Let's Talk Voice!

[Kris Burton]

Friends and colleagues - How many of you are working on your feminine voice? I certainly have been. I'm interested in finding out what you are doing to create an effective feminine sounding voice to enhance your overall presentation while out and about. We've all seen the You Tube videos, but I have found them long on the theory behind what it is you are doing but less so on actually doing it. So, beyond the obvious "practice, practice, practice" answer, specifically what are you doing and what are you working on when you practice? Vocal range? Vocal placement? Pitch? Projection? Tonal properties? - things like that.

Let's discuss.

[docrobbysherry]

"Mum's the word", Kris.

My answer is verbal "blending". In other words: Don't speak!:straightface:

[Sandi Beech]

I do not bother changing my voice other than maybe speaking a bit softer in restaurants etc. i figure I am who I am - just decorated a bit different than most ; )

Sandi

[CynthiaD]

I speak in a higher pitch and use a feminine sing-song. I?ve done quite a bit of singing and have no trouble switching to a higher register. The feminine sing-song comes naturally to me, and I?ve always had to make an effort to avoid it in male mode.

[kimdl93]

My approach is similar to Cynthias. I have a fairly broad vocal range and routinely speak in a slightly higher register. I have also used a popular voice femininzation ap with good results. Practice makes perfect?or at least good enough.

[Fiona_44]

Kris,

One thing I learned from looking into femme voice training is that it can take years of practice to get it to sound convincing. Being a mature CD I just don't have the time or patience to devote to such a long process. So what I do is this:

1. If speaking involves only a short phrase such as "thank you", "bathroom please" or "yes I do" I use my higher femme voice which is not convincing in long conversations but is fairly passable for just a few words.

2. If it involves a longer conversation, I use my male voice but try & remember to speak slower, a little softer and use my hands to gesture more.

[Kelli_cd]

I try to think about cadence and intonation - how I say phrases.
But I sing low bass; I can't change my pitch too much.

[Helen_Highwater]

I've written this so many times as it's a question that reoccurs regularly.

I once met a speech therapist who was married to one of our community. She said the worst thing CD'ers can do is try to talk like a BeeGee, overly falsetto. Instead start with your natural singing voice and work your way up the scale, Do, Ray, Mi. Go no higher, in fact Ray will suit most. Raising your pitch just a small amount is all that's needed but then you need to speak softer and with more focus on inflection. Also women tend to speak in longer sentences.

If asked the time a man will say "12-30. A woman,"Oh let me look, oh my is that the time, 12-30 already". It's as much about what you say, how you say it as the actual voice you use.

[mykell]

i had a video from a trucker who shared her method in 2016....its gone now but i found these....

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=trans+voice+exercises

[Heather76]

I won't concern myself with altering my voice other than to speak slower and softer. When it comes to vocal range singing, I have one deep bass monotone note I hit which is why I don't sing. I have strict orders from my wife to never sing where others can hear me; and, that includes in church where most voices are drown out by the organ.

[JohnH]

I don't even attempt to sound like a woman. Thanks to M2F HRT over about 12 years, I look very much like a genetic woman, including a bust. I have hair below my shoulders and I wear dresses. HOWEVER, I am a bass singer bordering on basso profundo and I sing second bass in my church choir. So sounding like a woman is a lost cause, and I don't want to compromise my singing voice. So I present as a woman but have the voice of a man.

[alwayshave]

Kris, I will admit this is one of the things my wife doesn't like. She has helped me with mannerisms and attempts to walk, but changing my voice is a no go. So, I don't even try.

[Kris Burton]

I notice a number of you are bass singers. I imagine with a voice that deep it must be hard to take on a truly feminine voice. I'm a tenor, and in my younger days a tenor I at that, so getting the proper pitch is not too much of a stretch. Still, my speaking voice is more of a baritone and does not sound feminine at all, so it requires some specific adjustments. I'm trying to speak in my upper register, it almost feels like I am speaking in the upper part of my throat if you can imagine that. I have been recording myself speaking, and listening back attempting to make improvements. Many of you have written that you are trying to speak more gently and softly, but I find speaking with projection in mind helps the clarity - too soft and breathy to my ear can sound like a bad Marylin Monroe imitation. After all of that is accomlished you've got to remember to do it in all situations when en femme. I'm finding I can get it to work in short bursts, but still need more work before I will be able to carry on a conversation, which is what I would like to be able to do.

And my wife is unaware of this. I practice in the car alone or when no one is home. I'm not ready to spring this on her yet either.

[GracieRose]

I try to shift speech from my throat up to my nasal cavities. That just moves the pitch a little higher. The harder part is adding more lilt, slowing down, and gesturing more. Occasionally it all comes together and I am amazed. If I were to shift to full time, I might be able to hold it together better.

[Emily in the south]

Being a fairly new girl, I have not paid very much attention to this yet. But I have played around with my voice a bit when I'm alone in the car.
Recording yourself should be very helpful, and I think Helen's tip from the therapist was great.

Thanks for this discussion Kris. I have faith that you will succeed..

Emily

[Patience]

I worried about that early on, but then I realized that if I make a deliberate effort to sound feminine, it'll only sound like I'm making a deliberate effort to sound feminine, so I just speak normally.

Also, in spite of my efforts to look feminine and my vanity wanting to make me believe that I do, I'm sure I'm not fooling anybody, so it's not my voice that's going to break the illusion.

Since we're talking vocal ranges, I am a tenor, fwiw.

[IamWren]

. I'm a tenor, and in my younger days a tenor I at that, so getting the proper pitch is not too much of a stretch. I'm trying to speak in my upper register, it almost feels like I am speaking in the upper part of my throat if you can imagine that.
I have been recording myself speaking, and listening back attempting to make improvements. Many of you have written that you are trying to speak more gently and softly, but I find speaking with projection in mind helps the clarity - too soft and breathy to my ear can sound like a bad Marylin Monroe imitation. I practice in the car alone or when no one is home. I'm not ready to spring this on her yet either.

I've pulled out the sentences that didn't really apply to me but everything else you wrote above is what I've been doing for about four years or so and I STILL don't quite have down how I would like my voice to sound. Even after this long, I still practice in my vehicle by recording and trying to be very cognizant of all the mechanics required then listening back. Muscle memory is what I'm trying to achieve.

But more than register/pitch, it's resonance that is more important. Men, typically have a darker, more resonant tone because much of the sound of their voice comes from their chest, where women's voices, typically resonate a little higher up in the throat and head. And so to try and accomplish that I attempt to... well, do what the videos say to do. Mouth smaller, raise soft pallet, lift adam's apple, etc.

But as Helen mentioned one of the most important things, if not THE most important things is the way one delivers their thoughts. For instance in declarative statements (i.e. the documents are over there on my desk.) men will typically have the last word or two drop one or two steps. Where as women will keep the pitch the same or even raise the pitch at the end making a declarative statement sound almost like a question but not quite.

Women just speak in a different way than men. It's hard to explain and am finding difficulty finding the words but a lot of times it's REALLY hard for people who have, for decades and decades been socialized as men, to change that method of speaking.

[rachellegsep]

There is an app called voice pitch analyzer you can try to test by reading to see if your voice falls into the female range.

[Shiny]

For me, voice problems are near the top with all the other ones such as heavy facial features, too tall, Adam's apple, large hands, obvious tall height etc.. You can "mask" a lot of problems, which is the pure genius of some on this site and on Flicker but just another problem that always kept me out of the game of trying to pass.

[GretchenM]

I agree with Helen 99.8%. I have noticed that women's voices are just as variable in pitch as men's, but generally a little higher to a lot higher - even a bit squeaky in some. In general most everyone's voice lowers with age; so that age factor enters into the equation once again.

I don't think pitch is as important as how one says things. Men tend to make statements while women tend to pose questions that creates a conversation rather than a lecture. But individuals blend these styles in various ways that are subtle. Many women have a tendency to end sentences with the voice going up even when it is not a question. Men tend to end a sentence by going down. This is subtle but quite apparent. It goes along with gender traits and characteristics.

Women tend to make S's with a bit more of a hiss, but not always. How one speaks is a major reveal as to the person's mood and personality traits at that time - voice reveals feelings. Women in general tend to be a bit more animated in speech which adds some emotion while men tend to be less emotional and more "factual." But both use these differences in different situations. There is a definite difference between male and female voices, but it is a lot more complex. The Doe - Ray - Me exercise is a good way to find where on the scale you sound most natural and you can speak most comfortably.

But always be aware that coughs and sneezes are a dead giveaway as to where your natural voice is located. Those sounds are tough to change without straining.

[Jillcder]

I do not have a deep voice but definitely male I just soften up my speaking and it feels like when i push air from my lower chest and not my throat the pitch softens. Hard to explain sorry.

[Maid_Marion]

Modulating longer sentences made a huge difference in how I was perceived.
Ending sentences with a higher pitch is often called high rising terminal. I often do that.
I've gotten better at combining speech with moving my hands and body language to convey my thoughts.

Marion

[Cheryl T]

I simply soften my voice and raise the pitch slightly.
It isn't what I would prefer but it is what it is. I'm reaching the point I no longer care as long as I can be me.

[Robyn16]

Have been working on my voice for a few months now, what helped me get a good start was on Youtube, search for " Rynali girl voice " He has 2 videos up for this , one is an older video and another is an updated one. Hope this helps others that want to feminize their voice.

[Jamee]

Lol. I was dressed at a casino. I was on an elevator with 2 older men (80's). They were very respectful and let me get off first. I thanked them and caught myself in a lower voice.
I changed it very quickly. After I stepped out, I realized that I passed!. Lol again, their eyesight and hearing might not have been the best but I was glad I passed. I had a good time dressed on the Casino floor and was not hassled by anybody. The only disappointment was not getting hit on by anyone ( I am Bi).

[Kris Burton]

I think its important to mention the practice component at this point, as it is often misunderstood. How do you practice, and what are you practicing? Are you just doing the same things over and over, essentially practicing errors? Having a goal in mind as you practice is essential - are you trying to develop pitch? Projection? Articulation? Resonance? In teaching music to folks, so often they will do the same things over and over, expecting to improve, but in fact they might be just practicing what they are doing wrong...so the development of good practice habits is essential component in having success at this not at all easy pursuit.

[ShelbyDawn]

Personally, I harass my cat, begging it to share it's magic(cats are magic, you know that right?)

I was blessed with one of those FM disc jockey voices, low and resonant that I truly love except that there is just no way to feminize it and not sound contrived.
Just one more reason that I am forever destined to live my life as a man in a dress... There are worse fates

But who knows, maybe one day my cat will share her magic... :)

Oh, yeah. I bought lottery tickets, too. LOL

[Krisi]

If asked the time a man will say "12-30. A woman, "Oh let me look, oh my is that the time, 12-30 already". It's as much about what you say, how you say it as the actual voice you use.

Yes, a woman will use many more words than a man to convey the same information. ;)

[mbmeen12]

Sorry hun , I would love to provide some guidance but I am what I am....I do try to lower tones while speaking instead of larger ones..

[Helen_Highwater]

We talk about people watching, getting familiar with femme mannerisms well picking up on the "it's also what you say " point, we need to eavesdrop into conversations between women and take note of just how they phrase sentences and the intonation contained therein.

One important point, make eye contact especially if talking to women. Non verbal communication is a big part of how they interact.

Empathy is far more prevalent in women's conversations. Agreement and affirmation play a real part.

[Sabine Janus]

Sign Language

[MarinaTwelve200]

even with voice changing software, I sound like "Sandy" the squirrel from SpongeBob. Normally my accent is not a problem.

[Emily in the south]

That is so funny Marina!
I almost spilled my morning coffee reading that.. I'll bet your girl voice with your southern accent sounds just fine.

Emily

[Ceera]

I definitely feminized my voice. Eight years later it is still a work in progress. But even though I will sometimes get called ‘sir’ on the phone, in person, my voice only rarely outs me.

I felt that I seriously needed to feminize my voice, if I wanted to pass at all. I’m tall for a girl (5’ 10”), with an inverted triangle body shape - relatively wide shoulders, narrow hips. Yet my facial features started out fairly androgynous. With good makeup techniques and the right padding and clothes, I was able to pass pretty well as a natal woman who just happens to be built like a buff Amazon. But my voice? Well, my adult speaking voice as a guy was the rich, smooth Bass you would expect from a male classical radio station announcer. My singing voice ranged from the low end of Bass to High Tenor. I could have sung any part in a barbershop quartet. But if, as a girl, I spoke like that to order a drink, everyone would be looking behind me to see which guy was playing ventriloquist tricks with his girlfriend! My biggest advantage, however, was the vocal control I learned with a lifetime of singing.

Like others, I also found some helpful trans voice lessons stuff on the Internet. Spent a few months practicing what they said, and got good enough results in three months that my first attempts at speaking in a feminine voice didn’t raise any eyebrows or cause immediate suspicions. After four years of social outings en femme, and four more living full time female as I committed to actually transitioning, I can now sing Karaoke performing songs by female artists ranging from Karen Carpenter to Katy Perry, and my cisgender female friends say I sing better and can hit higher notes than they can!

Here were the main take aways:

* Pitch is important, but as others mentioned, you often only need to upshift by a couple of notes. Don’t start with falsetto, or aim for Lyric Soprano. Many women speak and sing in the Alto range, or even lower pitch.

* Resonance control does much more to feminize the male voice. When a boy’s voice changes to that of an adult man, his voice box becomes a larger, more resonant cavity. Tightening the throat when you speak, and ‘speaking from higher in your throat’ can reduce that resonance significantly. Think of what you need to do to sing as a high Irish Tenor. The vocal control is the same. So… practice by singing what you want to say!

* With a higher pitch and less resonance, you are making progress, but you need to use feminine vocal patterns as well. Don’t speak in a monotone. Women usually modulate their pitch and inflection a lot more than men do.

* But women also phase things differently. They use longer phrases, and tend to ‘ask permission’ rather than clearly demanding. A guy ordering at the bar will say, “Gimme a whisky on the rocks.” A girl would more likely say, “Hummmm, let’s see… Do you have any Jameson Whisky? Oh! You do? Yes, I think I’d like that, if I may? Oh, and light ice, please? Thank you!” Pay attention to how natal women speak, and copy their patterns. That will, seriously, do far more for enabling you to speak convincingly as a woman. Gretta Garbo had a smooth, deep voice, but still spoke like a woman. There are many popular female actresses and singers today with lower pitch voices. Their vocal patterns are what makes a good feminine presentation succeed.

[sometimes_miss]

TL;DR. This TS person is apparently an audio engineer / musician or something, and has it down.
https://www.youtube.com/c/TransVoiceLessons

[AllieBellema]

My voice is too deep to be passible en femme. I try to talk in a more softer tone, but even that isn't good enough I'm sure. Good thing I'm more of a quiet person and let my mannerisms speak more for me than what I say, I guess!