Voice Practice

[Guest Zeda]

I've been working on my voice for a little while, so I thought I would post a recent recording:

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0hx9ZZpSbEv

My feelings won't be hurt, so within the bounds of the Rules, feel free to critique or give opinions!

I have been told that I need to work on not starting my words and sentences high (and then dropping low) among other things. I am pleased to notice that my voice, while it seems lower, is apparently objectively higher than it was a years ago (I passed it through Audacity). Last year I stopped analyzing my voice with software at around the same time I started my current job (cashier), but I decided at this job to just push my guy voice up to a high pitch. I'm sure I sound silly at work, but it has helped me to maintain higher pitches through hours of talking.

I thought the recording I made was a pretty low voice for a woman (as it had been suggested that I try lowering it a year ago), but the numbers say I am right on target with my average being about 210hz, dipping to 200hz and up to 230hz, not counting the falsetto bits.

Finally, if anybody else wants to post their voices, feel free! Also, I'd like to thank and credit chibi_usa because even though I was never able to get her technique right back when I was starting out, I finally got it after a few years of messing around and her method seems pretty spot-on.

[Charlize]

I think you sound great. I have done little work on my voice but have been lucky to mostly pass. My wife has a deep voice and we make a lower pitched pair.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest Faith gibson]

Xeda, you sound really good to me. How much practice is a lot of practice? I've been using that technique for only a few weeks. Does it really take years?? I hope not. It's hard getting up into that Mickey voice and maintaining it for any amount if time.

[Guest Zeda]

I think you sound great. I have done little work on my voice but have been lucky to mostly pass. My wife has a deep voice and we make a lower pitched pair.

Hugs,

Charlize

Thanks!

Xeda, you sound really good to me. How much practice is a lot of practice? I've been using that technique for only a few weeks. Does it really take years?? I hope not. It's hard getting up into that Mickey voice and maintaining it for any amount if time.

Well, my difficulty was that I couldn't actually figure out this method until about a month and a half ago. I worked on my voice with intent starting 1.5 years ago, but I have worked on it every so often since around 4 years ago. When it comes to voice, I was a very slow learner I believe most people get to a good spot a couple of months in, and then they just hone it to be better after that.

That's where I am at, but the last few years haven't been wasted. My vocal range increased on the high end quite a bit, I have great vocal endurance (I can even go "mickey mouse voice" for a few hours, I would bet), and I can put some oomf into my voice at a higher pitch, too. I just went about doing things backwards I guess

Honestly, I feel like if you are doing this technique, you will probably have a working voice over the next few months. Just don't strain your voice, but practice as you can

[tracy_j]

If I ever get that far I know my voice will not be an issue!

Perhaps I'll check with Audacity just to see but only fleetingly as I would rather be natural than technical.

[Guest SevenStars]

I've known plenty of women who had a voice kinda like yours, so I think you're doing awesomely~

[Guest Fiona]

Frankly, your voice sounds female to me, and I can't imagine my voice EVERY sounding that feminine.... Good job!

[Guest chibi_usa]

8/10. (And I'm strict and blunt as hell with giving opinions so good job!) ;P. I actually suggest not doing Mickey Mouse voice btw. After years of hearing people with Mickey Voice I've learned there is... a certain... Falsetto sound if that makes sense. In other words it does sound like a girl. However, I hear the falsetto instead of a cis girl just normally talking.

I think you've completed step one pretty. And now there's a step two to complete your voice without having a falsetto tune to it. I just googled it because I didn't know exactly how to explain it. It's a singing technique and basically you: Play motorcycle. Vibrate your lips, making engine sounds, taking the pitch up and down. In a way it's kinda like Mickey Mouse but it's not. In my opinion it's alot better. PM me if you have any questions ;3

Oh also rate me please? And be super strict and blunt XD This is me talk/whispering (cuz of Parents) in my normal voice!

https://soundcloud.com/user51954709/sounds-from-tuesday-morning

[Guest chibi_usa]

Sounds kinda similar to me. Except your better. In this youtube video I give myself a 6.5 / 10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_jNPKWtExk#t=60 (1:30) Is when I start talking.

[Guest Zeda]

Thanks everybody!

@chibi_usa: Yeah, I do that a lot, too. I used to do it because I found it to be helpful, then I found out it was a legitimate technique (I think through a video you linked to on the forums).

Anyways, chibi, I think you sound pretty decent (I would say 8 as well, definitely passing to my ears). That said, I can't at all hear that in my voice. When I hear my voice, I still hear a guy, most of the time. I guess it is because we are just so used to our own voices XD I should go back and listen to old recordings to refresh my memory on what I used to sound like.

[Guest chibi_usa]

Thanks everybody!

@chibi_usa: Yeah, I do that a lot, too. I used to do it because I found it to be helpful, then I found out it was a legitimate technique (I think through a video you linked to on the forums).

Anyways, chibi, I think you sound pretty decent (I would say 8 as well, definitely passing to my ears). That said, I can't at all hear that in my voice. When I hear my voice, I still hear a guy, most of the time. I guess it is because we are just so used to our own voices XD I should go back and listen to old recordings to refresh my memory on what I used to sound like.

Hah! I guess that's true. I still hear a guy in mine as well. Anyways I think that's a good thing because it strives the people that work hard to get what they want to work harder. As I was saying, I think your good. Again, seriously, your doing well. Get rid of the falsetto and your almost perfect. XD When you get rid of your falsetto come back and post another link of you talking and I'll tell you honestly if you need to fix anything else. K? ;D Good luck! O;

P.S. I dont mean to be really strict.It's going to be extremely hard getting to this part. I tried doing it without help. Honestly I think talking in falsetto for at least an hr a day would do lotsa good. It's kinda like exercising your vocal cords.

[Guest Zeda]

Hah! I guess that's true. I still hear a guy in mine as well. Anyways I think that's a good thing because it strives the people that work hard to get what they want to work harder. As I was saying, I think your good. Again, seriously, your doing well. Get rid of the falsetto and your almost perfect. XD When you get rid of your falsetto come back and post another link of you talking and I'll tell you honestly if you need to fix anything else. K? ;D Good luck! O;

P.S. I dont mean to be really strict.It's going to be extremely hard getting to this part. I tried doing it without help. Honestly I think talking in falsetto for at least an hr a day would do lotsa good. It's kinda like exercising your vocal cords.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1klUl1a7ouA

Sorry, I just woke up AND it's a poor phone recorder.

As to the falsetto thing, I usually talk in pretty high pitch (for a guy, at least) for ~5 hours a day because I do that where I work. I'm a cashier, so it is constant chit-chat XD

[Guest chibi_usa]

Hah! I guess that's true. I still hear a guy in mine as well. Anyways I think that's a good thing because it strives the people that work hard to get what they want to work harder. As I was saying, I think your good. Again, seriously, your doing well. Get rid of the falsetto and your almost perfect. XD When you get rid of your falsetto come back and post another link of you talking and I'll tell you honestly if you need to fix anything else. K? ;D Good luck! O;

P.S. I dont mean to be really strict.It's going to be extremely hard getting to this part. I tried doing it without help. Honestly I think talking in falsetto for at least an hr a day would do lotsa good. It's kinda like exercising your vocal cords.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1klUl1a7ouA

Sorry, I just woke up AND it's a poor phone recorder.

As to the falsetto thing, I usually talk in pretty high pitch (for a guy, at least) for ~5 hours a day because I do that where I work. I'm a cashier, so it is constant chit-chat XD

My feedback. And a little more of what I mean in link below

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0bv4ktLuqOt

Anyways, it sounds good. But like you said it might be because of the quality. Sorry, mine sucks because I don't have a mic. But I usually use soundcloud on iphone, which is alot better anyways. As I was saying it's good but you forgot to sigh. I wouldnt give you a rating yet because Im not completely sure. However, I believe this works a lot. Especially because I was training my voice everyday, whether I was in the car or at home. Now... What you hear is me talking normally with no practice. Just... Talking without excercise/anything. Hope you do well! ;D

Post results when you do it (If possible the same quality as the first one). And yes, morning is always best. Hopefully you'll get it right. Remember the feeling and sound. And start talking like that for 5 hrs. Because I want you to practice the right way. Not the wrong way ;P

[Guest Sylvie]

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1klUl1a7ouA

Sorry, I just woke up AND it's a poor phone recorder.

As to the falsetto thing, I usually talk in pretty high pitch (for a guy, at least) for ~5 hours a day because I do that where I work. I'm a cashier, so it is constant chit-chat XD

Wow, I think you sound fantastic! I'm cis female with an alto voice that's on the low side, and I know plenty of other gals with my voice type (and Charlize already mentioned her wife has a lower voice as well)... so yeah, to me you sounded SO natural!! Wonderful!

I'm going to pass the motorcycle exercise along to my SO. I'm a musician and I actually use a similar technique (without the fishy face haha) when I've been playing for an especially long time and need to get some blood flowing in my chops. I've always been focused on its use for the lips/mouth, never really thought about it from the vocal exercise perspective. Too cool.

[Guest Zeda]

Thanks, Sylvie I actually tried using this voice at work a few times and I was referred to as a "lady" and a "miss" !

[Guest chibi_usa]

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1klUl1a7ouA

Sorry, I just woke up AND it's a poor phone recorder.

As to the falsetto thing, I usually talk in pretty high pitch (for a guy, at least) for ~5 hours a day because I do that where I work. I'm a cashier, so it is constant chit-chat XD

Wow, I think you sound fantastic! I'm cis female with an alto voice that's on the low side, and I know plenty of other gals with my voice type (and Charlize already mentioned her wife has a lower voice as well)... so yeah, to me you sounded SO natural!! Wonderful!

I'm going to pass the motorcycle exercise along to my SO. I'm a musician and I actually use a similar technique (without the fishy face haha) when I've been playing for an especially long time and need to get some blood flowing in my chops. I've always been focused on its use for the lips/mouth, never really thought about it from the vocal exercise perspective. Too cool.

Right? No one thought about vocal exercises like these. I learned how to get my voice. So I moved on to singing. Which led me to this exercise. The first time I did this, I noticed that it was a very similar feeling in my throat to when I do my girl voice.

[Guest Mila]

I'm a bit late for the party, but your voice sounds really good. I am not a vocal expert, but if I heard you on the phone - I would not have thought twice, so very well done!

Take care

Mila

[Guest Zeda]

Thanks Mila

As an update: I went for a spontaneous swim a couple of weeks ago and it was fun for me, but not my phone. I haven't had an opportunity to record anything more, sorry :/

On the bright side, I worked up the courage to actually practice in front of Ky (my spouse). I don't know why it was so nerve racking for me, but I am still shy about it. Anyways, he is wonderful with critiquing (he doesn't sugar-coat things).

[Guest Wanda Michelle]

I think your voice sounds great! I'd like to sound that good eventually.

Hugs,

Wanda

[Guest ToriLynn]

I only hope my voice gets there. I have a natural Baratone voice and it seems sounding more feminine is harder than i imagined. I finally decided to use a voice coach and i hope she can help me.

you all sound wonderful to me.

Jealous Huggs,

Tori