Female voice issues - how do you deal with them?

[Charla]

I have been watching several forums to see how different girls deal with voice issues when out and about and I wanted to see what ladies here have done. Do you speak softly in your male voice? Do you have a female voice already?

I purchased the set of MP3 lessons on finding your female voice and am working with them - but I need to find a better chromatic tuner to be able to follow the lessons.

On another website, one of the girls said she went to a speech therapist and while it was a far amount of money ($150 for the first visit and about $65 for subsequent visits) she got a passable voice after 4 visits, which I thought was just phenomenal!

So, how do you speak when out and about? Thanks!

[Alice Torn]

Beats me. Some of us just don't have the right plumbing.

[suchacutie]

There are a lot of YouTube videos that explain and demonstrate the whole process of reducing the use of the bass part of our voices. That immediately raises the pitch, but more importantly it requires a change in how you speak in order to overcome the lack of the bass. After all, women don't have much of that bass resonance and use their voices in different ways to generate inflections.

The easy part is the pitch. The hard part is learning to use voice and language as a woman. The best teachers are all the women around you. Just listen and learn :)

tina

[Charla]

Thanks, suchacutie! Did the Youtube videos work for you?

[Kristy_K]

Also do a lot of practicing and it helps to record you voice and learn from it.

[Crysten]

If I was to describe my voice I guess it would be close to a drill sergeant with a throat full of gravel. Its one of the reasons I don't go out fully dressed. Four lessons? Four years and $10,000 and I think I'd sound pretty much the same. :-\ Good luck though, I'd love to have a feminine voice.

You know on the upside of this, if I ever feel the need to be manly all I have to do is engage someone in a lengthy conversation. Helps to smooth out the bumps in the pink fog a bit and keeps me centered. So, maybe it's a good thing my voice is as it is, because centered is where I like to be :-).

[JohnH]

My singing voice is like one of those Russian basso profundos and I have virtually no falsetto, so I can't sing in the feminine range. I don't want to lose the ability to sing in my range, so what I have to do is to concentrate on head resonance, wider range of pitches when I speak (instead of the monotone men tend to speak), draw out accents instead of hitting them hard, and speak with a breathier style. One thing that is in my favor is my voice is smooth and not raspy.

Johanna

[Cheryl T]

I just soften my voice, raise the pitch a little so it's not too strange and talk. If someone knows then they know...I just don't care anymore.

[Cynthia Anne]

I just soften my voice! Must work 'cause I was ma-am and she-ed many times to day while shopping! Hugs!

[suchacutie]

Charla, I thought the YouTube videos were fantastic. She talked about how to feel the bass part of the vocal cords, she demonstrated, and then showed the difference between the two sides of her voice. Functionally that was just fantastic. A week in the car to and from work and it was done for me.

Now I'm looking up videos where text is recited from a male voice and a female voice (same person). It is wild to see this really hip chic reading in a massively bass voice, and then to read the same thing matching the way she looks and acts. After the initial shock, it really is instructive to watch and listen to the differences and what they are.

Have fun!

tina

[DanaR]

I went to the University of Washington, Speech and Hearing Sciences and tried to work on a more effective female sounding voice. It was an interesting experience; which I probably didn't spend enough time with, but I did go there once a week for six months. I suppose my bottom line was, if you can't totally blend the voice isn't going to do that much. Just like everything else that you have to do to be like a girl, there is a lot of differences in voice and how they say things. It isn't all about pitch as some women have lower register voices. It is more about inflection, where guys are more monotone and flat sounding, with their voice falling off.

[noeleena]

Hi,

I have some advantages so not a problem for me sang in choirs so know my range as to singing ,

Tho really my voice is quite good & no training as such. Okay im I S & as im a woman so its working & it fell in to place, so you can say like my body language its normal as a woman should be. tho i can bawl some one out like a sargent, well why not some of my women friends can ......

...noeleena...

[linda allen]

I've so far avoided conversations, but I have managed a few "thank you"s and "good mornings" in a higher pitched voice. I practice when I'm alone but I haven't recorded anything. I suspect I sound more like Michael Jackson than a real female though.

[linda allen]

...........- but I need to find a better chromatic tuner to be able to follow the lessons........

Go to a larger music store in your area. They will have a selection of chromatic tuners.

[ArleneRaquel]

I just talk with a soft voice, it probably doesnt fool anyone, thought I have been called Mr or Miss on the phone a number of times. :)

[Jorja]

I went to a local school and had a music teacher help me with my voice. Remember, speaking in a female voice is not something you can just change into and out of at will. It takes lots of practice and needs to be used constantly to remain steady and not crack when you do use it.

Not too long ago, Melody Moore posted a link to a video that was very easy to learn. I searched and can't locate it, of course. Hopefull Melody will stop by and know how to find it.

[retrofitme]

I'm capable of doing lots of 'voices' for fun - I'm somewhat of an Impressionist amongst my friends - but the female voice is one that eludes me. I've learned lots of other voices relatively quickly, so maybe I can learn a female voice too.

[GBJoker]

I'm also having a hard time forcing a feminine voice. I'm practicing as best I can without being obvious about it when I'm around other humans, and sorta just slowly hoping to blur it into a mix between masc and fem. Thus far, it is not working.

Of course, it doesn't help being hearing impaired. To me, masc and fem voices sound nearly identical, unless they are overly exagerrated. Say, Hugh Jackman in X-Men vs Random mid 20s female in other movie. Audiology tests also show that I don't even hear half of what a GG says (not in the bad way, but in the REALLY bad way), which is why they sound so similar to me. Also... Smoking hurts more than it helps... I was not aware of this. :p

The odd part is I can do such a wide range of masculine voices that I've been told by every one I know that I should do drama classes in school.

[DanaR]

A few years back I was talking to a lady that offered voice training, I told her what I was trying to do. She suggested that I pick up the movie "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" and study the actors' voices in the movie. She said that they did an excellent job on their voices.

[Eryn]

How do I deal with voice issues? Badly I fear! I try the "soften and raise pitch" thing and seem to do OK, but it really is the weakest link in my presentation.

[Kaz]

There are a lot of very sexy women who have what we call 'soft brown' voices... gravelly, deep... that's the place to be! The danger is we overcompensate and pitch too high and that can sound so false... record yourself and listen back... the sound is not what what you will hear in your head, but it will give you an idea...

Otherwise just be bold and go for it! Marilyn Monroe with a Walter Matthau voice!

[eluuzion]

I was thinking about wacking myself between the legs with a hammer just prior to leaving the house, but then I decided there are probably more constructive techniques out there someplace, lol.

Actually, I have only recently become curious about trying to produce an effective female voice. I am amazed at how well some are able to master it. I've been spending a significant amount of time surfing the net for CD/*******/TS/etc vid clips and such, finding the ones with people who have mastered it. Then I pause specific good examples of them speaking, replay it several times, and try to mimic the technique. It is a first step...a primitive one for sure...but a step nonetheless...and it sure beats the h**l out of looking at a speech instructor...heehee.:o

:love:

[Jorja]

I found the video I was talking about. Here is the link.

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?162797-A-really-helpful-video-for-developing-your-Female-Voice&highlight

[minna_xxxx]

I'm capable of doing lots of 'voices' for fun - I'm somewhat of an Impressionist amongst my friends - but the female voice is one that eludes me. I've learned lots of other voices relatively quickly, so maybe I can learn a female voice too.

To read princess fairy tales to kids is a good excuse to practice female voice at home! Just remember to give right voices also to monsters ;-). It is also a good exercise to learn to change one voice to another very quickly.

[Jonianne]

I found the video I was talking about. Here is the link.

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?162797-A-really-helpful-video-for-developing-your-Female-Voice&highlight

What a great practical video!

[Aprilrain]

like the nike commercials say "just do it!" no better way to learn than to go out and use your voice. I did NOT sound like a woman before but I am consistently ma'amed on the phone now. Then again I am full time, before I went full time I would worry every time that my fem voice wasn't going to come back of course it did though I needed a half hour or so to get it up to speed again. I think that unless you are especially gifted there is little chance that a CDer who dresses for a social event once a month or so is going to develop a convincing Female voice because it requires emersion to really learn. My voice is still improving at least now i find myself in a place were im not sure i could "do" my old male voice without it sounding contrived. obviously i still have that lower range but those muscles are atrophying while the muscles in the higher range are much stronger now. One thing I did was sing in the car a lot that helps.

[Jeannie]

One thing I always found a little humorous is when men try to speak like a women but they do it with a lisp. I want to say "how many women have you heard that speak with a lisp". The thing is that it is obvious that they are doing it on purpose. Believe me when I say that I am not making light of those that can't help it, I would never ever do that. Also maybe it is because I live the deep south but I find myself sounding like Scarlett O'Hara(I know funny, right) or a British lady (I know even funnier, right) when I try to speak like a women. I am thinking to myself that this will never do and then I just give up. So I have 2 very important parts of this crossdressing deal that work against me should I ever go out and try to shop or something .

1. I look like a gorilla in a dress.
2. I sound like a gorilla in a dress.

Believe me when I say I am not making light of gorillas, I would never do that. They are making light of me. Good luck with your learning experience and I hope you are able to find your feminine voice.

[Jorja]

One thing I always found a little humorous is when men try to speak like a women but they do it with a lisp. I want to say "how many women have you heard that speak with a lisp". The thing is that it is obvious that they are doing it on purpose. Believe me when I say that I am not making light of those that can't help it, I would never ever do that. Also maybe it is because I live the deep south but I find myself sounding like Scarlett O'Hara(I know funny, right) or a British lady (I know even funnier, right) when I try to speak like a women. I am thinking to myself that this will never do and then I just give up. So I have 2 very important parts of this crossdressing deal that work against me should I ever go out and try to shop or something .

1. I look like a gorilla in a dress.
2. I sound like a gorilla in a dress.

Believe me when I say I am not making light of gorillas, I would never do that. They are making light of me. Good luck with your learning experience and I hope you are able to find your feminine voice.

Even gorillas want to look cute. ;) Just do your best and be the best woman you can be with what you have and enjoy.

[moondog]

I've seen some clips on youtube and some...adult sites...and I've seen several CDs or T-Girls who are very passable, until they speak and then they sound like gay guys. Bailey Jay really has the female voice nailed. Also I understand that some guys simply want to dress in women's clothing and do not want to BE a woman, they just enjoy the clothes. Which is fine for them, I, however, have been grappling with the desire to completely pass. I don't know if it'll even be possible, but I want to be able to get dressed, do my make up, and then walk out with nobody being able to guess what I have between my legs,a nd that includes speaking. Back to the thread, I'm not dealing with it at all because I'm still coming to grips with even wanting to do this in the first place. One step at a time.

[S. Lisa Smith]

I went to a voice teacher. She was very, very helpful and gave me exercises to do. I had four lessons and am pleased with the results (as far as what people tell me- I still sound fake to me...). It was a lot of fun!! If you you are serious about your voice then I would suggest that you give it a shot. It was $25 for a 1/2 hour lesson. For me, I needed feedback from a live teacher rather than using You Tube, but YMMV. Here are some threads that talk about my experences with the voice teacher:
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?163448-Lunch-with-my-voice-teacher-and-her-best-friend&highlight=
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?163448-Lunch-with-my-voice-teacher-and-her-best-friend&highlight=
This thread has some great information and comments:
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?163448-Lunch-with-my-voice-teacher-and-her-best-friend&highlight=

[Dana7]

My favorite Youtube video on this subject is a quickie voice lesson that covers some of the basics on how to sound female (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciWIzpW_X20). I always review it before going out enfemme.

[Kate Simmons]

Never had a problem with it. Always spoke the same and made out fine. Basically it wasn't an issue for me.;):)

[danielletorresani]

I wish I could talk as a woman convincingly. It's always been a fantasy of mine to go shopping at the supermarket and do normal everyday type errands en femme, but I'm paranoid about facing a cashier and being obvious as a man dressed as a woman. If I thought I could pull off being passable both visually and audibly, then I'd totally do it.

[SandraAbsent]

like the nike commercials say "just do it!" no better way to learn than to go out and use your voice. I did NOT sound like a woman before but I am consistently ma'amed on the phone now. Then again I am full time

If you want to find your voice? Go full time, you will find it in a hurry! I think my voice comes from a life as a singer and probably most voice coaches will teach you the same thing if you want your voice to sound real and not straining for a falsetto.

1. In singing you should always sing from your diaphragm. You dont want to do this when speaking in a female voice. Speak from the top of your thought in order to cut out the deep resonance of your male voice.

2. In your normal octave sing a major scale. do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti do. I put la in bold parenthesis because this is the pitch you should be using. This leaves your room to go up and down with voice inflections. This is all done in a range you are already comfortable with because it is in your range. You will not sound like a squeeky fake.

3. Now practice singing words while holding that note. It will sound silly because you will have no voice inflections, but you have to get used to finding it and holding it before you can ad conversational inflections.

4. Practice speaking in normal conversation now with this note and inflections.

Practice, Practice, Practice

I hear so many girls sound so unnatural, its important that you do not use a falsetto. It will out you faster than bad makeup.