Softer pitch makes my throat hurt

[Guest Serene]

I'm just curious, but when I try to speak without the full use of my voicebox for a more gentle and bit higher pitch for more than a minute my larynx begins to feel sore. Same thing when I try singing, despite being a horrible singer. Is there something I'm not doing right? Or will I simply have to grow past the soreness?

Thanks,

Serene

[VickySGV]

I am not sure HOW you are doing that to yourself, unless you are straining to make your voice higher. You don't have to try to really tighten up the vocal cords much. I have had voice training for other reasons, and do volunteer level "reading performance", and shifting between male and female was not an issue.

Just try saying the word "WELL" under the base of your tongue (you can feel the vibration low in your throat. Thats male for sure, and it resonates pretty well. Now, see if you can say it at the back of your mouth above the tongue, but try Wellll as the word. This will resonate off the roof of your mouth and the pronunciation of the word will make it more feminine. Neither one has tried to force your vocal cords up in pitch.

My deliberate male voice is baritone, my usual speaking voice is low tenor. I am happy with my alto as female which is mostly the work of different more variable tones to my words and bouncing them off the higher resonance soft palate than to actual changes in pitch. I get mixed results on phones and fast food order gadgets, but no one has ever covered their ears and walked away in disgust from me in person, nor called me anything other than Miss or my name.