9 Common Voice Feminization Mistakes (Ranked!)
Apr 10, 2025
If you're working on voice feminization, chances are you've made at least one of these mistakes. Maybe all of them. (No judgment—I've seen it countless times in my years as a gender-affirming voice teacher.)
The good news? Most voice feminization mistakes are completely fixable once you know what to look for.
In this post, I'm ranking the nine most common trans voice training mistakes on a completely arbitrary but highly entertaining tier list. From understandable slip-ups to absolute disaster zones, we're covering what goes wrong, why it happens, and how to rectify the issues.
Whether you're just starting MTF voice training or you've been practicing for months, this guide will help you identify what's holding you back and give you practical solutions to move forward.
Table of Contents
- Watch the Full Video
- Mistake #1: Over-Focusing on Pitch and Ignoring Resonance (S-Tier)
- Mistake #2: Using Falsetto/Head Voice (A-Tier)
- Mistake #3: Too Breathy (A-Tier)
- Mistake #4: Too Nasally (B-Tier)
- Mistake #5: Doing Too Much, Too Fast (A-Tier)
- Mistake #6: Over-Relying on Feedback Tools (B-Tier)
- Mistake #7: Trying Too Hard/Perfectionism (C-Tier)
- Mistake #8: Not Practicing for Real Life (D-Tier)
- Mistake #9: Not Being Kind to Yourself (F-Tier)
- Key Takeaways
- Next Steps for Your Voice Feminization Journey
Watch the Full Video
Prefer to read? Keep scrolling for a complete breakdown of each voice feminization mistake, ranked from understandable to "straight to jail."
Mistake #1: Over-Focusing on Pitch and Ignoring Resonance (S-Tier: Peak Struggle Award)
This is the most common mistake I see in transgender voice training, hands down.
Nearly everyone believes that feminine voices are just higher voices. So naturally, when people start voice feminization training, they crank their pitch up into the stratosphere and hope for the best.
But here's what most people don't realize: pitch is only one piece of the puzzle, and it's not even the most important one.
Why Pitch Alone Doesn't Work
A voice can be high in pitch and still read as androgynous or even masculine. Similarly, a voice can be on the lower side and still be perceived as feminine.
What really makes the difference? Resonance.
Resonance refers to the brightness or darkness of your vocal sound, which is distinct from your average pitch. It's created by the shape and size of your vocal tract—specifically, how you position your larynx and modify the space in your throat and mouth.
When you focus exclusively on pitch while ignoring resonance, you end up with a voice that might sound higher but doesn't necessarily sound more feminine. This creates frustration and can lead to vocal strain.
How to Achieve a Deep, Low, Dark Feminine Voice: A Complete Guide
How to Fix It
Start paying attention to brightness in addition to pitch. Practice raising your larynx to create a brighter resonance quality. This is what transforms a high-pitched voice into a genuinely feminine one.
If you're not sure where to start with resonance work, my Mindful Voice Feminization course covers this extensively, or check out my resonance playlist for free guidance.
Why it's S-Tier: If you're making this mistake, congratulations—you've just earned the Peak Struggle Award. Welcome to the club that nearly everyone joins at some point.
Mindful Voice Feminization
Mistake #2: Using Falsetto/Head Voice (A-Tier: Understandable, Have a Nice Day)
If you're trying to feminize your voice and you end up sounding like Minnie Mouse, we need to talk.
Falsetto is characterized by a lighter, higher sound, which is why people gravitate toward it. But it's also weaker, airy, and disconnected from your chest voice (modal register), which is what most people use in everyday speech.
Why Falsetto Doesn't Work for Everyday Speech
Falsetto lacks the strength and stability that make a voice sustainable in everyday conversation. It's fine as a vocal colour you might use occasionally when excited or laughing, but if it's your main speaking voice, you're going to struggle.
The goal of voice feminization training isn't to speak in falsetto, it's to modify your modal or chest register (your regular speaking voice) to sound more feminine while maintaining vocal strength and endurance.
What Are Vocal Registers? Chest Voice vs Head Voice in Trans Voice Training
How to Fix It
Focus on staying in your modal register while raising your larynx and brightening your resonance. This creates a feminine sound that's connected, sustainable, and strong enough for all-day use.
If you're not sure how to tell if you're in falsetto versus modal register, pay attention to the transition point. If there's a noticeable break or flip between your lower voice and your higher voice, you're likely slipping into falsetto.
Why it's A-Tier: I get why you went there. The goal was admirable, but the execution needs work. Four out of ten from the German judge!
Mistake #3: Too Breathy (A-Tier: Understandable, Have a Nice Day)
When working on lightening your voice (reducing vocal fold mass or vocal weight), it's easy to accidentally reduce vocal fold closure so much that you end up with a breathy sound.
A little airiness can be cute sometimes. But full-time breathiness? That's tiring, inefficient, and not sustainable for everyday conversation.
Why Excessive Breathiness Is a Problem
A breathy voice requires more air, which means you'll run out of breath faster. It can also make you sound less confident or like you're constantly whispering which is not ideal for most situations.
Breathiness is a fun vocal colour to integrate from time to time, but it usually shouldn't dominate your everyday speech unless you're specifically going for a Jessica Rabbit vibe.
How to Create a SULTRY Feminine Voice
How to Fix It
The solution is to work on healthy, coordinated phonation, ie, bringing your vocal folds closer together while maintaining lightness. This gives you a clear, efficient sound without heaviness.
Check out my videos on straw phonation and vocal weight below for follow-along exercises that can help you balance lightness with vocal fold closure.
The #1 Exercise for a Lighter, Feminine Voice (Backed by Science!)
Voice Feminization Warm-Up with the Singing Straw Creator
3 Simple Vocal Weight Exercises for Trans and Nonbinary Voices
Why it's A-Tier: This is a very normal mistake that happens when you're working on lightening your voice. You'll probably need to correct it, but it's totally understandable.
Mistake #4: Too Nasally (B-Tier: You're on the Right Track, But Also Not)
Nasality can happen when the act of raising your larynx to create a brighter resonance causes your soft palate to fall, sending too much air through your nose.
The result? You sound like you have a permanent cold or like Fran Drescher.
Why Nasality Happens
When you're first learning to raise your larynx, it's easy to accidentally constrict your throat or let your soft palate drop. This diverts airflow through your nasal passages instead of your mouth, creating that nasally quality.
How to Fix It
One quick way to work on maintaining an open airway while raising the larynx is to practice raising the larynx, then breathing through your mouth with your nose pinched.
It should sound like brighter breathing, not strained or squeezed. Once you can do this effortlessly, you're ready to add phonation again.
And if you're not sure if your voice is actually nasal, you can check out my post on the nasality test!
How to ACTUALLY Tell if Your Voice is Nasal
Why it's B-Tier: You're getting some elements right (like raising the larynx), but it's still not quite working. With a little adjustment, you'll be back on track.
Mistake #5: Doing Too Much, Too Fast (A-Tier: Understandable, Have a Nice Day)
If you've ever thought, "I should be able to read an entire novel in my new voice after two weeks of training," I love your ambition. But no.
Why Speed-Running Voice Training Doesn't Work
There are so many muscles and habits involved in creating a vocal sound. Both muscles and habits take time to adapt.
If you can say a single vowel sound in a way that gives you gender euphoria, you are already winning. That's a foundation we can build on.
Trying to speed-run trans voice training leads to frustration, burnout, vocal strain, and bad habits that are harder to unlearn later.
A Cautionary Tale
My wonderful editor/director, Tea, tried to voice-act all the characters in Final Fantasy 7 for three hours a night as a form of training. Within a week, she injured her voice so badly she couldn't talk for an entire week.
This is an extreme example, but it illustrates an important point: more is not always better.
How to Fix It
Start small. Practice for short periods throughout the day rather than marathon sessions. Aim for distributed practice—35 to 60 minutes total, broken into small chunks.
Build your endurance gradually. If you can maintain your target voice for 30 seconds, work on getting to one minute. Then two minutes. Then five. Slow, steady progress beats burnout every time.
Why it's A-Tier: I love the energy, truly. But slow down. Your vocal folds will thank you.
Mistake #6: Over-Relying on Feedback Tools (B-Tier: You're on the Right Track, But Also Not)
Voice training apps and other feedback tools are great. But if you're only relying on visual feedback and you're not actually listening to yourself, we have a problem.
Why This Is a Problem
In the real world, you don't have an app open 24/7 showing you whether your pitch is "in the pink zone." Your ears are the only feedback tool you have when you're ordering coffee, talking to friends, or having a conversation at work.
If you can only create your target voice when you're staring at a screen, you haven't actually learned the skill yet, you've just learned to follow visual cues.
You’re Using Voice Tools Wrong
How to Fix It
Use feedback tools as training wheels, not a permanent solution. Spend time practicing without looking at the app. Record yourself and listen back. Trust your own perception.
Also, please turn off the pink and blue colour feedback in the settings of Voice Tools. You do not need that kind of gender reveal energy in your life.
Why it's B-Tier: Tools are useful, but your own perception matters more. Learn to trust your ears.
Mistake #7: Trying Too Hard/Perfectionism (C-Tier: You're Fighting for Your Life)
I hate to say it, but in voice feminization training, the harder you try, the worse it can get.
Why Trying Harder Doesn't Always Help
Voice is one of those deeply annoying things where trying more can sometimes create tension and actually make everything harder.
If your throat is clenched, your brows are furrowed, your breath is shallow, and you're overthinking every sound—stop. You're actively working against yourself.
The "What If It Were Easy?" Question
A question I ask my students all the time (and one I ask myself constantly) is: What if it were easy?
How would you approach this exercise if you believed it were easy to do?
You'll be surprised at the change this simple question can create. When you release the grip of perfectionism and allow yourself to explore playfully, your voice often responds better.
How to Fix It
Practice mindful awareness without judgment. Notice tension without trying to force it away. Approach exercises with curiosity rather than criticism.
If you're interested in a more mindful approach to voice work, check out my Mindful Voice Feminization course, which integrates these principles throughout.
Why it's C-Tier: Perfectionism isn't just slowing you down, it's actively making this harder. Time to let go of the death grip.
Mistake #8: Not Practicing for Real Life (D-Tier: We Need to Have a Conversation)
If you can only use your voice when you're alone in your room, but you panic in actual conversations, you're missing a crucial step.
Why Controlled Practice Isn't Enough
Voice training is about more than just getting the right sounds. It's about handling cognitive load challenges while speaking.
In the real world, you're not just saying vowels in a quiet room. You're ordering coffee, having conversations, reacting in real time to what someone else is saying, thinking about what you're going to say next, and maintaining your target voice—all at once.
If you never practice under these conditions, you'll struggle when it actually matters.
How to Fix It
Start incorporating cognitive load challenges into your practice. This means doing other tasks while practicing your voice.
Try reading aloud while sorting cards, having a conversation while doing dishes, or practicing while playing a simple video game. These exercises help bridge the gap between controlled practice and real-world use.
If you don't know how to start practicing for real-world challenges, check out my free resource Practice Games for Endurance in Trans Voice Work, which includes a huge number of games designed to slowly build up cognitive load while training.
Why it's D-Tier: We need to have a conversation—literally. It's time to take your practice out of the practice room.
Practice Games For Endurance
This workbook will teach you easy games that will help you maintain your target voice for longer.
Mistake #9: Not Being Kind to Yourself (F-Tier: Straight to Jail)
This is the real worst mistake.
If you beat yourself up for every little thing, you're just making this harder. And honestly? You deserve better than that.
Why Self-Criticism Hurts Your Progress
Voice training takes time. I get that it can feel like you've spent a long time waiting to sound the way you want to, or that things feel urgent right now for very real reasons.
But not only do you need patience, you deserve patience. You deserve encouragement. And you deserve to take up space.
Self-criticism doesn't motivate you to practice more effectively. It just makes practice feel like punishment, which makes you want to avoid it altogether.
How to Fix It
Start treating yourself the way you'd treat a friend who's learning something new. Would you tell them they're hopeless after two weeks? Would you mock them for making mistakes? Of course not.
Extend that same compassion and encouragement to yourself.
Celebrate small wins. Notice what's working, not just what isn't. Recognize that every practice session—even the "bad" ones—is building your skill.
How to Practice Gender Euphoria (Instead of Waiting for It)
Why it's F-Tier: Straight to jail. This kind of behaviour is never tolerated, and I will find you and force-feed you self-love affirmations. (I'm serious. Be kind to yourself.)
Key Takeaways About Voice Feminization Mistakes
1. Resonance Matters More Than Pitch
The most common mistake is focusing exclusively on pitch while ignoring resonance. Brightness is what makes a voice sound feminine, not just high pitch.
2. Falsetto and Breathiness Won't Serve You Long-Term
While both can be useful vocal colours, they're not sustainable as your primary speaking voice. Focus on modifying your modal register instead.
3. Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Trying to do too much too fast leads to burnout and injury. Distributed practice in short sessions throughout the day is far more effective than marathon training sessions.
4. Your Ears Are Your Best Tool
Feedback apps are useful training wheels, but ultimately you need to learn to listen to yourself and trust your own perception.
5. Practice for the Real World
Controlled practice is important, but you also need to practice handling cognitive load challenges if you want to use your voice in everyday life.
6. Self-Compassion Is Non-Negotiable
Being harsh with yourself doesn't speed up progress, it slows it down. You deserve kindness, especially from yourself.
Next Steps for Your Voice Feminization Journey
So, how did you do? Which mistakes have you made?
(Literally no judgment. This is just so you notice what you're doing. Okay—maybe a little judgment if you're not being kind to yourself. Straight to jail for that one.)
If you want a clear roadmap for voice training without these mistakes, I have a free hour-long masterclass that walks you through the fundamentals of gender-affirming voice work.
It's called Change the Gender of Your Voice (No Hormones or Surgeries Required), and it covers the essential principles you need to create a voice that feels like you, without falling into these common traps.
In the masterclass, you'll learn:
- The real difference between pitch and resonance (and why resonance matters more)
- How to create a sustainable, strong feminine voice in your modal register
- Practical exercises you can start using immediately
- How to practice in a way that actually builds long-term skill
Ready to stop making these mistakes and start making real progress?
Sign up for the free masterclass here and discover what's possible when you have the right guidance from the start.
Change The Gender of Your Voice (No Hormones or Surgery Required!)
Ready to transform your voice into one that truly reflects YOU? Join an upcoming FREE masterclass to discover straightforward, effective strategies for crafting a gender of your voice that brings you confidence and happiness—no hormones or surgeries required!
Sign up now and receive free bonuses only available in the webinar!
Remember: Every voice feminization journey is unique. What matters most isn't avoiding all mistakes, it's learning from them and treating yourself with compassion along the way. You've got this.
Want weekly tips, resources, and insights on trans voice training? Sign up for my newsletter and get the latest content delivered straight to your inbox. It's free!
