I need to learn how to speak what is considered to be female, keeping in mind there are variations in womens voices normally as some speak ultra feminine and have a high pitch and some speak more deep and husky and lower pitched

I personally know how to do a great deal of accents and voice impressions and can do mannerisms of the person with my face and voice.
My normal speaking voice is one of a soft gentle male. I don't want to lose the ability to do voice impressions as I would like to pursue a career in voice acting. So I was looking at how to train my voice. I was also looking at options to be able to reach higher octaves and semi-tones with laser surgery. So what do you suggest? Please see my videos on you tube to show you the range I currently have.

I personally think I would stand out if I kept doing my whole range of impressions. I don't feel like if i did an impression of Optimus Prime that I would all of the sudden not be female. Thats silly to me. Women do male voices all the time in cartoons.

So here are a few videos to show you my range:

With the dynamic nature of your impressions, I'd really just recommend training on loopback with a headset/microphone and patience. It took me about a year before I was really comfortable with my voice but everyone else was fine with it long before that point.

Windows: http://superuser.com/questions/22347/windows-how-can-i-redirect-sound-coming-in-from-the-mic-to-the-speakers-output

Mac: http://rogueamoeba.com/freebies/

Mirrors also helped me. YMMV

Any time surgery could be avoided, I'd advise avoiding it (well, unless it's an orchiectomy). I think it can be avoided, get voice training

Hmm ok, Its just that I would like to have access to some higher pitches, my attempts to sound female, the only one I can do is a stereotypical California valley girl, when i try to maintain a higher voice it is more difficult, and i sound fake. This is why I was looking at laser, just to be able to reach a higher range, oddly enough though I can sing like a woman doing some church hymns in latin (not that I know latin, i just mean i imitate the sound of the opera type singing)

I can also do falsetto and sound like peter cetera of Chicago


On a side note, what do you all think of my impressions? 

Just project the voice from your mouth. You lose the reverb of your chest when you do so. Maintaining a higher than confortable pitch is unheathly for your vocal cords when they're used for long periods of time. Also just remember inflection helps alot. Learn when to carry the words and when to bring the inflection waves up and down. I'm pretty good at impressions and while I have a vocal range that goes from  Barry White to pre teen girl on helium, my natural voice is about mid to low pitch. Where to talk from (whether its from the chest or from the sinus cavity in your upper mouth) along with how monotone you are makes every bit of difference on whether your voice is passable or not.

And you'll get used to it. I get maamd over the phone without even thinking about how to control my voice. It just comes out how I talk now, and I kinda have to focus to get to that male range (it FREAKS MY FRIENDS OUT when I use it.) Considering you're good at impressions, I bet with some practice and going thru drive thrus and making "wrong number calls", it wont take you long to find your girl voice. It took me the first try (although I had to tune it a bit so that my voice didn't hurt at the end of the day). I bet it wont even take you a month to get there.

Great impressions btw

So do you ever find yourself slipping up? coughing or sneezing like a male, clearing your throat like a male? Do you sometimes like just as you wake up or are tired and talk to someone slip back into the other voice? Also if it becomes normal for me, does this make it harder to do impressions and characters? I would as of now find it easy to go from one voice to another. I am just like a parrot imitating humans. Its very natural for me to imitate.

Quote from: ShawnTOShawnna on May 29, 2012, 12:46:34 PM
So do you ever find yourself slipping up? coughing or sneezing like a male, clearing your throat like a male? Do you sometimes like just as you wake up or are tired and talk to someone slip back into the other voice? Also if it becomes normal for me, does this make it harder to do impressions and characters? I would as of now find it easy to go from one voice to another. I am just like a parrot imitating humans. Its very natural for me to imitate.

I haven't slipped up on the coughing or sneezing part. I do have to kind of think about it but the sneezing is becoming more natural too. As far as being tired and just waking up, yes I do sometimes have trouble with that, but so far the only people that I've been around that have seen me in that state were people who know. If it becomes normal for you, it won't make it harder to do impressions because your natural voice never changes.

Nonverbals - Nah, you get used to those too. Everything becomes reflex in time.

Impressions - Well, actually I'll disagree with the previous reply. It depends on hop long you go without making your voice drop into what are typically male ranges. If I've not done so in months, it's going to get very weird sounding when I do. Nothing makes it impossible.. .just harder.

stay away from vocal surgery. It's not a good idea.

Here is me chatting on a file

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0qZWSG8g5JD

and me talking some nonsense jibberish last December:



The video file talks about the process of voice change.  I used to talk very deep....it takes a lot of hard work but I would never put my voice box under a blade. Every trans site out there doesn't recommend it either.

J Voice. 2011 Jan;25(1):120-3. Epub 2010 Feb 19.
Glottoplasty for male-to-female transsexualism: voice results.
Remacle M, Matar N, Morsomme D, Veduyckt I, Lawson G.
SourceOtolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Louvain at Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the objective voice results of Wendler's glottoplasty in male-to-female transsexuals.

METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed our patients treated with Wendler's technique with minor modifications. Glottoplasty consisted in CO(2)-laser epithelial ablation of the anterior commissure and the two vocal folds in anterior third, suturing of the two vocal folds with two stitches of 3.0 resorbable thread, and application of fibrin sealant to strengthen the suture. Voice assessment was based mainly on fundamental frequency (F(0)), frequency range, jitter, maximum phonation time, phonation quotient, estimated subglottic pressure (ESGP) grade of dysphonia (G), and voice handicap index (VHI). These measures were taken before surgery and on the last follow-up visit.

RESULTS: Our series included 15 patients with a mean age of 36 years. The mean follow-up period was 7.2 months. We did not observe any early complications related to the technique. The comparison between the preoperative and the postoperative measurements, using Wilcoxon signed rank test, showed a significant improvement of median F(0) from 139 to 191 Hz (P=0.006) with an increase in the grade of dysphonia (G(pre)=0.2, G(post)=1, P=0.013) and ESGP (ESGP(pre)=8.1 ± 3.2, ESGP(post)=12.0 ± 3.8, P=0.002). Other measurements, including VHI, did not show any significant differences pre- and postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: Wendler's glottoplasty can contribute to feminize the voice.

Clin Linguist Phon. 2008 Sep;22(9):679-85.
Speech rate in males, females, and male-to-female transsexuals.
Van Borsel J, De Maesschalck D.
SourceGhent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium. john.vanborsel@ugent.be

Abstract
For clinicians treating transsexual clients it is important to address primarily those characteristics whose modification is most relevant to the creation of the desired gender presentation. The present study investigated the extent to which a modification of speech rate is warranted in male-to-female transsexuals. Comparison of speech rate measured in 100 non-transsexual males, 100 non-transsexual females, and 28 individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of male-to-female gender dysphoria showed no significant differences. This result suggests that a modification of overall speech rate in male-to-female transsexuals is not really indicated but does not exclude that speech rate in males and females is perceived differently by listeners or that gender differences exist in temporal aspects of speech at a micro-level.

 Laryngol Otol. 2006 Jul;120(7):521-3.
Management of the transgender voice.
McNeill EJ.
SourceCumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, UK. emma_28_mc@hotmail.com

Abstract
Transsexualism is a condition involving a paradoxical feeling of belonging to the opposite sex. Acquiring a sex-appropriate voice is a crucial part of the patient gaining acceptance in their new gender. Speech and language therapists and otolaryngologists play an important role in influencing communication behaviour in transgender patients by altering the fundamental frequency of speech to one acceptable for the patient's sex. Review of the literature suggests that speech and language therapy is successful at creating an acceptable fundamental frequency in transgender patients, as well as influencing other communication behaviours. Laryngeal surgery, such as cricothyroid approximation, has an important role in raising the fundamental frequency in those who do not achieve acceptable voice via non-surgical means. There is little information on patient satisfaction and quality of life measures. Research is currently underway to explore this aspect further.

I know 5 girls who personally got Voice surgery

1 sounds like they have shredded wheat as vocal chords now (they sound very raspy)
2 sounds like Bea Arthur from the Golden Girls
1 sounds pretty decent ...but no more so if someone bought a CD and practiced on their own
1 is 50/50 (she has had her voice surgery eight months ago and she still talks rather "hoarsely")

These were done at some very reputable surgeons around the globe.

My recommendation is to spend a year trying it on your own first. You may be surprised with yourself....and you wont have to chance a permanent mishap.

Voice surgery is a risk. Always try your hardest at other options first.
That said, I had it and am very pleased so far. No laser or cutting for me though.
I just want to add, respectfully, that a ton of women who never had it warning me to stay away was the most frustrating and hair-pulling-out thing by far. Plural of anecdote is not data. Many doctors have it down and produce reliable results.

no offense, Peky, but I don't understand how copying and pasting a lot of surgeons on pubmed sites are really answering the OPs questions? Anyone can google that. I think she was suggesting ideas for voice tips.

Quote from: Annah on May 29, 2012, 01:26:56 PM
stay away from vocal surgery. It's not a good idea.

Here is me chatting on a file

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0qZWSG8g5JD

and me talking some nonsense jibberish last December:



The video file talks about the process of voice change.  I used to talk very deep....it takes a lot of hard work but I would never put my voice box under a blade. Every trans site out there doesn't recommend it either.

Thanks Annah, even when you try to use your male voice again, I still hear something there that seems to carry over from your female voice, not sure exactly what it is but its there. (*edit* it sounds like your a woman doing a male voice, i can still hear the female voice)

So i would not want to have my voicebox sliced up, but I still would like access to some higher semi tones, and peky posted what i thought suggested the laser surgery helps a bit. Hmm

Quote from: Eve87 on May 29, 2012, 01:40:02 PM
Voice surgery is a risk. Always try your hardest at other options first.
That said, I had it and am very pleased so far. No laser or cutting for me though.
I just want to add, respectfully, that a ton of women who never had it warning me to stay away was the most frustrating and hair-pulling-out thing by far. Plural of anecdote is not data. Many doctors have it down and produce reliable results.

What did you have done? I don't want lose access to my lower voices, i just want to be able to speak even higher

Oh and  Annah when you called me she just now, that is starting to sound normal to me heh, being called male or dude or sir all my life, i even found on the phone today, i didn't like being called sir, it never bothered me much before.

Quote from: ShawnTOShawnna on May 29, 2012, 12:11:22 PM
Hmm ok, Its just that I would like to have access to some higher pitches, my attempts to sound female,

Two things...... first, and most important, Pitch is one very small part of speaking as a woman.  I have a very deep voice (can go low, like 90hz), and with two months of working with a vocal coach I can hit pitch of G# or 415hz.  Typical female pitch is about 220hz.  Higher is not more feminine.  It is more about resonance than pitch.  Loosing the bass in your tone.

Even though I can hit 415hz easily, I talk around 290hz.... I lose the most bass from my resonance around that pitch.

Surgery to the chords is sooooooo risky.  One little slip, or too much scar tissue, say goodbye to your voice.  I never thought in my life I could easily hit 415hz.  But with a small amount of training and practice, it is now easy.

I'm working with a coach I love, and can't wait to continue to mold it into my perfect feminine voice.  I get more out of working with a coach than doing a cd.  So if you can learn from that, I would........ at least try it.

The range of your vocal chords isn't just determined by your "base pitch" that you speak, when you're speaking you actually have higher resonances, or harmonics, speaking as well. To train your voice to be feminine, you have to learn how to use those higher resonances and rely less on your bottom ones. A good way to start is to try to speak "with your nose" and try to make that sound feminine, gradually push up the bottom parts of your vocal chords so that you sound less androgynous and more masculine.

Some people also use a method of speaking in high falsetto, "pinching" their vocal chords, in a way, and slowly dropping it to obtain their female resonance.

A lot of time you will be experimenting. When you're experimenting, remember what methods you're using sound bad, and what sounds good, and remember how your vocal chords feel while doing it. It took me over a year to get good results with my voice, but the more you practice, the better you will become. Good luck. ^_^

I like this guy Nick Pitera, he can sing and sound like a natural woman, is he using a falsetto voice or is this his normal voice? And can any of you not just talk female but also sing female?