MTF voice training as a bass

[Shaloxeroligon]

So I have a very deep voice (as in, I can reach a C1 with my vocal fry), and I don't really feel super comfortable speaking/singing at the higher end of my register (D4 is a strain without using falsetto). How hard is it going to be for me to achieve a realistic-sounding female voice?

Now, bear in mind that I have had almost no one-on-one vocal training (for singing or otherwise), so I haven't really made any effort to expand my vocal range (except downward). As such, I really don't know what my voice is capable of. I just wanted to get a general idea of what I can expect to achieve considering my extremely low voice.

Also, somewhat unrelated: for those of you who have transitioned and are using female voice full-time, are you still able to sing the lower notes that you could reach pre-transition? Or is there something that gets in the way of achieving that (I'm not 100% certain how hormones/surgery affect your voice)? I ask because I really like the ability to sing lower than anyone I know, yet I still would ideally like to pass.

[Unice]

I don't have experience to answer your questions.

This link from the front page has someone's opinions/findings about hormone treatment and voice:

https://www.susans.org/reference/vocalcha.html

Andrea James from finding your female voice demonstrates how she can produce a low baritone, not bass but almost.

This person does not have a high voice:

[AmyBerlin]

Dear Shaloxeroligon,

So I have a very deep voice (as in, I can reach a C1 with my vocal fry), and I don't really feel super comfortable speaking/singing at the higher end of my register (D4 is a strain without using falsetto). How hard is it going to be for me to achieve a realistic-sounding female voice?

Low notes come cheap with fry. What's the lowest you can go at reasonable volume using modal voice? For me, that's an E2, making me a baritone. I've developed a decent trained female speaking voice (I've regularly been ma'amed on the phone for the past 20 years), so I guess it's possible for you too, because when speaking, I'm nowhere near my limits. Speaking, mind you. Singing is considerably harder. And the "neutral voice" that we're using to produce female resonance is something very similar to falsetto, so where your actual break is actually doesn't matter a whole lot. The break supposedly is more of an indicator of the length of your windpipe (hint: are you also tall?) than of the weight/length of your vocal cords.

Also, somewhat unrelated: for those of you who have transitioned and are using female voice full-time, are you still able to sing the lower notes that you could reach pre-transition? Or is there something that gets in the way of achieving that (I'm not 100% certain how hormones/surgery affect your voice)? I ask because I really like the ability to sing lower than anyone I know, yet I still would ideally like to pass.

Hormones/surgery have not influenced my voice in the slightest. Still the same range... That will change in 3 weeks though (I'm Yeson bound, I'm sick of constantly pushing it). One question, though: how do you envision to sing lower than anyone you know, while still passing?

Regards,

Amy

[Shaloxeroligon]

So I believe the lowest note that I can hit modally is around B1 or something. It's hard to tell because the line between my modal voice and my vocal fry is very blurry. I can actually go pretty low with my modal voice if I warm up correctly. My choir director classified me as a bass 2.

I mean pass in normal contexts, but still be able to hit the low notes for musical purposes. I like being experimental with my music, and doing interesting things with my voice is part of that.

For the record, I know nothing about the technique for creating the female voice, so I'm really just judging it based on my experience with a vocal instructor (which was brief, just a semester's worth, and I was part of a group).

[Brooke777]

I was in a similar situation when I started transition. It took me 3 months of voice therapy to get my voice to a solid, female voice. It is possible. Just put in the effort, and you can succeed.

[AmyBerlin]

Actually the techniques to create a female-sounding speaking voice don't depend on the actual pitch of your voice a lot. If you're able to hit an A4 in falsetto, you should have all it takes.

Singing femininely is different, because you have to be able to sustain notes in the passaggio range at volume, and keep female resonance. That's increasingly tough the lower your starting pitch is.

Amy

[Kova V]

So I've had extensive vocal training all my life, I was a bass2 and my falsetto can hit those Whitney Houston whistle notes.

However.

Because I've been developing my alto range for a while, it takes a lot of stamina for one to maintain those pitches. As a result my voice muscles have become much "tighter" have most definately shortened. I lost most of my lower register all together and though I can come down to a baritone range it hurts like heck and sounds really rough.

So it depends on a few things. If you want to sound "natural" and not like a boy talking really high, you have to develop your female range, you have to reset what I call your "um, like" note or base-line, and you have to find a natural inflection range, cadence so you don't sound flat. The last part, and this is the hardest for me, is you have to find the right depth of tone between your chest and head. You don't want to sound nasaly and you don't want to sound like an opera singer. I accidentally found that if you practice with your mouth full of food it really helps. You could also use marbles.

This might help you too: http://m.youtube.com/user/deepstealth She shows you some pretty interesting techniques. 

Is it possible to keep your range? Anything is possible, it just takes time and lots of hard work. Hope this helps.

[Monkeymel]

My biggest issue is, and probably remains, melody. During voice training i was so overloaded with work stress (not transition related) that i did not practive enough. However i still try to use "pitch analyzer" on ipad / iphone as it allows you to quickly see which range you hit.

I did a lot of speaking work aiming for A3 B3 and C4 to train the voice higher... But sometimes can surprise myself by going back low (but it doesnt feel right). Range can go to G4 E4 but sounds rough. However all my work colleagues and friends dont notice. And i recently did a 2 week residential training course where noone even realised i was transgender. Even without a particularly good melody. So practice and dont worry.