Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: Apollo on April 19, 2012, 07:28:34 PM

Title: Voice Tips?
Post by: Apollo on April 19, 2012, 07:28:34 PM
I was wondering if you guys had any tips on making my voice more passable?

It's going to be a while before I get T, but I'd still like to pass somewhat in public. I'm really tired of the 'ma'am' comments (mostly on the phone and at drive thrus).

Luckily, I seem to throw people for a loop when they see me (despite my baby face, it's surprising to me, really) and I don't get any gender specific titles attached to me, but I wouldn't mind hearing a 'sir' every now and again.

Do you guys know of anything I could do to sound more masculine?
Title: Re: Voice Tips?
Post by: A on April 20, 2012, 11:14:39 PM
If you don't mind, I think I might be able to help by telling you the contrary of what I should do.

-Sound bored. Very bored. Eliminate "excess emotion" from your voice.
-Speak somewhat loudly, and "throw" your words instead of "giving" them. Try to get more of a chest voice; less of a head voice.
-Try to minimise the height variations when you talk (some call this "sing-song talking"). Rather, "punch" words to make intonation differences;
-Don't smile too much when you talk.

I hope it helps at least a little. Apart from that, I would suggest that you look into MTF voice tutorials... and do the exact opposite. Except those that mostly deal with pitch-raising exercices, those are full of tips for the male-voiced MTF to pass better by "decorating" her voice, if I can put it that way. So you should be able to apply at least some of those tips in reverse for you.
Title: Re: Voice Tips?
Post by: GnomeKid on April 21, 2012, 09:54:53 AM
Try going more monotone [not completely robotic though!] as opposed to going lower.  I guess... sort of... staying away from high, but not forcing yourself lower.  Forcing yourself lower just sounds like you're putting it on in a bad way.