your setup over time.

If you want honest advice on your setup — not a pitch — we offer free fitting consultations. We'll tell you what we think will actually help, whether that's one of our products or not. Book one on our setup page.

Play freely,