Myth:
I have to talk at A220 in order to be perceived female. OR I have to talk at C130 in order to be perceived male. Fact: Pitch does play a part in voice perception, but it isn’t everything, and it’s easy to latch onto one particular pitch as the standard or the singular measure of vocal success. In truth, humans have a wide variety of pitch ranges, and finding a range that suits your personality and your vocal instrument is much more reliable than holding yourself to one particular frequency. Useful info: Pitch ranges for perceived female, perceived male, and gender neutral: Perceived female: 165 Hz - 350 Hz (E3 - F4) Gender neutral: 155 Hz - 247 Hz (D#3 - B3) Perceived male: 87 Hz - 175 Hz (F2 - F3) Where are you now? Speak the phrase, “I like pie” in an easy, natural voice. If you can, hold out the word “pie” for a few seconds. Using a tuner (or pitch-measuring device or app) measure the pitch at which you land on the word “pie.” Try this a few times and come up with an average. Where does your average pitch fall within the above gender pitch ranges? Slow and steady: Feminine voice: Once you discover your habitual average pitch range, choose a note that is 2-3 semitones above that. For example, if your habitual pitch is D3 (~147 Hz), try the following exercises on E3 (~165 Hz). The change will feel small at first, but keep checking in to make sure there is no strain or tension when you do the exercises. If you feel strain or tension, refer to One Weird Trick: Breath and Body. Remember that increased lung pressure helps produce higher pitches. Masculine voice: Once you discover your habitual average pitch range, check in to see if there is any tension in or around your throat. Training your voice to go lower can sometimes be more difficult than training it to go higher. If you are already at the limit of your low range when you talk, skip to One Weird Trick: Resonance. You’ve already done this work and it’s time to polish your voice. If you have not reached your very lowest note, choose a pitch that is one semitone below your habitual speaking pitch for the following exercises. For example, if your habitual pitch is B3 (~247 Hz) try the exercises at A#3 (~233 Hz). Fast Track: Regardless of your desired vocal style, perform the following exercises at G3 (~196 Hz) and maneuver higher or lower from there. G3 (~196 Hz) is within the gender neutral pitch range, and most folks are able to execute this exercise at this pitch. Check in for tension or strain, and if you feel any, refer back to One Weird Trick: Breath and Body. Remember the “fact” listed above! Although this Fast Track gives you a particular pitch to start from, there is no gold standard and it’s up to you to find a range of pitches that feels comfortable and natural. Now that you have determined your target pitch, you can move on to the exercises. Pitch exercise 1: At your desired pitch level:
Pitch exercise 2: At your desired pitch level:
Pitch exercise 3: Select 10-20 short phrases that you often say. Below are some samples: Hi, how are you? I’m really hungry! Turn left at the next light. Small coffee, please.
Tl; dr You don’t have to get stuck on one particular pitch to have a great voice. Use a tuner to find your habitual speaking pitch. Discover your target pitch. Practice memorizing that pitch and how it feels in your voice, then implement it into things you say frequently every day. Keep these exercises handy because you’ll use them again as you develop other parts of your new voice patterns. One Weird Trick: Use small, discrete sounds like “mmhmm,” “umm,” “so...” or “yeah” to help you find your target pitch in conversation!
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AuthorHi! My name is Liz, and I'm a voice teacher and vocologist from Chicago. I have worked with many transgender and gender nonconforming clients, helping them develop speaking and singing voice patterns that align with their affirmed gender. I'm passionate about providing voice care for the t/gnc communities and in addition to seeing private clients, I love volunteering and doing outreach programs for LGBTQ medical and community centers and support groups. ArchivesCategories |