I sound thirteen!

[Seb]

I have a little bit of a problem...
As a pre-everything FtM, I haven't experienced the deeper levels that testosterone will make my voice hopefully. I've always sounded like a boy, even when I don't try--a thirteen year old boy. My voice is low for a female and I've heard men speak at this range but I still sound young! My voice is also very nasally and I would just looove to get rid of that. I don't know what to do! I am not getting misgendered over the phone, but mis-aged! People don't believe that I'm 19 when I talk to them which can make some things difficult that need me to be of a legal age. If I even try to lower my voice I end up sounding like a little boy who is trying to act like his dad to call in sick.

What do I do? I'm at a loss here. I don't even know where to begin on changing my voice before T (and don't even get me started on the WAY I talk yet, Jesus that's a whole other issue, unfortunately...)

Any help would be gladly appreciated.

Seb

[iconoclast]

Well you said you sound nasally so try resonating from your chest instead of your nasal passage?

[Meshi]

I can make you sound like a dude.  Heck ive been doin it for years.  Chances are that you are not using your chest enough and you are phrasing words still like a girl.  I had to do the opposite to get this girl voice but it isnt hard for me at all to change from one to the other.  It looks kinda weird for a girl like me to be doing it, but i dont really care what ppl think lol

[DeeperThanSwords]

A distinction of the male voice is resonance rather than pitch, which comes from speaking lower down in the chest. Would you consider going to a voice coach? They can teach that stuff, and even if you can't afford a full course, I'm sure you could get referred by a doctor, or maybe get yourself a one-off session to get preliminary pointers.

[Tejas]

I just got on T, but it's still too early to notice changes to my voice.  In general, I sound like a kid, probably 12 or younger.  It's not high or pitchy, but as you say, very youthful.  HOWEVER, when it comes to the legal-age-ish stuff, one of things that have worked to my advantages is the way I speak.  In situations where I have to convey my maturity to the other party, I maintain a very professional and assertive tone.  Kids don't speak like this.  They'll question my age initially upon hearing my voice or because of my appearance, but after a few sentences, I get my way.  Over the phone, they may get confused and switch to "ma'am," but I'll either tell them, "please use Deven" or "actually, sir is correct."  So, if you don't think you can deepen your voice enough, then just be very articulate and direct.

(IMO, Justin Beiber sounds like a girl.)

[Seb]

Thank you! This is all very good advice. I will see about getting a coach, and in the meantime speak articulately like Deven suggested, though I do that for the most part already. I don't think people question my age when looking at me, mainly over the phone. I suppose they'll figure out eventually I'm an adult who pays bills haha.