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Am a retiree of 68 yrs. Puzzled about holding the instrument between Chin and Shoulder because I have virtually no neck. I have a nice ebony chin rest and have a 'Mach One' shoulder rest but I have yet to achieve the positive grasp of the fiddle that I think will allow me to reduce the amount of pressure exerted by my left hand which should be busy with fingering.
Ray
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with no neck you should try using a sponge instead of a shoulder rest like FM does in his videos.
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
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Welcome, Ray!
I don't have any advice for you on the shoulder rest question, except to echo what Picklefish said. Fidderman sells the sponges in fiddlershop.com, as well as other pad type shoulder rests that aren't elevated like typical shoulder rests.
Just wanted to say hello and hope you like it here!
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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Welcome to the forum Ray.
Yes indeed, virtually no neck probably means that you should not have a shoulder rest. A rubber thin sponge such as the one I use is great for a person like you.
However, having a flat plate chinrest might not be the best. If the plate is too flat you will feel the need to grasp the fiddle so as not to drop it.
Whenever a student has very little to no neck I get them to try to use more of their jaw bone rather than to try to get that chin up. Also hold the violin at a good 45 degrees and just rest your head gently with your jawbone holding it up. You can hold it up with your left hand also a bit.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
King
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I kinda have the same problem as you, Ray. A shoulder rest is probably too much so I would take FM's idea for little sponge pad he offer's and use that, it will grip your clothing nicely.
I eliminated my chin rest, even though it was very very small, I now use just a rubber band from the corner to the end plug. Seem's to work just fine for me, my chin doesn't slip on the rubber band.
Here's a photo of it.
Why do I always have to insert a picture in a different window, i'm doing everything right. 
King
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Hi, Ray! Welcome to the forum! 
Good advices about the sponge instead of the shoulder rest =)
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My main problem with no chin-rest is the dampening of the sound. Second problem is that it would be difficult to hold the instrument securely. My instinct would be to squeeze so that I don't drop it....
Everyone is different and it obviously works for you Fiddlestix, which is good.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Welcome Ray!
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Hi there old timer. LOL There's a bunch of us out here on the board. Enjoy yourself and hope you learn as much as I have in this short time I've been around.
I started using a shoulder rest but found it was a bit too high for my liking so I decided to go with a folded in half piece of flannel, like a baby blanket material stuff. Soft and cushiony and it took the pressure off my collar bone and I can easily hold the violin now with my jaw/chin.
Just a thought.
welcome to the family... 
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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Raywells said
Puzzled about holding the instrument between Chin and Shoulder
I had some trouble with that too. I couldn't make progress until that was solved. I consider my time playing the fiddle as having started only when I could hold the fiddle comfortably with no hands and without feeling that it was slipping or falling. IMO you have to experiment and look around and ask around until you solve it. I would also say to not tolerate any pain anywhere when playing. If it hurts, change things until it doesn't hurt.
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