When I'm relaxed and comfortable, I think I sound pretty good. When I'm home, around my husband or at my parents' house (especially when my dad was alive) I always tensed up and went more toward a lower, definite masculine voice.
I've been questioned by Social Security and health insurance agents due to my paperwork all saying "male" and have been close to having agents hang up on me because they didn't believe I was who I said I was.
My voice recognition is far, far, far better than my facial recognition. I can almost always tell when I'm hearing a transgender person speaking (MtF or FtM), but I was blown away by my nurse practitioner yesterday. I saw her picture on her business card before she entered the room yesterday, but the woman that actually came in to talk to me was
not the woman on that business card! I'm not sure if she's further along with HRT or if she's had facial surgery, but you wouldn't be able to tell by her voice. Not one bit.
I was in my semi-male role yesterday during our appointment, so my voice was pretty tense. I loosened up somewhat by the end of our appointment, but she did mention voice therapy at one point and after hearing her voice, I would certainly agree that it could help!
When I first transitioned, I'd found Melanie Anne Phillips' site and paid attention to every word she wrote. I sang along with female singers (Cirque du Soleil's Alegria, Evanescence, etc.) every time I was in my car. I talked on the phone with my girlfriend and was conscious of every sound I made. Eventually, I thought I'd made it, but my NP yesterday...wow. I was simply blown away!
And, oh yes, that drive-thru trick is fun and evil! Love, love
love the looks I get when I've done that!
I should also mention that having pets can be a blessing in this respect. I've had people come into a room I was in asking if it was just me. "Yes." "Oh, I heard a woman talking."
This was just prior or transition. If you haven't transitioned yet, people can be more forgiving if you're practicing while talking to animals.