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As you can see it is as close as it gets to the tailpiece. My problem has always been that i hold the violin way too tightly. And so i have been experimenting for a couple of months now. Buτ the problem is that i am no beginner. This problem has showed up a couple of months ago with a reddish scar i got on my collar bone thanks to my violin hold. This scar is getting worse and worse every time i play. Now it is getting better, as i have but a pillow under my shoulder rest, but i still hold it way too tightly and although my vibrato is great, my violin hold may not allow me to vibrate properly. Maybe i can upload a video this week showing you my playing. I tend to lift my left shoulder up and hunch over the violin. What should i do?
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When I first picked the violin back up, my collar bone was so sore, red and horrendous looking. Then it dawned on me to use the shoulder rest. The chin rest is ok and I know many people that play without one, but the shoulder rest was my saving grace when it came to a hurting neck and collar bone.
Argy1678, here is what I did. The first time I made blocks to shim up the chin rest, I used too soft a wood, plus I didn't move the bracket holes down, therefore when I tightened up on the bracket, the chin rest tilted toward me and fell off.
I made some new blocks today, drilled new holes for the bracket and put foam between the blocks and the instrument. Here are some pics. I drilled the holes a tad bit off but there is enough play in there, it's ok.
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That looks like a great idea and some good workmanshipFiddlestix. I'm' off to see a carpenter friend of mine
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
It's ok, but I drilled the hole's a little off, still works for it purpose. Only took about a hour or so. I''m not squashing the violini with my neck now, much more comfortable and very cheap solution.
NICE! 
Fiddlestix, what wood and glue did You use? 
I'm absolutely not handy, and had to try something like this, but those pieces always fall off (fortunately, i catched the violin before it touched the floor =)) 
Mad_Wed said
NICE!Fiddlestix, what wood and glue did You use?
I just used a couple small pieces of Oak, then I used a bench grinder to shape them. Trying to shape them with a saw is much too hard. I glued them on with a few drops of Super Glue. I used 1/4" one quarter inch foam between the chin rest and the top of the violin, then used a black magic marker to color them black. Color them black before you mount the rest.
TerryT said
That looks like a great idea and some good workmanshipFiddlestix. I'm' off to see a carpenter friend of mine
Thanks, Terry...... they work well, although I may have to take it off and make the blocks a bit thinner, i'll just use the bench grinder again. If you make them, use the side of the grinding wheel to ensure a flat surface.
Have fun with it........ Terry, you don't need a carpenter to do that.
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I had a similar problem with my collar bone, but I started from the other side and replace my rest with a pad and solved my problem -- short neck.
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If you watch pro players you'll often times see them take a small cloth and lay it across the chin rest and let it wrap uder the violin where it sets on their collarbone.
Now you know why they do that huh?
"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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Thank you all guys, now i realize that all i needed was to set the shoulder rest in a way so that the violin is more tilted towards my chest, as i tended to hunch over the violin in order to get it where i wanted. Oh, and thank you for your advice all. Cdennyb, now i use a piece of cloth too! Does this make me a pro or what
!!!
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Lot's of great advice above. Thanks everyone.
I want to emphasize that although it is extremely important to have a comfortable connection both on top and under the violin, you don't need to grip the violin too hard. Fortunately, it's not that heavy and your resting it on your collarbone/shoulder.... or what have you.
We ALL use way too much energy to do normal everyday things and can greatly benefit by focusing on only using what is actually necessary for the task.
Take a practice session again with this in mind and see if it makes a difference.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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We don't need no stinking practice!
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Hey - I already put in my minute [plus 7 seconds!!!!] for the week!
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My practice always stinks.
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argy1678 said
... Oh, and thank you for your advice all. Cdennyb, now i use a piece of cloth too! Does this make me a pro or what
Well, It certainly makes you LOOK like a pro, TUX all starched and pressed, shoes all polished, hair slicked back, right up until you play the first note! Then you're escorted off the stage by security...LOL
"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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