Why does my voice sound tired? (Voice Masculinization Question)

Hey lovely folks! So, I was on TikTok Live the other day, having a fabulous time chatting with all of you about voice training. One question really stuck out and I think it's worth diving into here. It was from someone working on masculinizing their voice who said it often sounds tired. Let’s break it down and see how we can combat that vocal fatigue!

The Comment That Sparked It All

Our friend Aspiring House Butch dropped a comment saying, “I find that I sound tired and fall into a lot of vocal fry when I speak in my chest voice. Any tips?”

First off, fantastic question. Let's tackle it!

Chest Voice vs. Head Voice: What’s the Deal?

When we talk about chest voice, we’re usually referring to the voice most people use comfortably. It’s the natural, everyday speaking voice. On the flip side, the head voice is that airy, often higher pitch you might use for certain expressions or singing. These terms are common but don't perfectly describe the anatomical functions happening—think of them more as useful shortcuts.

The Lowdown on Vocal Fry

If you find your voice slipping into vocal fry, especially when trying to speak lower, you're not alone. Vocal fry sounds like a low, gravelly rumble and uses minimal air. Your brain might be tricked into liking this sound because it associates it with a lower pitch, which can seem appealing when trying to masculinize your voice. However, as you’ve noticed, it can also make you sound tired and low-energy.

Tips to Combat the Fry and Fatigue

1. Avoid the Lowest Pitch Trap: Instead of diving into the lowest possible pitch and closing up your vocal cords, aim to keep your airway open. This means maintaining some space in your vocal tract to leverage resonance, which can make your voice sound richer and fuller without the tired vibe.

2. Use More Air: Contrary to what you might think, using more air can actually help. One exercise is to channel your inner Santa Claus with a hearty “Ho Ho Ho.” This not only keeps your voice from closing up but also encourages a robust, resonant sound.

3. Channel Your Inner Gaston: Another fun technique is to mimic Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. His voice is full of air, energy, and dark resonance. Saying phrases like, “Hello, I'm Gaston,” with lots of air can help you find that sweet spot.

Why Does This Work?

Keeping your vocal tract open and using more air helps prevent vocal fry by encouraging a more dark, resonant, energetic sound.

Join the Conversation!

If you have more questions about trans voice training or want to chat live, join me every Monday afternoon Eastern Time on TikTok Live. I love hearing from you and helping you find your true voice. Hope these tips help, and keep those questions coming!