High pitch girly voice and other assorted voice questions.

[Ltl89]

Hello All,

I'm about to begin my voice training and I'd really like some suggestions on what to do.  To be honest, my voice is sort of deep, so I'm really concerned.  Most Mtf trans girls I know have a huge problem getting their voice down; therefore, I'm scared I'll suffer the same issue.  I did get mam'ed on the phone a handful of times at one of my old jobs, but that could be like a fluke thing.

Basically I'm looking for suggestions on how to get a realistic sounding female voice.  And when I say realistic, I mean I'd like to have a high pitch girly voice, not something that's low or ambiguous sounding.  As I said, most transwomen I know have voices that are questionable and I'd like to avoid that.  I want people to think I'm another cisgirl in her 20s.  If possible, I would like it to be as high pitch and fem sounding as possible. Is there any way to actually achieve this? Or do we always have to settle for something in the lower to mid range?  Any tips or feedback would be appreciated because I'm desperate. 

Also, how does everyone do it without others hearing it?  I'd like to do this as quietly and privately as possible.   

Thanks.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

You should start with Kathe Perez.  She has a app for smart phones.  And she has her own YouTube channel @ http://www.exceptionalvoice.com/home/voice-feminization/youtube/

[Jenna Marie]

I guess this isn't all that helpful, but I've ended up feeling like pitch matters less than intonation (and removing the male chest resonance). I used to try for a really high-pitched voice, and it sounded awkward and fake; now I can pass 100%, even on the phone - where my wife is occasionally taken for a guy, even though her voice is [slightly] higher in pitch than mine.

(We're both naturally "light tenor," though. With practice, my voice generally falls more in the low to mid-alto range, which I consider perfectly consistent with typical female voices but you probably would not. I would imagine that starting from a deeper pitch than that probably does make things harder.)

What I did was mostly pick women whose voices I liked/which I thought sounded like mine, and record myself over and over and OVER again trying to mimic their inflections. In your case, I'd choose light-voiced high-pitched cis actresses and so on. Of course, it helps to have a good ear and to be reasonably skilled at imitating other people's intonations etc.

[Aina]

and Jenna said, pitch isn't as important. You do need a decent amount of Pitch, but resonance is probably the most important. Honestly It will take practice practice practice. I've heard some very good voices and even more amazing how deep their male voices were.

I started with the falsetto approach, where you raise your voice up to sound like Mikey Mouse and then bring it down and soften it so it sound female. Honestly this works a little bit but most strives I've made I had to learn on my own.

Record your voice, play around don't be scared to be goofy its all about learning your voice and what you can do.

I am still learning - a TS friend of mine she says when I do my female voice, my voice sound drastically different, but she says I sorta have a stereotypical gay guy voice. SO I suppose I have a ways to go.

[Antonia J]

Hi LtL,

I did a similar post awhile ago, and there was another good reference to a Youtube resource in it:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,145855.0.html

Toni

[musicofthenight]

This is a guess, since I've only been working at it for a week, but the benefit of head voice (not exactly falsetto) exercise is strengthening the muscles and nerves that produce higher pitch.

Girly voices start around middle C, 260 Hz-ish, which is within easy chest voice for most people who've been through male puberty.  The problem (aside from resonance issues) is pitch inflection, which will skip back and forth over the break everyone has at 350 Hz.

I'm tackling this as a male singing problem, though I can't say anything definitive yet if that works or not.  Theory goes you strengthen head voice and bridge it to chest, so you have a smooth, continuous range.

Like learningtolive, I want an unambiguous voice.  (I want ambiguity points to spend elsewhere, if that makes sense.  )

Actually, my model is Ashleigh Ball's character voice for Rainbow Dash.  High, squeaky, boyishly sandy, but obviously female.  Perfect.  Tricky.  Dream big, right?

[Aina]

This is a guess, since I've only been working at it for a week, but the benefit of head voice (not exactly falsetto) exercise is strengthening the muscles and nerves that produce higher pitch.

Girly voices start around middle C, 260 Hz-ish, which is within easy chest voice for most people who've been through male puberty.  The problem (aside from resonance issues) is pitch inflection, which will skip back and forth over the break everyone has at 350 Hz.

I'm tackling this as a male singing problem, though I can't say anything definitive yet if that works or not.  Theory goes you strengthen head voice and bridge it to chest, so you have a smooth, continuous range.

Like learningtolive, I want an unambiguous voice.  (I want ambiguity points to spend elsewhere, if that makes sense.  )

Actually, my model is Ashleigh Ball's character voice for Rainbow Dash.  High, squeaky, boyishly sandy, but obviously female.  Perfect.  Tricky.  Dream big, right?

Hehe  I've attempted Fluttershy before, but I couldn't even wrap my head around doing Rainbow Dash like. But yeah that be a nice voice.

[Ltl89]

You should start with Kathe Perez.  She has a app for smart phones.  And she has her own YouTube channel @ http://www.exceptionalvoice.com/home/voice-feminization/youtube/

I'll look into it.  However, most of what I've seen from her is very expensive.  I doubt I could ever purchase one of her programs.

I guess this isn't all that helpful, but I've ended up feeling like pitch matters less than intonation (and removing the male chest resonance). I used to try for a really high-pitched voice, and it sounded awkward and fake; now I can pass 100%, even on the phone - where my wife is occasionally taken for a guy, even though her voice is [slightly] higher in pitch than mine.

(We're both naturally "light tenor," though. With practice, my voice generally falls more in the low to mid-alto range, which I consider perfectly consistent with typical female voices but you probably would not. I would imagine that starting from a deeper pitch than that probably does make things harder.)

What I did was mostly pick women whose voices I liked/which I thought sounded like mine, and record myself over and over and OVER again trying to mimic their inflections. In your case, I'd choose light-voiced high-pitched cis actresses and so on. Of course, it helps to have a good ear and to be reasonably skilled at imitating other people's intonations etc.

The problem for me is I have no idea how to properly imitate high pitch actresses.  My voice gives out.  I know pitch isn't everything, but I sort of wish to have a high (or at least medium) pitch. 

and Jenna said, pitch isn't as important. You do need a decent amount of Pitch, but resonance is probably the most important. Honestly It will take practice practice practice. I've heard some very good voices and even more amazing how deep their male voices were.

I started with the falsetto approach, where you raise your voice up to sound like Mikey Mouse and then bring it down and soften it so it sound female. Honestly this works a little bit but most strives I've made I had to learn on my own.

Record your voice, play around don't be scared to be goofy its all about learning your voice and what you can do.

I am still learning - a TS friend of mine she says when I do my female voice, my voice sound drastically different, but she says I sorta have a stereotypical gay guy voice. SO I suppose I have a ways to go.

It's weird but I do get scared and shy, even when I'm by myself.  I'm a very timid person, so I'm afraid to even practice my voice.

Hi LtL,

I did a similar post awhile ago, and there was another good reference to a Youtube resource in it:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,145855.0.html

Toni

I'll have to check it out.  I need all the tips I can get,lol.

This is a guess, since I've only been working at it for a week, but the benefit of head voice (not exactly falsetto) exercise is strengthening the muscles and nerves that produce higher pitch.

Girly voices start around middle C, 260 Hz-ish, which is within easy chest voice for most people who've been through male puberty.  The problem (aside from resonance issues) is pitch inflection, which will skip back and forth over the break everyone has at 350 Hz.

I'm tackling this as a male singing problem, though I can't say anything definitive yet if that works or not.  Theory goes you strengthen head voice and bridge it to chest, so you have a smooth, continuous range.

Like learningtolive, I want an unambiguous voice.  (I want ambiguity points to spend elsewhere, if that makes sense.  )

Actually, my model is Ashleigh Ball's character voice for Rainbow Dash.  High, squeaky, boyishly sandy, but obviously female.  Perfect.  Tricky.  Dream big, right?

I don't know if I want to sound like Rainbow Dash, but I'll agree on the high pitch part,lol. 

[Aina]

Trust me, I was the same way even more since I live with my parents while I finish up college and No one even knows I am TS - but I found time to practice.

Places I practice:
In the shower (No one can hear you unless your screaming and you won't be when training your voice)
In the car (Best place really no one can hear you and if they see you they think your singing, and well sometimes I am that is also good practice)
Home alone (when you by yourself this when I get a chance to record.)
With TS friends over Skype/ventrillo ect (I've started doing this with a friend and well because I am shy about it I don't perform well and just sound off - but it helps because she won't judge me harshly since she is going through the same thing)

I'd start with practicing alone on your daily commute, it really is one of the best time to practice at least IMO. Good luck! 

[Ltl89]

Trust me, I was the same way even more since I live with my parents while I finish up college and No one even knows I am TS - but I found time to practice.

Places I practice:
In the shower (No one can hear you unless your screaming and you won't be when training your voice)
In the car (Best place really no one can hear you and if they see you they think your singing, and well sometimes I am that is also good practice)
Home alone (when you by yourself this when I get a chance to record.)
With TS friends over Skype/ventrillo ect (I've started doing this with a friend and well because I am shy about it I don't perform well and just sound off - but it helps because she won't judge me harshly since she is going through the same thing)

I'd start with practicing alone on your daily commute, it really is one of the best time to practice at least IMO. Good luck! 

Yeah, I just need to get over the fear that people will look into my car window and think I'm talking to myself,lol. 

[Jamie D]

LTL, Kathe is excellent.  A deep starting voice really should not be an issue.  Listen to the YouTube videos by CandiFLA.  She had a really deep voice to begin with.

[musicofthenight]

I almost had a breakthrough just motorcycling around today.  Practicing switching between chest and head resonance:

- find a crossover pitch you can hit sliding down from head voice and up from

- Sing "buuu-buu-buu" on this pitch, alternating between head voice and chest voice.

- Then "uuuuuuu," holding the pitch but screwing around with the resonance.

I was able to slide from my lowest pitch, to holding a crossover pitch, over to head voice, and all the way up to my highest (over three octaves!) without a break or crack.

Now if only I can do that again.  That would make it a breakthrough. 

Also, I rewatched CandiFLA's videos again.  Her method makes the most sense, at least to me, at least at this point.  (Also, her screwing around with gender is hilarious.)

[Aina]

Yeah, I just need to get over the fear that people will look into my car window and think I'm talking to myself,lol.

Then yeah start by singing in your voice, most people won't think anything of it.