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Just had one of these "light-bulb" moments as it happens.... LOL
I have a close cropped beard, and THAT is what is in contact with the chin-rest - not my actual skin. Run my hands across my beard - no fiction to speak of. Run them across my face or arms, a definite "friction-drag" - much more "surface-to-surface-area in contact" - makes sense....
Yes.... it is interesting, and no, it's not getting shaved off ! LOL
Maybe a velcro-strip would work with the "hoops" on the chinrest, and my short beard being the "loops"... ouch - sounds painful...
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Hehehe!
Dr Frankenstien "I can fix that hump for you."
Igor "What hump?!"
It's always the little things you overlook.
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hahahah !
EDIT: and @leftyuk - see what you started ! It's great to see how some threads just unfold, but remain ( sort-of ) on-topic !!!
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Lovin it BillG!
It seems it is a subject close to beginners hearts, for sure.
some great comments, good advice and anecdotes, I thank you all!
On the subject of chinrest heights, I may be very wrong but I think a higher chinrest is preferable than a deep-set shoulder rest. Nothing more than a hunch...
and on that hunch I have spent my day making a slightly wedged extension to my newly acquired teka style chin rest using cherry wood, which is now 14mm higher at the centre and 10mm higher at the violins side. I have pics but it seems this prog and my ipad aint playin ball, and there is no way to upload them.
Anyways...
Instant 'feels better' moment, but early days! Had about an hr with it now and still feels a better all round fit not.
I also have it in my head that many of these anxsts will go away as the years go by, simply by familiarisation.
So so pleased to be here, thanx again everyone!
And the wind takes your hesitation, and the sun burns your fear, and the rain on your face, make the tears disappear..
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@BillyG not going to shave man?? For the sake of the art man?? LOL
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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leftyuk said
...... Nothing more than a hunch...
yeah, that's what Quasimodo said....
coolpinkone said
@BillyG not going to shave man?? For the sake of the art man?? LOL
Never gonna happen, girl !
Hahahaha ! Great thread !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
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You could start a new trend, and just shave the spot that touches the chin rest 
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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Regulars
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I'm with Bill. Beardy folk musicians is a tradition! 
Back on topic, I had no hope of holding a fiddle securely until I bought a shoulder rest and raised the 3rd chin rest I bought up on shaped pieces of wine cork (luckily I have plenty of those lying about).
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I thank you all for your great suggestions as to my problem here. I have since investigated the many forms of semi-and-permanent hair removal - and all I can say is -
(1) "ars gratia artis" or not - shaving a "bald-spot" on the beard - well it just ain't gonna happen... ever... (got enough of that on the head without trying...)
(2) I do not ever want to be heard uttering the "waxing" OUCH... no, never... just not in my mind-set....
LOL
P.S. I did once have my head shaved for charity purposes ! That was a load of fun (really). Somehow I looked "fearsome" to male friends who all kept their distance (probably thinking WTH has that mad "expletive-deleted" done NOW) and strangely attractive (in a weird sense) to ladies who wanted to run their hands over my head.... never really understood it myself, it was "still ME" - but it was fun while it lasted !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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LOL @Jim Dunleavy - with you on that one !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Well, I tend to shave once a week ish, and the violin is actually a steadier ship clean shaved. I know. Bummer. ;))
perhaps for our hirsuite friends, applying a liberal coat of hairspray onto ones beard just before playing might help....
And the wind takes your hesitation, and the sun burns your fear, and the rain on your face, make the tears disappear..
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Haaaaaaaaaaaaa ! Righty-ho "lefty" LOL - I'll give it a try dude !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
I have three or four shoulder rests including the Fiddlerman rest, but the only one I can get to work do to having a short neck and narrow shoulders is the "Bon Musica" and even that I have a problem with slipping down my chest.
I found out that having my cell phone in my shirt pocket keeps it from sliding and gives great support. 
I too have a beard which doesn't hinder it at all.
Ken.
Regulars
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This thread is rather entertaining, lol
@BillyG if the beard is causing to much slipping and you don't want to shave it, I do have one recourse for you.
You go to a fabric store and rub every single piece of fabric that looks like it might give some hold on your face. The one that doesn't slip is the one you pick and sew a sleeve or pocket to go around your chin-rest.
Other than that, all I can think of is gluing a piece of very rough sandpaper on the chin-rest.
It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. Johann S.Bach
Members
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@BillyG: Well... Maybe you could get one of those rubber swimming caps and wear it upside down so it covers your chin instead of your head? Yeah, it would look a little odd, but maybe if you picked a really classy colour??
Or for a less racy option, you could look for a thin black cosmetic sponge disk, and attach it to the chinrest with a dark rubber band.
And for totally dull, they do make chinrest covers, like Stradpad, Kinder Chinder and etc. You could buy something like that or make yourself something similar? I mean, a bit of something like suede and a couple rubber bands or something to hold it on the chinrest and I'd think it should work well enough?
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
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