Do any of you have voice feminization tips?

[Atria]

I've been trying to get my voice to what I find acceptable... I think I've found a voice that I really like, it's just it's really hard to keep at it to the point I'm used to using it all of the time. Because my voice is very important part of my transition, I need to figure out an exercise that will help me maintain the voice I want versus using the more masculine sounding voice I've gotten used to over the years.

[CosmicJoke]

I would say that a feminine sounding voice is not only about the pitch factor, but femininity in essence is all about being flowing.
The masculine is more resistant and restrained. I feel like it's about understanding the energy difference.
I think it's all a matter of becoming more comfortable, and then soon everything will follow.
I used to have a lower sounding voice and was more restrained and uncomfortable because I was trying to hide it from others or fear of judgement.
Though, as time went on, I started embracing and loving myself. My voice, walk, and talk all have that magical flow now as a result.
So I would say just get in the mindset. You're looking at what you want to change now, so you are already beginning the work to getting there.

[Dena]

You are dealing with three different voices, the chest voice, the mouth/head voice and the falsetto. If you don't understand the difference, speech therapy or more learning is in order. If you do understand the difference, you may be in the same boat I was and lack the ability to reach a feminine range with out surgery. Most people can use one of the two upper voice to reach the pitch they need. Also be careful about pushing the pitch to high. For starters, 190hz to around 220hz in most cases is acceptable. Let us know what your knowledge level is and the tools you work with and we can go from there.

[Atria]

Cosmic, as a spiritualist I can see how that can take a play. That makes a lot of sense really thanks for the reply!

Dena, Well the voice itself isn't the problem, it's the ability to keep from reverting to my old voice after practicing. I think there is a part of me that is still afraid of using my feminine voice, or I simply forget when talking and it goes from high pitched back to low pitched while talking.

[Valwen]

I am the last person to give voice advice in my view mine is hopeless, but I bet if you start using the voice you are happy with full time it will get easier to avoid slipping back.

Serena, who hates even thinking about her voice.

[Atria]

Valwen,

I find you very pretty. You shouldn't hate yourself, because you got a lot of goods worth savoring.

Thanks for the reply, I am definitely trying my best to keep on using my voice.

[Dena]

My old voice was used all the time so it locked in. When I was gathering data for surgery, I had to force myself into the chest voice and it was hard. One trick I am using this time is I have an App called PitchLab on my smart phone that I can pop up anytime and anywhere to see if I am slipping from where I should be. Currently I am not using the app much because my voice is still far to unstable from surgery to maintain a pitch in a long conversation but that shouldn't be a problem in a few weeks.
If you use the new voice consistently, it will lock in and you won't have to worry about it because your ear and the feel of speaking will tell you when you aren't where you should be.

[Atria]

Thanks Dena, your replies mean a lot to me! I'll check out that app right now! I wonder if they have it on windows 10

[Serenation]

Atria, if you go into the susans chat, "grasseater" in there will be happy to help you with excersizes etc she asked me to pass that on for you. Good luck

[Atria]

Thanks Serenation! Will go there now

[iKate]

Pitch and resonance by far are the greatest challenges for any trans woman wanting a passable voice. I had one fixed through surgery and the other I never had much of an issue with. I also have natural feminine prosody so that's a bonus.

Yes, there are women with deep voices but they have feminine timbre and resonance.

The most effective program I've seen for feminization of your voice through training is Andrea James' Finding Your Female Voice (FYFV). It's on YouTube and is free (ad supported). I don't like many of the others like CandiFLA. Give it a try and see.

[katrinaw]

Personally I am currently using "EVA" smart phone app... seems good, as long as you are happy with the pace and have the time.

Always a tough one, stopping the voice "break" into lower pitch and then it seems (for me) hard to get up and out of it again, without a break. The voice you hear in your head, I believe is the hardest obstacle to get over, especially as an older person... very, very used to that horrible sound!

I will get a voice therapist (once the income stream comes back in) see how that and EVA works, then maybe (probably) look at Yeson (surgery)... age and time frame will require quick fixes, methinks...

Katy xx

[MugwortPsychonaut]

Are you close with your mom? Her voice should be a good target for your own. Listen to women speak, and imitate them. If you already have a habit of doing impressions of people, then you're a step ahead. Finding the right pitch can help, but what I think helps even more, is to "clean up" your voice and add flow. I don't know how else to explain it other than "clean up." Talk. Record yourself. You'll see.

[JenniferLopezgomez]

Last year, I got a training session via Skype from a good trans female friend. Then, I took it from there. Now, my normal female voice is super and I live full-time as a woman. It's wonderful.

You are right, a lovely female voice is an important part of most girls' transition, mine included.

The training I got involved uses musical tones, since I'm good at singing.

In fact, I am even SINGING for a large television audience at my upcoming Trans Pageant performance in Scotland this Sunday August 16. That's more challenging of course.

You can use singing techniques in your training if you have this ability, but then just use the methods for your normal female voice.

Good luck!

[Dena]

Thanks Dena, your replies mean a lot to me! I'll check out that app right now! I wonder if they have it on windows 10

Yup they do
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/apps/pitchlab-guitar-tuner/9wzdncrdgqsv

[iKate]

Are you close with your mom? Her voice should be a good target for your own. Listen to women speak, and imitate them. If you already have a habit of doing impressions of people, then you're a step ahead. Finding the right pitch can help, but what I think helps even more, is to "clean up" your voice and add flow. I don't know how else to explain it other than "clean up." Talk. Record yourself. You'll see.

My moms voice is nothing like mine. Mine is higher pitched and we have different prosody. Yes I'm happy about that. I don't want to sound exactly like my mom.

[JenniferLopezgomez]

At this point, my voice passes super well and doesn't cause me any issues at all.  A lot of time people don't even notice I am trans, based on my voice and my presentation. I am usually accepted as a woman -- forget the trans part. It's nice. xx

[JenniferLopezgomez]

At this point, my voice passes super well and doesn't cause me any issues at all.  A lot of time people don't even notice I am trans, based on my voice and my presentation. I am usually accepted as a woman -- forget the trans part. It's nice. xx

You can hear some samples of my voice if you scroll down my Facebook timeline wall public profile if you want some examples of how I handle pitch, intonation, "musicality" (because female voices usually sound more "musical" than male voices), voice inflection, and so on. xx

[MugwortPsychonaut]

In my opinion, it's far better to have an honest voice than one that's forced to sound feminine. Having said that, you could start by adding melody into your voice the way women do. As you get into the habit of talking that way (think "gay talk"), you'll slowly, gradually begin to soften and lighten your voice. Or at least that's worked for me. It can also help, when you're by yourself (driving, for example) to talk to yourself in a high-pitched, falsetto, Mickey Mouse voice. Not that you're going to talk that way to other people, but it helps to retrain your voice, tu sais que je veux à dire?

[Andie73]

Are you close with your mom? Her voice should be a good target for your own.

*blink*   That's a fantastic point... I had not even thought about my mother's voice as a reference. 

Thank you for that!