If you’ve ever said, “I can’t match pitch!” — don’t worry, you’re not alone. I have an exercise that’s helped my students match pitch with a 95% success rate. Whether you’re working on your trans voice training, voice feminization, voice masculinization, or simply improving your singing, this method works wonders.

Why Matching Pitch Matters in Gender-Affirming Voice Training

While most of my current students want to match pitch to raise or lower the average pitch of their speaking voice, this is actually an exercise I used for years with my singing students, long before I started teaching gender-affirming voice lessons.

This technique is called The Steps to Vocalization, and it’s one of my favourite tools for helping people connect their mind’s ear with their physical voice.

Step 1: Listen to the Pitch

Start by listening carefully to the note you want to match. You can play the pitch on an instrument, use a keyboard app, or even a digital tuner on your phone. But for now, focus only on listening, don’t try to make sound yet.

Step 2: Rehear the Pitch in Your Mind (imagine the note being played)

Next, replay that same pitch in your mind’s ear. How does it sound? Does it have the same tone quality as the instrument, or does it sound more like your voice?

If this step feels tricky, repeat steps 1 and 2 a few times. Play a note, then imagine that note clearly in your head. This step builds the mental connection that’s essential for matching pitch, whether you’re training your trans feminine voice or trans masculine voice.

Step 3: Prepare the Note Silently (sing the note without sound)

Now, prepare to sing the note without actually making sound. This is where you connect the imagined sound in your mind to the physical setup of your vocal folds.

It might feel a bit silly at first, but this is the most important step in the entire process. You’re teaching your body what the note feels like before you even sing it.

Step 4: Add Air to the Prepared Note (or sing the note)

Once the note is prepared, breathe in and gently sing it. You can check how close you are to the reference pitch using a tuner or keyboard.

If your note doesn’t match the pitch, there’s likely an issue in one of the earlier steps. Take your time. Notice whether you’re consistently too high or too low, and adjust your silent preparation in Step 3.

If the note you sing does not match the note you played, there is an issue with one of these steps. I recommend taking it slow and determining if you tend to sing lower or higher than the reference note and then adjusting your “note preparation” in step 3.

If you find yourself sliding into the correct note, cycle steps 3 and 4 a few times until the note starts cleanly.

Take Your Time to Practice Matching Pitch

Take it slower than you think you need to. Over time, these four steps will blend into one smooth motion, but at the beginning, your brain and body need time to process the connection.

Summary: How To Match Pitch In 5 Easy Steps

• 🎵 Listen carefully first: Spend time hearing the pitch before trying to sing it.

• 🧠 Rehearse mentally: Imagine the note in your mind to connect it with your voice.

• 🎤 Prepare silently: Form the note without sound to train your vocal folds.

• 🌬️ Add air and sing: Gradually produce the note, checking accuracy with a tuner.

• ⏱️ Go slow and repeat: Take your time, cycle through steps, and adjust until the note matches.

• 💪 Practice consistently: Over time, your ability to match pitch will improve and support your trans voice training or voice feminization/masculinization journey.

Remember: voice training is a journey, and every small improvement is progress, whether it’s part of your gender-affirming voice practice or your musical growth.

If you’d like to try this exercise with me, check out the video tutorial below to practice matching pitch step-by-step.

Or join me in my FREE 60-minute webinar to learn more tips and tricks!