Viola Shoulder Rests – 4 Great Options for All Levels
Through my years of playing, I’ve tried many combos of viola shoulder rests and pads. Here are four of the best I’ve tried, along with my thoughts of which is good for certain scenarios!
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Shoulder Rest or No Shoulder Rest?
If you’re a beginner violist (or violinist!), I highly recommend starting out with a shoulder rest (and I have a recommendation specifically for beginners!). Without a shoulder rest, I find that the viola slides around on my clothing, and digs into my skin.
The viola is already somewhat unnatural and difficult to get used to holding, and I think starting out with a shoulder rest really helps, and is the way to go for most people.
Everest Shoulder Rest – What I Use
My favorite viola shoulder rest is the Everest. I bought this about 10 years ago, and I always come back to it.
This shoulder rest has sturdy rubber feet, and no exposed metal or sharp plastic that could damage your instrument. It stays on really well, and I’ve never had any problems with it.
I modified mine with some extra foam and fabric to make it the exact height I need, and to make it more cushioned.
My favorite shoulder rest for the viola!
Everest viola shoulder rests can be purchased on Amazon, Everest, and Southwest Strings.
Want to read about some of my other favorite accessories? Check out my favorite accessories for the viola!
Kun Shoulder Rest
The first shoulder rest I used on the viola was the Kun Shoulder Rest (I have the collapsible model). This is probably the most famous standard shoulder rest.
The rubber feet on the Kun is much firmer than the rubber on the Everest, and I’m not a big fan. The plastic surrounding the foam is sharp, and has caught my hair and pinched me on many occasions, which isn’t fun.
The biggest problem with this shoulder rest is how often it falls off my viola, especially in the middle of rehearsals! It’s always extremely loud, and it’s left a few scratches on the back of my viola. 🙁
One thing that I like about this model is that it tilts. The downside is that you can’t lock it into place, so you’re kind of stuck with however it wants to tilt against your body.
The Kun shoulder rest is a fine basic shoulder rest to try, but there’s nothing special enough about it to recommend it over the Everest shoulder rest.
This is the exact Kun shoulder rest that I own!
You can purchase the Kun shoulder rest on Amazon (collapsible or original), Shar Music, and Kun.
BonMusica Shoulder Rest
The BonMusica Shoulder Rest is a very customizable, somewhat industrial option. This is great for violists who need a more ergonomic setup, or who need to hold up their instrument for a long period of time.
My favorite aspect of the BonMusica is the fact that it wraps around your shoulder, doing a lot of the heavy lifting for you. I’ve used this shoulder rest when I’ve performed in operas, since I have trouble holding my viola for hours on end. It helped relieve a bit of weight in my arm, and then I had more stamina!
The downside of the BonMusica viola shoulder rests is that there’s a lot of exposed metal and plastic edges. The plastic edges aren’t sharp, but the fact that there are edges at all is a little concerning to me. If I used this shoulder rest daily, I’d be worried about it scratching up and damaging my instrument.
This shoulder rest is very malleable, and can be bent to conform to your body, which is a huge reason why it’s popular. I even just found out that Hilary Hahn uses this shoulder rest!
The BonMusica Shoulder Rest is available on Amazon (15.5in, 16in, 16.5in, 17in), Shar Music, and Southwest Strings.
This is the size I use on my 16 inch viola.
Poly-Pad – Foam Option
I’ve tried one foam shoulder rest in the last few years, and that was the Poly-Pad. This is a great option for kids and beginners to feel more comfortable holding the instrument! When I first started, I had a “pillow” that was a piece of foam wrapped in velvet, and held onto the violin with rubber bands. It was a comfortable way to ease into holding the violin!
I used this when I auditioned at grad schools. What I like about the Poly-Pad is that it’s essentially weightless, and it feels like holding the viola without a shoulder rest, except more comfortable.
One downside of this option is that since it rests directly against the body of the viola, it can deaden a bit of the sound. If you’re looking for a big, resonant sound, this might not be the best option for you.
I found it almost impossible to use the Poly-Pad straight out of the box–I had to put a piece of carpet gripper between the viola and the pad to keep it from slipping around on the instrument.
Since the Poly-Pad is held in place with a contraption of three rubber bands, you’ll need to keep extras on hand. I always kept a few in my case! If you have students who use this pad, you might want to get a bag of rubber bands (I purchased mine at Staples) for when one inevitably snaps in a lesson.
The Poly-Pad seems to be marketed towards children and those wanting a more ergonomic setup. It’s sold in many sizes.
The Poly-Pad is available from Potter Violins and Michael Kimber.
Best Viola Shoulder Rests for Different Needs
If you’re a beginner…
I’d go with the Poly-Pad to ease into the feeling of holding the viola. It’s an odd transition for anyone!
If you’re shopping for the first time…
I think the Everest is the best “basic” shoulder rest, but Kun is also widely available and fine for those starting to use shoulder rests.
If you’re looking for something ergonomic…
I recommend the BonMusica, since it can be bent into whatever shape you need. (Maybe a cheaper option for someone interested in the Pirastro KorfkerRest?) I think the Poly-Pad is also a great option, because you can cut the foam to whatever shape you need. (It’s not really meant for that, but it would be easy to do!)
Of course, any shoulder rest you choose can be modified with foam, foot padding, rubber bands, and many other DIY items. You don’t always need to purchase shoulder rest after shoulder rest: sometimes you can just DIY what you’ve got!
What viola shoulder rests have you tried? I’d love to get the Pirastro KorfkerRest, but it’s just so expensive. If you’ve experimented that one, please let me know your thoughts!
