Singers here? Upper range getting harder to hit

[WorkingOnThomas]

So, I'm pre-T, but I thought I'd try to lower my voice as much as I could now. But I love to sing, and don't want to do any damage. I found a youtube video someone recommended by a transguy singer, and I've been following his advice, and my voice does seem to be settling more and more to the bottom of my range. I can't keep it up for hours on end, but I don't have to struggle to do it either. However, I've noticed that I'm *really* losing the upper end of my singing range. Hitting anything a C or above without breaking is taking a real effort and I don't feel like I'm singing from the right place when I do it, more like a weird falsetto.

Is this normal? Or have I busted something?

And what happens when you take T? Does your upper range vanish entirely, or can it be retained somehow?

It isn't a deal breaker, or anything like that, I'm just wondering if I'm going to have any kind of presentable singing voice left when all is said and done.

[Dena]

I haven't seen the video but the proper way to lower your voice is to relax the neck muscles above your larynx. This puts you into the chest voice and will cause no damage to your voice. The is how Karen Carpenter was able to produce such a rich, smoky singing voice. To return to your original voice you only need to tighten the muscle when you speak and you will return to your original voice. Forcing your voice and having pain when you do it will damage your voice, if you stop causing pain, the voice may recover but if you produced scar tissue, voice surgery might be your only option. I went to Dr Haben to gain a feminine voice and only needed that surgery but some of the girls who visited him needed addition surgery to removed scar tissue that formed from years of abuse. There are other surgeons who can examine your voice and do the corrective surgery if needed but it's best to not damage the voice in the first place.

By the way, Karen did all the background on her songs as well and she was one of the early users of overdubbing. The difference between the foreground and background music will show you how versatile her voice was. 

[WorkingOnThomas]

Thanks Dena,

That's what I've been doing. And singing along a lot to Tracy Chapman (love her voice). Her's is a fair bit deeper than mine, so I figure if I can match it then I'm not doing too bad a job.

I'm not hurting or getting a sore throat or anything, just breaking when I try to hit higher notes now.

[Dena]

When we first start using a feminine voice, it's hard to do for two reasons. The first is remembering to pitch our voice and the other is the muscles tire quickly. Through constant usage, the muscles build up strength and we reach the point where the voice is automatic and we can use it all day. In your case, you may not be using the higher range enough to keep the muscle tension for the higher notes. If you would like to retain this ability, you will need to sing more so you can call on this voice when you want it. Something I think you are already aware of is T may also lower your upper range. This isn't always the case because there are men who can span 4 octaves and we have girls on the site with that ability  but should you decide on T, expect the worst and hope for the best.

[Lagertha]

In your case, you may not be using the higher range enough to keep the muscle tension for the higher notes. If you would like to retain this ability, you will need to sing more so you can call on this voice when you want it.

Muscle tension and tightening is a thing of bad singers. Healthy singing requires relaxed muscles, and throat and larynx in neutral position. Especially for singing high notes. Its imposible to sing high notes with unrelaxed mucles. The only muscle which should really work is diaphragm. The only direction to change a position of throat (and larynx) is down, when a singer needs to reach higher notes, and their voice needs more "body" and volume. The only thing that goes up is soft palate (the behind part of the roof of our mouth). This is both for male and female singers.

I'm just wondering if I'm going to have any kind of presentable singing voice left when all is said and done.

Sorry, it's impossible to predict what will happen to your voice after T-related changes, much like it's impossible to predict if a talented singer as a boy will have a great voice after puberty. It's strongly advised to NOT sing for men during puberty changes, and as much time after as possible. Most male voices are not matured at 18... some signers need to wait until 22-24 for the start of serious training.   

[WorkingOnThomas]

Thanks for the warning Lagertha. I don't know if I could stop singing for several years. I'll have to think about that.