The Secret to Sounding Masculine AND Expressive (You Don't Have to Choose)
Jan 22, 2026
You're working on masculinizing your voice—lowering your pitch, darkening your resonance, maybe flattening your expression a bit—when suddenly you realize something troubling: to keep this up, you have to avoid being expressive entirely.
But that doesn't feel right because you're not a robot. You have feelings. You get excited, you get sad, you tell stories with energy and expression.
So now you're thinking: Do I have to choose between sounding masculine and being myself?
The answer is no. And today, I'm going to show you exactly how to be expressive, animated, and emotionally free while still maintaining your masculine voice training goals.
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Prefer to read? Keep scrolling for a complete breakdown of how to maintain expressiveness while masculinizing your voice.
Why the "Monotone = Masculine" Myth Exists (But Isn't True)
First, let's talk about where this idea even comes from.
In some cultures, masculine-perceived voices tend to use a narrower pitch range when they speak. Meaning, they still go up and down in pitch, but the spread between their highest and lowest notes is narrower compared to feminine voices.
Also note that I said "in some cultures"—this difference is not biological.
This range is called contour: the spread of pitches you use when you talk.
A wide contour sounds more animated, playful, and childlike, which is sometimes associated with femininity. A narrower contour sounds more serious, steady, and mature, which is sometimes associated with masculinity.
I think that these associations are actually reductive stereotypes that infantilize women and emotionally stunt men.
Men Are Expressive Too
First of all, there are plenty of women with serious, more monotonous voices. Go check out my video called Deep Feminine Voices 201: A Guide for Trans Voice Training where we showed plenty of examples.
And secondly, men absolutely use pitch variation and wide contour and even high pitches to be expressive. Whether it's comedians, gaming content creators, or your favourite podcast hosts, men contain multitudes. Check out the video above for a supercut of expressive men.
So, the idea that masculine voice training requires you to sound like a robot? That's simply not true.
How to Achieve a Deep, Low, Dark Feminine Voice: A Complete Guide
Separating Pitch from Resonance: The Key to Expressive Masculinity
Whenever a transmasc student approaches me saying they're having trouble maintaining their masculine voice while being expressive, the first thing I check is whether they're able to modify pitch and resonance independently.
If they can't, then when they raise their pitch, they may also automatically brighten their resonance. The two things happen together, almost like they're tied to each other.
For example, imagine saying "That's unbelievable!" with your pitch going up AND your resonance getting brighter at the same time.
That's what reads as feminine. Not the pitch change itself, but the fact that the resonance brightened along with it.
Dark Resonance + Pitch Variation = Masculine Expression
Now imagine what happens when you keep your resonance dark and boomy, even when your pitch goes up. Same amount of pitch movement. Totally different vibe.
This is one of the main ways you can be expressive AND masculine at the same time. You're not eliminating pitch variation—you're just keeping your vocal tract large and open even when your pitch rises.
Let me give you another example. Excitement with pitch variation and bright resonance might sound like: "Oh my god, I can't believe you're here!" in a higher, brighter tone.
But excitement with the same pitch pattern but dark resonance? "Oh my god, I can't believe you're here!" with a deeper, boomy quality throughout.
If you're having trouble imaging the difference, check out the video above for some examples. The pitch is going up and down in both versions. But one reads more masculine because the resonance stays dark and boomy throughout.
If you're not sure if you're able to separate pitch and resonance, check out my video entitled Can't Tell Pitch from Resonance? Try This Robot Voice Exercise.
Can't Tell Pitch from Resonance? Try This Robot Voice Exercise
Emphasis Tools for Even More Expression
Okay, so you've got pitch variation with dark resonance. That's your foundation. But what if you want to be EVEN MORE expressive? What if you want to add extra emphasis or intensity?
That's where these emphasis tools come in.
Emphasis refers to the stressed syllables in a word or phrase. In the example from before, "that's unbelievable," the emphasized or stressed syllable is "lieve"—that's unbeLIEVEable.
Now I think some people assume emphasis in speech is stuck in the domain of pitch, but if emphasizing with a raise in pitch isn't meeting your voice goals, you can try:
1. Volume
Try emphasizing your stress syllable by adding a kick of volume. Listen to the difference between "That's unbelievable" with pitch variation versus "That's unbeLIEVEable" with increased volume.
Hear how the volume adds extra punch?
2. Length
Stretching out a syllable can add dramatic effect. For example: "That's unbelieeeeevable" with an elongated syllable.
Now pause and try it yourself!
Practice Different Emotional Modes
So now we have some tools for increasing your emotional palette, but here's the thing: there's no one-size-fits-all "masculine expression" setting.
You need to practice being expressive in different contexts with different emotions in a way that feels right for your unique flavour of masculinity.
The best way to do that is to practice! Here's how:
Step 1: Write Down Emotional Scenarios
Write down 5-10 emotional scenarios that happen in your day-to-day life. For example:
- Seeing a friend you haven't seen in ages
- Telling someone about something frustrating that happened
- Reacting to good news
- Comforting someone who's upset
- Laughing at a joke
Step 2: Practice Each Scenario Out Loud
For each scenario, practice saying a sentence or two out loud in your target masculine voice.
For example: "Oh my god, I haven't seen you in forever! How have you been?"
Try saying that with:
- Natural pitch variation (it's okay for your voice to go up!)
- Dark, boomy resonance maintained throughout
- Optional: Add volume or length for extra emphasis
Notice which combinations feel most natural.
Step 3: Record and Listen Back
If you're able, record yourself, take a breath, and listen back.
Does it sound expressive? Does it sound masculine? Does it sound like you? Or does it sound closer to you than your current day-to-day?
Be kind to yourself and try to listen non-judgementally.
Step 4: Do This Regularly
This isn't a one-and-done exercise. You're building new habits, and that takes repetition. The more you practice being expressive in a way that aligns with your masculinity, the more natural it will become and the less brain power you have to dedicate to doing it.
If you want a resource to help with practicing expression while maintaining your masculine voice, I have a free book called Practice Games for Endurance in Trans Voice Work that contains a section with improv games you can check out right now.
Practice Games for Endurance in Trans Voice Work
Common Pitfalls in Masculine Voice Training
Let me anticipate some things that might trip you up.
1. "When I get excited or emotional, my resonance automatically brightens."
That's the most common issue, and it's totally normal. In moments of heightened anxiety or emotion, you might be tensing up, which can betray your goals of a relaxed open vocal tract.
One way to work on this is to connect your dark vocal tract shape with breathing to speak. You can practice resetting your voice with each breath while reading aloud or while working on the practice games I just mentioned. Then in those moments of anxiety, your breathing can help you remember to reset your target voice.
2. "I'm not sure if my resonance is staying dark when my pitch goes up."
If you're not sure if you're able to distinguish pitch and resonance, check out the exercise I shared called The Robot Voice. You can also slow things down and practice modifying resonance at different pitches.
3. "It feels fake or forced to keep my throat open like this."
This is also normal. You're overriding a deeply ingrained habit. Give it time. What feels forced now will feel natural in a few months.
Key Takeaways: Expressive Masculine Voice Training
So, to answer the original question: No, your masculine voice does not have to be monotonous.
You can be expressive, animated, emotionally free, and still sound masculine. It just might take some time to work on the tools and habits you have at your disposal.
The Tools We Discussed Today:
- Keep your resonance dark and boomy even when your pitch goes up. This is the foundation of expressive masculinity.
- Add volume and length for even more expressive range, instead of just focusing on pitch.
- Practice different emotional modes regularly to build new habits and make expression feel natural.
Remember: masculine expression is still expression. It's just expressed in a slightly different way. You're not shutting down your emotions. You're not becoming a robot. You're just learning to express yourself in a way that aligns with your gender.
Free Resources for Masculine Voice Training
If you want more detailed guidance on masculinizing your voice, check out my course Masculinize Your Voice Without Testosterone.
For playful, practical ways to practice emotional expression, grab my free book Practice Games for Endurance in Trans Voice Work.
And if you're just getting started with transgender voice training, check out my free webinar Change the Gender of Your Voice (No Hormones or Surgery Required) to see what's possible when you work with a transgender voice coach who understands your journey.
Masculinize Your Voice Without Testosterone
Practice Games for Endurance in Trans Voice Work
Change The Gender of Your Voice (No Hormones or Surgery Required!)
Conclusion: Your Voice, Your Expression, Your Masculinity
The idea that masculinity means shutting down your emotions or that sounding "manly" means being flat and boring? That's not good for anyone. And it's definitely not the world I want to live in.
Whether you're pursuing voice masculinization training with or without testosterone, you deserve a voice that's authentically you—expressive, emotional, and masculine all at once.
The journey to finding your voice takes practice, patience, and the right tools. But it's absolutely possible to have both expression and masculinity in your voice.
Ready to explore your masculine voice?
Sign up for my free one-hour masterclass, Change The Gender of Your Voice (No Hormones or Surgery Required), and work with a transgender voice coach who understands your journey.
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