Rests & Pads

As complex and detailed as musical instruments tend to be, there is one thing that's infinitely more varied and of which no two are alike: the human body. We're all a little bit different, which is why there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all instrument - and the more closely the instrument needs to be fitted to your body, the more important it is to have the ideal complement of rests and pads to go along with it. As you set out to become the best musician you can be, one of your first and most crucial steps is simply to ensure that you've adjusted your instrument to provide the best fit. Getting comfortable playing will help you develop your muscle memory, and then your skills can really take off!

With all that said about instruments that need to fit your body, there's one pair of orchestral strings that probably jumped right into your mind's eye (especially if you're an experienced player already): the violin and viola. Fitting these instruments with well-adjusted and good-fitting rests and pads is a critical part of playing them, and the ones that come bundled with the outfit won't be right for every player. If your shoulder rest is a little off, consider trying the Wolf Forte Secondo or Primo Violin Shoulder Rests on for size, or perhaps the Kun ORIGINAL Violin Shoulder Rest. Maybe your chin rest is beating up your jaw a little more than you'd like? The solution could be as simple as padding it with the GelRest Violin/Viola Chin Rest Pad.

Of course, rests and pads for the violin and viola aren't the only things you'll find in this section. If you play a larger orchestral stringed instrument, for instance, you might be looking for something like the Xeros Cello Endpin Anchor or the Glaesel Bass Endpin Rest. Sometimes, the way your instrument fits atop the stage is just as important as how it fits to your body! No matter which rests and pads turn out to be the best ones to meet your needs, you've come to the right place to start (and finish) your search.