Singing Voice

[RB.]

So I've been trying to develop a more androgynous singing voice. I'm definitely not there yet, but I would really appreciate any tips or feedback.   

This is me singing a Smiths song. The mic on my laptop kind of sucks so the quality isn't so great.
https://soundcloud.com/theryanbard/there-is-a-light-that-never

[kwala]

So I've been trying to develop a more androgynous singing voice. I'm definitely not there yet, but I would really appreciate any tips or feedback.   

This is me singing a Smiths song. The mic on my laptop kind of sucks so the quality isn't so great.
https://soundcloud.com/theryanbard/there-is-a-light-that-never

Well, musically speaking, I think you sound very good!  Unfortunately, I personally didn't find it to androgynous in the slightest.  This is something I've been working on for a long time as well, so I'd love to bounce around a few ideas and tips.  One of the keys to sounding female, or slightly more female is creating a headier tone.  This doesn't always mean using head voice, but think of it as a lighter resonance.  If I were you, I would actually sing through the song in head voice (stay in C# minor) but up the octave.  Do it a few times and then return to the lower octave and sing in chest voice but try to keep the lightness of head voice.  Easier said than done.  The more you practice using head voice, the more some of it will start to creep into your modal voice.  This will aid you in gaining a more feminine quality (the extent of which is up to you) and will also help to expand your range and ease the passagio.  Hope some of that is helpful.

[RB.]

@kwala Thanks for your reply! I do think I've made some progress from where my voice was a few months ago, but I agree with you it's still really not where I want it to be at all. I will definitely try what you suggested about singing it through in head voice to get a feel for lightening my resonance. I've had some issues in the past with keeping in tune and straining while singing in head voice, but like you said practice should help with that.

Thanks again for your feedback, I'll keep working on it!

[kwala]

@kwala Thanks for your reply! I do think I've made some progress from where my voice was a few months ago, but I agree with you it's still really not where I want it to be at all. I will definitely try what you suggested about singing it through in head voice to get a feel for lightening my resonance. I've had some issues in the past with keeping in tune and straining while singing in head voice, but like you said practice should help with that.

Thanks again for your feedback, I'll keep working on it!

No problem, these are things I'm working on as well.  Maybe I'll be brave and post a clip later so you can critique me.

[Beatriz]

My voice when speaking sounds low but really feminine, singing is another story altogether though 

I can sing contralto well, and while it doesn't sound too good it does at least sound feminine. But if I try to go up to soprano, it just sounds like I'm singing falsetto... it's kind of sad, I love singing and it sounds great if I sing in my male voice, but there's no point in singing for me if it isn't in my real voice.



Well, I do wish you luck  . I don't know if the regular voice exercises apply - if your speaking voice isn't feminine yet, you'll most likely want to work on that first anyway - but I'm sure practice makes perfect.

If you're aiming for androgynous rather than female, I guess one way would to be actually able to make it sound female first, then aim for something like a young, pre-T boy voice. (I personally know some butch lesbians that have both this kind of voice and look. Otherwise, though, I wouldn't know how to reach that kind of goal.)