I'd like to lower my voice...would a speech coach/therapist do that? Or any ideas?

chunk

Personally, I find it awkward when a female-bodied person attempts to talk in a lower voice. It's obvious, not to mention that the effort it takes is usually displayed clearly on the face.
Whenever I hear a female with a low voice, 9 times out of 10, she's a smoker, which is obviously not recommended.
Some people say to try to speak from your chest if you want a lower voice.

Quote from: Nero on November 30, 2006, 06:19:24 AM
Some people say to try to speak from your chest if you want a lower voice.

You got it.  That's the only way to sound naturally male.  If I do a lower voice with my head voice, it still sounds female (and I do that sometimes without thinking), which is funny since I was born male.

Melissa

What do you mean "head voice"? And speaking from the chest...thats an interesting thought.

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I'm sensing some Googling coming on.

Chunk

It's weird, I've never understood this "head voice" thing.  Once I figured out there was a difference, I realized I've always talked and sung in "chest voice."  To me, talking in "head voice" is like a guy singing falsetto.  It sounds fake for me to talk/sing like that.

Joseph

Although my voice sounds female still, it sounds a lot more male than it used to. I sort of just relaxed it and lost some of the inflections I used to have. I also talk a little slower. I kinda sound a little like my pothead ex-bf when I'm really relaxed  I don't really worry about it too much, though. T will take care of it eventually.

It kinda sucks when you have to be aware of your voice so much. I've said "well, f that!" and can now say, "omigawd, I love your shoes!" without so much as a tinge of guilt. 

Quote from: chunk on November 30, 2006, 09:14:50 PM
What do you mean "head voice"? And speaking from the chest...thats an interesting thought.

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I'm sensing some Googling coming on.

Chunk

You can tell if you are speaking from a chest voice by placing your hand on your chest and speaking.  It's very unnatural for me now and the only way I can do it is to really relax my vocal muscles.

Melissa

Warning: stereotypes ahead!

Enunciation is pretty important.  As in, don't do it so much.      And pay attention to how men participate in conversations.  Interruptions and silences (fewer noises to show they are listing, like "uh-huhs) are part of conversation domination-play for men, especially with women.  I still find myself interrupting and finishing sentences for women instead of letting them finish.  I feel enough guilt on my own about it.

Simplicity is important to traditionally male speakers. 

I'm trying to talk more "feminine,"  by listening and enunciating and opening up the conversations to tangents as opposed to really sounding it out and uping my own voice to sound in a certain range.  It's easier for me, honestly, to play around that way.  I'll tackle the sound when I want.

Of course, if you just want to lower your voice . . . sorry I went off on my tangent.  :-)

IMHO....
Women tend to speak from the lips whereas men talk from the diaphragm (sp). my advice i stalk from the throat where the squeeky sounds meet the bass lung sounds... 

N

Quote from: nigno on January 08, 2007, 02:11:32 PM
IMHO....
Women tend to speak from the lips whereas men talk from the diaphragm (sp). my advice i stalk from the throat where the squeeky sounds meet the bass lung sounds... 

N

Actually, it comes from the back of the mouth for women and for men, it comes from the chest/diaphragm (specifically depending on how well they speak).

Melissa