Your Voice??

[TrishW]

Do you have a fem voice?? I definetly do not.

[kym]

mine gets softer when in fem mode, but still not girly

[sherri52]

I have a strong Boston voice. Growing up in the city we paaaak our caaar in haavaaad yaaad for a quaata. Pretty hard to get a fem voice with that.

[sissystephanie]

I have been crossdressing for 70 years. Never have I had even the slightest feminine voice! Do I care..............**** No!!

[dilane]

...when talking to GG's and non T-people in the real world, my voice is pretty good. A coule of GG's I know have said it's perfect.

For some reason, I have the hardest time with my voice when talking with other T's ... go figure.

It's taken years to get it to my current (good or imperfect) state.

[Daniela76]

I'm working hard on it.
I can do softer & sweeter. I try not to go too breathy though.
If I try too hard I usually get a frog in my throat. Then I have to cough & I cannot do that like a lady.

[suchacutie]

I've been working on my voice for a year and the YouTube videos have been very helpful (given in other similar threads). I've been successful in shutting down the bass part of my voice, but I don't have enough experience using the rest of my voice to be authentic. I just haven't figured out yet how girls use their voices to get the inflections they get.

I do think that talking too fast is part of the problem, and when I slow down it's easier, but it's still not natural. I've relied on the bass part of my voice for so long that I can't switch off the mind, and when it's not there it sounds a bit odd.

So, I have the voice, pitch, sound, and all...just wish I knew what to do with it! My wife said tonight we should try a phone call to see how it works without interruption since talking on the phone means continual talking. It's worth a try!

tina

[Katesback]

The voice tends to be one of the most difficult things a trans person can attain. I have seen it on occasion that a CD is able to pull it off, of that small few most were able to only pull off a reasonable voice for a short period of time. Few could sit down and have a normal conversation and maintain the desired voice.

That is my observation working with trans people. I would say that for one if you mentally train yourself to feel that the voice is a CRITICAL part of your presentation and that if it is not acceptable your success is a big negative your mind might automatically make some changes that allow ya to have a decent voice.

My CD friend who in a few months was able to produce an acceptable voice learned beause for one I told her if she wanted to go with me places it was not going to be GAY bars (no safe zones) and because she did go with me to general public places she learned real quick how important a voice is.

Katie

[Renee_E]

Not even close. I can't even fool myself much less any one else, but i am happy being me.

[vetobob9]

is it like ventriquiloqism?

[Byanca]

Is there a thread here we can post and get feedback? I suspect my voice is somewhere in between male or female. But I dont know how it sounds to other people. So just a wild guess.

[Engendered]

I like the idea of a feedback topic. Since this is one of the most difficult (but achievable) parts of passing, it would be great to have a place we can knock our heads together and help each other out. :) (without the actual physical knocking)

[sallyjones]

it takes alot of practices, and it almost allway take alone time. but a passable voice is the goal right. try talking from the top of your throught, or talk from your mouth. i know it sounds funny but it works.

[Samantha43]

Not even close. If I try, I sound like a guy trying to sound like a girl.....

[SuzanneBender]

My male voice is very deep Baratone and I have been working on my female voice for almost 6 months. I am finding now that when I use my female voice it is hard to switch back quickly because there are sooo many aspect that are different.

[marie354]

I found that shifting it up to a mickey-mouse type voice, softening and quieting a bit, then lowering it slightly, works for me. I can now readily shift between the two at will. It's far from perfect imo, but others have told me that it's pretty good.
:)

[Karen__Starr]

I had several people tell me that unless they were listening for a man attempting to sound female they would not know but I must try hard not to revert to my male voice especially when caught up in the moment. When first starting out I would practice at least an hour everyday along with taking lessons and getting immedate feedback helped a great deal.

[msginaadoll]

I have been confused for female on the phone a bunch. I do not have a strong male voice. Actually i have had people ask me where im from -what country because they tell me I have an accent. I tell them I was born in Detroit. Michigan actually tends to have a bland midwestern accent if any- and heard they try to teach some reporters from other cities to talk michiganese.

[tamarav]

Voice and how I sound has always been one of my holdbacks. After starting to work in the beauty industry dressed, I have found that many women's voices can be mistaken for male and vice versa. I have been doing someone's hair and forgotten what gender they were until I looked at them in the mirror.

Take your time and relax, the first utterance is all most people hear anyway. Think about it. You form an impression almost immediately, as soon as the other person speaks. Then with continued conversation, it either pans out or you realize they are not who you first thought they were.

I generally chew gum or have a cinnamon drop in my mouth to keep my mouth moist, otherwise I get so dried out that I can't talk at all, or with just a cracked voice.

Whatever you do, smile when you speak and it really helps keep people from focusing on your voice.

[Stephenie S]

I wish I could answer this question for you all. Voice certainly seems to be a stumbling block for many CDers. Interestingly enough, it's one of the few male marker's that we CAN change. While it's impossible for someone attempting to "pass" to change their height, shoulder width, chest size, arm girth, hand and foot size, voice CAN be changed.

Unfortunately I have no ready answers as to how to do it. I do know that there are several lesson plans offered on the Internet. Mellanie Ann Phillips offers a VERY well known set of compact disks. Deep Stealth Enterprises also offers a program. Another is Exceptional Voice, Inc.

Any one of these programs will help you IF YOU PRACICE. Most crossdressers are just plain not in a position to practice enough. AND, they have to be able to switch back and forth quickly.

I think the single most important way to perfect your voice is to go full time. Unfortunately, that's just not what crossdressing is all about. By definition, crossdressing is a part time activity. And for most here on this forum, it's a VERY part time activity. So for most crossdressers, putting in the required amount of practice is problematic.

So, listen to women. Really listen. Don't worry too much about trying to raise you pitch. You can speak in a low voice and still sound female. DO try to lift your voice out of your chest and into your mouth. Practice humming. You can hum deep in your chest, and you can hum in your mouth. If you can feel your teeth vibrate, if it tickles your lips and teeth, you are probably getting your voice out of your chest. Start with small words. Numbers maybe. Then move on to phrases like thank you and please. These will come in handy even if they are the only ones you can use.

Try to get more MUSIC into your voice. Don't worry too much about where or which words. If you have been really listening to women talk, you will have heard that women's voices are INCREDIBLY varied. Women's voices are all over the map. So there are no rules about how women talk.

As I said before, going full time really helps. You really have to put up or shut up, so to speak. When you always have your "guy voice" to fall back on, it will be very hard to put in the required practice time. Of course, some guys get this right away. Then they go online and put out a video saying ''Look how easy it is". So for some, voice is no problem. But for many, it's quite hard. But believe me, if you can put in they same amount of time that you put into the rest of your presentation, you will get it.

Lovies,
Stephenie

[Kerigirl2009]

My voice could be considered sort of girly, I love when I go thru the Drive thru or pick up the phone and they say that will be 5.25 Ma' me. Just makes me smile. But I have been working to make my voice softer when en femme.

[DiannaRose]

Not even close. If I try, I sound like a guy trying to sound like a girl.....

The few times I've tried, that's me, too!

Admittedly, this has been a low priority for me thus far. Eventually I'll start looking into the videos and tips. Anyone know of, say, downloadable podcast-type lessons, something I can throw on my mp3 player and practice in my car during my hour-long (each way) commutes?

[Nicole Erin]

Mine does pass for female when I do it, but is not perfect.
I cannot keep it up for long periods yet, and it still needs a bit of fine tuning.

My natural male voice doesn't really sound femme.

I get on SL and practice, unless I say something about being TG they don't seem to know, and I have asked people about it. Kind of wish the rest of me passed as well.

For doing the voice, basically if you can learn to close off the bottom half of the voice, that will kill most of the male resonance. Raising pitch might be necessary but very slightly.

You have heard women with deep voices but no one is gonna mistake it for male voice. Why is that? Cause the bass resonance is not there.
You have heard men with high voices but people don't think it is female. That is cause the bass is still in there. That of course means GM non TG.

For softening the voice, it might help but if you had to actually speak in a normal volume, then what?

There are many videos and such about making your male voice femme. The problem is they tend to be 90% ramble and 10% good info.

IN that 10%, I have found what I said about killing the bass resonance. How to control the throat muscles? One thing is like gargling water, open and close the throat at different capacities.
Or think of how the muscles feel when you try to deepen your voice, notices how you open it even MORE at the bottom?
Or if you can close the throat completely and then open just the top half.
Takes practice a bit but also try speaking with different levels of the throat being open or closed.

The hardest part is getting over the silly feelings you will have making these weird voices.
I think the biggest mistake people make is over thinking it. All the fancy, long, boring programs and junk don't really help.

For fine tuning, I think it just takes practice.

Ladies this is one part of transition or CD'ing that doesn't cost anything You do9hn't even need to buy a tape recorder, just use the built in sound recorder in the computer, or download one for free off cnet.com
I use one called "audio recorder for free"
Lastly, even if you do achieve a good femme voice, you might still hate the sound of your own voice whether femme or male. Weird I know but while I get compliments on my femme voice, I still hate it. :heehee:

[Jilmac]

I am a natural baritone and can sing as low as bass so I do my best to soften my voice when I'm enfemme. Even though my femme voice has a masculine tone to it, I have heard many GGs with low masculine voices, especially those around my age. My natural voice is a dead giveaway that I'm a guy but when I soften it I sound more like a woman with smokers voice.

[nikki_cd05]

I have always had two voices. when i was a kid my parents always got upset at me when my (they called it baby voice) came out. It would just happen. Now as an adult, its quite femm, on the phone i can be very convincing.

[ladyboy_jessica]

I've been working on my voice all day today!

What I hear sounds like Arsenio Hall in Coming to America. *giggles*

When I talk feminine my voice gets really quiet and feels scratchy. I think it's just something that needs constant practice.

[Nicole Erin]

I've been working on my voice all day today!

When I talk feminine my voice gets really quiet and feels scratchy. I think it's just something that needs constant practice.

Yes but don't mess up your voice, you are using muscles it is not used to doing. A few minutes or even seconds here and there are good at first.
After some comfort is gained, maybe 10 minutes a day to get it down pat.
just whatever you feel is best, build up to it.

Also, smoking makes it harder to have a non-scratchy femme voice. I know that for fact as I smoke.

Hard to put a time line on "how long does it take?" Reason is, I think a lot of TG don't practice regularly. I have practiced over a year and it is not perfect, but then my practice was so staggered.

With dedicated practice daily and honest effort, I think maybe a month would get someone to a convincing level, but the fine tuning could take several more months. Usually the girls who have it down pat use their femme voice all the time.

One thing - since you would normally use male voice, that is not going to impede your progress. I tend to switch voices on the fly as it suits me.

[jenacd]

I do

[Christina Horton]

I have a very deep voice but I have been told that my fem-voice perfect. I can also do voice impressions and have been doing them for years for fun. I do a mean Yoda , Dr, claw and so on. So I know how to change my voice to something I was not able to do before I tried. I drive an 18 wheeler and would use my fem-voice in the truck for years and when I was ready to do out for the first time I have it almost down pat. I now have got the voice just where I want it.

So if you like me and you have a MANLY DEEP VOICE you can train it to be fem , it just take practice. So don't give up just work on it.

[Alice Torn]

Christina, do you ever use your lady voice on the CB radio, with other truckers? I guess you can call it the CdCB! And, i have talked to women with smokers voice, on the phone, and I thought they were men. My voice is very hard to even come close to fooling anyone, but, i have gone to driveups as Louise, and shopped a few times, but ket it be known i was a guy.

[ReineD]

Is there a thread here we can post and get feedback? I suspect my voice is somewhere in between male or female. But I dont know how it sounds to other people. So just a wild guess.


I like the idea of a feedback topic. Since this is one of the most difficult (but achievable) parts of passing, it would be great to have a place we can knock our heads together and help each other out. :) (without the actual physical knocking)

You could upload vids to youtube and just post the link in a new thread for feedback. You could upload audio only or keep your face in deep shade if you want to maintain your privacy. :)

[Marcie4you]

Here's a good link on how to achieve a fem voice:

http://laurenscarlet.tv/makeup/5-11_myvoice.html

[Cheryl T]

I try and a few friends have said mine is pretty good sometimes, but it's gotten so I just don't worry about it anymore.
I soften it and raise it a bit and that's me...deal with it....lol.

[Christina Horton]

Christina, do you ever use your lady voice on the CB radio, with other truckers? I guess you can call it the CdCB! And, i have talked to women with smokers voice, on the phone, and I thought they were men. My voice is very hard to even come close to fooling anyone, but, i have gone to driveups as Louise, and shopped a few times, but ket it be known i was a guy.


Funny you said that . Yes I have and I did fool all the truckers. The thing I would do is use my fem-voice and night so if the pass me they can't see a guy driving. My fem-handle is Pussy Foot. I am not sure why I used that bit one man asked me what My handle was and I said that with out thinking so I guess it was in the back of my head.

The reason I first used my fem-voice on the CB was I was trying to get road info from the trucks going the other way and no one was talking to me. That happens all the time. The CB something can't broadcast over the medium and the can't here us LOL. So I know when women get on the CB all the guys would come on (pun intended) and chat her up... So I after about 10 mins I took a deep breath and tried out my voice before I spoke into the mic and then called the east bounders and I was rewarded with about 20 guy chatting with me. I got the info I wanted and chatted for 4 hours with them. The funny thing is no one thought I was a guy cuz they all were flirting with me like I have heard them do to other girls on the CB.

When I was exiting to go to the truck stop to go to bed. I had to exit with out telling them cuz if I did not one or two or more would have followed me to (see what Christina Or "Pussy Foot") looks like. Once I had one driver follow me off the hwy, so I got back on the radio and said "ha ha ha I fooled you I did not get off Ha ha ha!" So once I turned right he got back on saying "oh your such a flirt......." I have not done that in a while but from that and others GG and some CD friends and family except my mom (she thinks my fem-voice sounds like I am trying to hard and it sounds fake.) But that's mom she is still getting used to it since after 17 years excepting my CDing last years when I went to my 20th high school reunion dressed as Christina and she saw me dressed for the first time.

Driving truck is a great way cuz of all the time alone to practice mu voice. Roberta M (from this sight) says My voice is perfect so I think if good.

I had on lady at the nail salon a lady getting a pedy while we were chatting told me " You know it's so nice to see a lady with a husky sexy voice like the Hollywood stars of the great passed. You know like Lauren Bacall and Marilyn Monroe etc. Not like the girls from Europe with the high squeaky voice that sounds like Minne mouse." She was looking right at me and we were talking for about 10 min when she said that. Then I said just to confirm what she meant. " You mean that my voice is just a little fem or very fem." She said " It's a very fem-sexy voice." Then I told her I am CD and she did not believe me. Until the girl doing her peddy told her that I really was a gut and she has seen me in drab.

The look of shock was wonderful and I thought if she thought I was a women at least with my voice , That there was hope. After I was done and my nails were dry I walked over to her and her hubby and pulled out my ID and she looked at it and was again shocked . She said "WOW you a cute guy , but I think you look sooooo much better as a women". I can't here that enough ya know. It's feel so good like you won the lottery. All most lol.

So there you go . If you have a really deep voice like mine you just have to practice like crazy and you will get there only if you want to.

Oh by the way can use my fem-voice all day with no prob. Just so long as I don't forget I am dressed. If I forget I might revert to my drab voice. So far I have not but have come close lol.

[Nicole Erin]

To those who think they can't do it -
Yes you can. (stands and smiles like Obama) Yes You Can! (cheering)

There are many approaches. What I said was my own approach. You can copy it or use it to get your own ideas...

That is the way to start, take in several people's advice, and devise your own plan. Try different things. Realise that it is not as hard or takes as long as you might think. Realise some thing don't work. For me, dropping from falsetto didn't work. Trying to contract different voice muscles did work.

See it is like this - you will have to practice but it will get better, you will see (hear?) results and progression, and the best part, even if it is not perfect, it will get to a point of usefulness. It is not like some magical moment where the voice fairy comes and touches your mouth with a magic wand and you are talking like cinderella. It takes a bit of work.

YOu will probably not think your voice is ever feminine. I think mine sounds ridiculous but I have used it and if it was on the phone or a computer RPG, people have not questioned it and thought it was some woman. I HAVE been told I sound like a more mature woman.

Folks, here is the important thing, moreso than a female voice - get in the habit of speaking ladylike. Do not be like me and say masculine things with a woman's voice, unladylike. Much like my wife when she talks :heehee:

The other night I was rotting away on Second life, and some guy wanted to have some adult conversation. He wanted me to voice just a little to verify that I was really a woman. So I got in voice and intro'ed Erin in my female voice. He was satisfied.

I am pumped about this whole voice thing! I KNOW you can do it!

I have/had no more advantages than you do. I think many of you could make ME jealous with voice if you got on it.

[fetishtop]

Ok, so sometime ago when I was a young'un my voice went from light/girlish to an Early Masculine Croak. However, in my twenties and on for awhile, my voice was so light that I was constantly being mistaken for a woman (see msginadoll above); I'd have to interject at some point "I'm mister!" "Oh I'm sorry..." Now, later, my voice has dropped to a Resonant Masculine Honk. I doubt if I could fake a female voice without some serious practice.

[shem650]

For my femme voice, I generally speak in a slightly higher pitch, and try to envision the words forming at the top of my throat and in the front of my mouth. I try to avoid the cliche speech patterns and just speak naturally. I find speaking softly helps too.

[KimberlyJo]

I like the idea of a feedback topic. Since this is one of the most difficult (but achievable) parts of passing, it would be great to have a place we can knock our heads together and help each other out. :) (without the actual physical knocking)


You could upload vids to youtube and just post the link in a new thread for feedback. You could upload audio only or keep your face in deep shade if you want to maintain your privacy. :)

I just recently found a method of developing a femme voice that seems to work for me and I was totally planning on doing this, lol. Weird.

I was planning on just recording the audio, uploading it to the web and then posting the link here for feedback. It's so hard to be impartial when dealing with things about yourself.

As soon as I get a chance, I'm going to record some audio and post it here for feedback!

[Byanca]

I just tried...english is not my native tongue. Am I a lost case?
If you have time to listen to just one, maybe pick the last one. They are all rather similar, the first one close to my normal sound.

[gabimartini]

I was planning on just recording the audio, uploading it to the web and then posting the link here for feedback. It's so hard to be impartial when dealing with things about yourself.



I totally agree with Kimberly. I think I sound ok. I've recorded myself, but still, impartial feedback would be best!

[Stormgirl]

I am working on it but its definitely an arduous journey. I've been watching videos on YT and practicing.

[KimberlyJo]

I just tried...english is not my native tongue. Am I a lost case?
If you have time to listen to just one, maybe pick the last one. They are all rather similar, the first one close to my normal sound.


I think you might be a little too preoccupied with the pitch (highness or lowness) of your voice.

The tutorial that helped me is here (http://heartcorps.com/journeys/voice.htm). If you can get to the point where you can use only part of your voice-box then you will be on the road to developing a more realistic feminine speaking voice. Anyone can do it, so no, you are NOT a lost cause!

Also it may be wise to practice in your native language especially at first. You don't want to be fighting against a language barrier as well.


I totally agree with Kimberly. I think I sound ok. I've recorded myself, but still, impartial feedback would be best!

Well, let's hear it hunny! :)

[Byanca]

I think you might be a little too preoccupied with the pitch (highness or lowness) of your voice.

The tutorial that helped me is here (http://heartcorps.com/journeys/voice.htm). If you can get to the point where you can use only part of your voice-box then you will be on the road to developing a more realistic feminine speaking voice. Anyone can do it, so no, you are NOT a lost cause!

Also it may be wise to practice in your native language especially at first. You don't want to be fighting against a language barrier as well.


Thanks. :) Part of the box, that may be the tricky one. The volume should disappear probably.

Difficult...but I'm not giving up!

Will post something later if I feel there is improvement.

[KimberlyJo]

Thanks. :) Part of the box, that may be the tricky one. The volume should disappear probably.

Difficult...but I'm not giving up!

Will post something later if I feel there is improvement.

Nope that's the beauty of it, volume and resonance are still there just like your normal voice, but all the bass drops out leaving you with a natural feminine sound. It still takes A LOT of practice though even after you get that down. There's so many differences between male speech patterns and female ones besides just pitch :)

[Princess Ludwyna]

Sadly i don't have a feminine voice. If i try it sounds like a toon. That is definitely something i should work on. There's a thread or two around talking about methods to get a woman's voice.

[Gillian]

When in guy mode I have been known for a laugh to do some impressions Sean Connery, Tony Blair, Marlon Brando that sort of thing, and I have started now when I am out in the car to practice a feminine voice, don't know why, I am never going to be able to go out but it is all part of my illusion and art.

I watched a few youtube tutorials and went up,,,, then brought it down,,, but have found if I keep the voice in my head rather than use my chest as a bass box as most guys do, the tone rises very nicely, I then feminize the words and lift them in speech and the effect to me is not 100% convincing but is pleasing enough that if I ever did talk and was dressed I could say a few words to get me through

[Felicity O]

I certainly can't sound convincingly female, but when I'm out and about dressed up I definitely find myself talking in a more feminine manner, but not over the top by any means.

[Pepper2783]

I was thinking about this the other day. I don't and don't think I want one. But kinda felt bad cause other people had them I think... But anyway I don't understand why I am half guy you know. My voice changed and when it did had it been more fem then thats would have been cool but it didn't. I don't think you have to talk fem to feel fem. At least not for me.