Are you seeking FTM voice training? Wondering if you can develop a more masculine voice and sound genuine? You sure can! I’m here to help, and can tell you more about what it takes to develop a more masculine sound.
Will testosterone give me a deeper voice?
There is often an assumption that testosterone will deepen your voice if you take it. Odds are good that if you take testosterone, it will deepen your voice and thicken your voice to some extent. BUT, results will vary from person to person. Also, some people can’t or don’t wish to take T for various reasons. Whatever the situation, it is possible to use FTM training to train your way into a deeper voice.
- Depth – While the voice may deepen and change in quality on testosterone, it’s not always the amount trans masculine folx are hoping for. Sometimes the actual voice doesn’t change much for various reasons, other times it does but old habits interfere with the new sound shining through. Masculine voice training can help maximize your results.
- Control – Some trans masculine people struggle to control their voice during or after changes – this is especially true when changes are more drastic or more rapid. Masculine voice training can give back some of that control as you learn how your new instrument works.
- Musicality – Singing can be especially difficult for the changing trans masculine voice, as the vocal structures change. Different technique is often needed to make best use of a voice that has or will change drastically – what worked before won’t work the same now!
Elements of Masculine Voice
For those that want more voice masculinization than they’ve gotten from T or self-work alone, working with a trans vocal coach like me can take you to the next level. Learning to control the new voice can be a very affirming and empowering experience. Here are some of the attributes we can focus one!
1. A lower pitch for a more masculine sound
For adult masculine voices, pitch is often in the A2-E3 range (you can check these pitches on a keyboard like this one).
2. Opening the throat and shifting the voice box in FTM voice training
A longer, thicker vocal tract creates a stronger, darker, more masculine sound. Over time, this darker deeper sound can become your new habit and norm.
3. Speaking more monotone in FTM Voice Training
Masculine voices often vary less in pitch to express different emotions and attitudes. This element often takes a lot of hard work, as many trans masculine folx get very used to speaking with pitch variation prior to deepening the voice. It is possible to ditch the “customer service voice” during voice masculinization training!
4. Voice masculinization training towards darker, rounder vowels
Learning to pronounce your vowels with a more open jaw, mouth, and throat will create more chest resonance when also lowering the pitch.
5. Stronger consonants for a masculine sound
Masculine voices often separate words and sentences more – a choppier general sound. Learning how to pronounce your consonants with more gusto will separate the formerly feminine qualities right on out of your sound!
6. Projecting with a manly sound
Learning how to sing, speak up over a crowd, or fill up a big room will require a different kind of projection. Speaking with more chest resonance requires a lot of breath support and throat control, or otherwise there’s a risk of feeling and sounding strangled (or even cracking). With the right voice masculinization exercises, this can be done!
7. FTM voice training for nonverbal sounds
The finishing touches on FTM voice training are sounds that aren’t words – thing laughing, shouting, coughing, or sneezing. With the proper masculine voice exercises, it is possible to relearn how to make these sounds while keeping all these nice qualities you’ve learned.
If you’re ready to start training towards a more masculine speaking or singing voice, I’m happy to help and eager to get started!