I've been thinking of trying to improve my feminine voice. There are so many systems out there that I'm having a hard time figuring out which one to try. If any of you ladies could make a recommendation, I would really be grateful.
I've been thinking of trying to improve my feminine voice. There are so many systems out there that I'm having a hard time figuring out which one to try. If any of you ladies could make a recommendation, I would really be grateful.
Hi Karen,
I like this one, it's even got some humor!http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-act-like-a-woman
That is hilarious...I like how not overdoing it is constantly emphasized...
very funny
living the dream
less is often more [believable]
warmly, Linnea
Originally Posted by kristinacd55
Hi Karen,
I like this one, it's even got some humor!
That was a funny video, tho it did have some good pointers.
[SIZE="2"]I liked that.
I have a deeper voice than my SO, so it really isn't all about pitch, but softening your voice as well as the verbal choices you make.
If we were all the same, there would be no choice.
Yahoo has a group voicets@yahoogroups.com that has a lot of information on voice feminization as well as different software applications to chose to help with the voice. The group also has a weekly chat as well. The information contained there should assist with all of your voice questions.
I want her as my fairy godmother, but I best not overdo it.
"I don't call them women's clothes; I call them my clothes."
- Eddie Izzard
My video of right now: Stores That Tell You Exactly What They Are
You are right, there are many many sites out there. I've taken pieces from many of them.
To my mind, the best sites talk about resonance, and stopping the use of the lower resonant column that we guys use for inflection. Once that's stopped (takes a bit of time) it's easy to realized that all those bits and pieces that the sites talk about that women use for inflection are necessarily a result of not having that lower resonance. One follows from the other, and keeping vigilant to cut off that lower resonance brought me very far very fast.
So, I don't think one site is the answer. Read all you can, watch all the videos you can (there are many on YouTube) and do what is comfortable for you.
tina
Correct me if I'm wrong here (and I mean it, I'd like to know I'm doing things right too!):
What I've heard is that the simplest way to START (this isn't all, by any means!) is to just place your hand on your chest, and practice speaking. What you are aiming for is to have as little vibration in your chest while speaking. Hard to feel when just talking, but with your hand on your chest, you can really feel the vibration. I've noticed it works, but of course, I haven't done all that much study into it yet.
"Thoughts are the shadows of feelings, always darker, emptier, and simpler. I don't care if they're fake or real, I just thank them for showing up at all. I have black periods. Who does not? But they are part of me; they are not a part of illness, but a part of my being. What am I saying? I have the courage to have them. Four o' clock in the morning. This sucks." - Alkaline Trio - Warbrain (First line courtesy of Nietzsche)
_____________________________________________
WARNING: Sarcasm, dry humor, witticisms, and a twisted sense of humor is likely to be present in this post. Please read accordingly. If you are uncertain of my intention, PM me before posting a hasty response that will only serve to embarrass you. If necessary, I will clarify the confusion.
You might like this: http://www.youtube.com/user/candiFLA. I don't know how viable her technique is, but she has great success with it.
Check out tgvoice on youtube if you haven't seen it already. The following video demonstrates female vs male voice. Impressive!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qFmN...eature=related
OMG, thank you girls so much. I was just thinking of starting a thread on this topic. To me, doing a feminine voice is far and away one of the most difficult things you can do, speaking for myself anyway. When I try it I think I sound like some cartoon character sired my Michael Jackson out of Minnie Mouse. Almost anything else, makeup, clothes, gestures, mannerisms, walk, etc you can get down with lots of watching real women and sincere practice, but the voice thing, sometimes it's like why even bother. Then again it seems a shame to work so hard to get it together then really remove any lingering doubt in someone's mind when I open my mouth.
These links are great. You girls rock.
Hugs...Joni Marie
"Because equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women. And the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it."
--Joss Whedon, to a reporter who asked, "So why do you create these strong women characters?"
I have a decent femme voice, but it took years.
Ealy on I had some over-the-phone lessons from a T-girl with a very good femme voice, and I bought a voice activated tape recorder. I would tape a woman with a relatively deep voice (there are many women whose voices are not high pitched and well with in the reach of most males).
Then I would repeat the same words and play it back. That exercise was what got me on my way. Here's my checklist of things to master:
1. Pitch isn't much of a problem: I can sing bass, and I sound fine. Most folks only need to go up a musical fifth (eg, do, re, me, fa, so) from your typical male tone, and you're in the female pitch range.
2. Resonance, which is basically speaking with your head (not chest) voice with the back of your throat raised as it is when you yawn. Just keep it there when you speak with your slightly higher pitch.
3. If you can clear your throat with a femme resonance, your vocal apparatus is set up to speak femininely (I often do that before I speak, if I haven't used my femme voice in awhile).
4. I go for a slightly breathier tone, a bit more nasal.
5. Inflection is the next thing -- this was difficult for me to do around other people at first -- I had some residual embarassment to get over.
6. Very important is the facial expression, head movement part. The eyes, lips, eyebrows and even the head move freely and expressively as one speaks. This makes a huge impact on the overall voice presentation. Once you get this, it's feels quite natural, but it took awhile to relax and enjoy it :-)
Certain words and phrases are associated with coordinating hand and facial expressions -- for instance if saying "I would never do it like that", as an example, when you say the word "I", your finger tips might touch your chest, your head would slightly shake a silent "no", and your eyes would look up and off to the side -- and that's just one word!
So it's not just the voice. GG's do all of this unconsciously, and after a bit (ok a lot) of work it's a snap to switch over into that mode of communication, but it took me a lot of practice.
If you ask 20 different TG women you will get 20 different answers on the best way...
What I have been trying is to constrict the rest of the voice except the top part...
Problem is, I tend to sound like either Anna Nicole Smith or a timid school teacher. That is to say I have a femme voice but it is far from perfect. Kind of monotone and quiet.
Getting rid of the bass is probably the most important thing.
You notice when a woman tries to sound like a guy she will try to add bass to her voice, well, we are trying the opposite.
And yeah recording your voice and playing it back is important, so you can hear what you really sound like.
I think the hardest part of getting started is getting over the silly feeling, cause it does sound silly and seem strange at first, but it is your own voice, no need to feel silly or embarrased.
It takes a true Erin to be a pain in the assatar.
Modulation is the real key.
It is my opinion most people put to much emphisis on pitch.
Case in point: Bee Arther.
I ordered from http://heartcorps.com/journeys/voice.htm but haven't received it yet. Has anyone used this one before?
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice! Practice with a tape or video recorder.
I use the "Exceptional Voice" series. Bought it when I met the instructor at SCC last year.
-Tracy
Everybody's normal until you get to know them. - Tracy Schapes
An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it.
- Jef Mallett
Blog: Tracy's Happy Place
Have you had much luck with the "Exceptional Voice" series? If i hear more good things about it, ill invest in a tuner and small keyboard if i have to, and practice. The videos that she has on youtube are great, and i think i understand what it does..
Another post, another step into the rabbit hole..
Krista is awesome.
I'm still practicing and I need to get a small voice recorder. I like the CDs because I can practice in the car going to and from work. I think I'm doing better...
-Tracy
Everybody's normal until you get to know them. - Tracy Schapes
An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it.
- Jef Mallett
Blog: Tracy's Happy Place
The first youtube video is the one that worked for me forsure Good luck Joann0830
Last edited by Joann0830; 05-23-2009 at 10:44 PM.
I have a pocket voice recorder (Olympus Pearlcorder). It is ideal for speaking into, after hearing a phrase on the radio, spoken by a GG. Speak quieter than usual, slightly higher pitched, and breathy...... Do shortish phrases to get started.
Keep repeating until it improves. It helps a lot!
Sonia
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