There are some great voice trainers on TH-cam for free! Trans voice lessons comes to mind. The hardest part of voice transitioning wasn’t learning how. It was the mental road block when speaking to old friends. I felt like people who knew me wouldn’t take me serious. It took a very long time to get over. Try practicing on the drive through. Strangers are easier to get comfortable with. Especially if you can’t see their face. I feel like It reduces anxiety.
You may need to start where you believe no one can hear you. At the conservatory of music and speech arts, there was one external staircase which only went to a small paved area on the roof with a fence around it, it was far from the edge of the building so you could only see the sky around you. It was the perfect place to practice recitals. The college also had many stair wells between the levels that were rarely used so those were also great locations to practice. Perhaps the first thing to do is to find a place where you're not self conscious to speak, perhaps soundproofing a closet or wearing a motorcycle helmet, maybe just sitting in your car in the garage. The more you practice, the less self conscious you will be.
I think when I finally retire I’ll be able to use my feminine voice more reliably. In work situations, I cannot seem to sustain my feminine voice. I do better when I’m around my trans friends. Thanks for the video.
Its the same for me as a man only, when Im out in the world my customer voice lowers and mellows. When at work, I get enthusiastic and voice can be almost anywhere, even if my high voice is muddier now a days.
Me too. I need to present a consistent image professionally, and while I socially transitioned 6 months ago, I have done nothing about voice yet as I cant afford to sound inconsistent.
I've loathed my voice since before I even knew I was trans, so feminizing it has become top priority as the very first stage of transition. I've already begun training, fully aware that the process is nonlinear, but that's fine with me. I find a growth mindset important in making progress.
It was literally the first thing I looked when I started my medical transition. I have never and probably will never be a very feminine person, and I still use my old boy clothes from time to time, so for me the voice is so important, because usually is the only thing that can make people gender me correctly, apart from my long hair.
Voice for me is a major cause of dysphoria that has, without being too dramatic, spoiled all the best opportunities in my life. I've lived under a rock (or in the closet) for so many years I didn't even know that voice training existed for anyone other than actors and singers.
This.... so much. I haven't even started hormones yet, and while I'd prefer personal one-on-one training, just taking tips from free videos I've seen on the internet has helped my early dysphoria so much. I felt awkward at first, because I came out literally after the second week at work to my coworkers at first where I immediately changed my name, pronouns, the way I dressed and the way I presented myself at work to my coworkers, as well as immediately started feminizing my voice. I felt awkward, I was worried of being made fun of, etc. but everyone was so supportive...... I think in just the few months afterward, I feel i've built at least some muscle memory and after watching a video of myself just recentl where I was expecting to cringe and never wanting to speak again, I realized..... I really don't sound bad at all!! There were times in my speech where my voice could actually pass!! I feel that the more I focus on voice every day, the better it gets. There's still that psychological "block" at times with my wife, friends, and family where I'd regress into my masculine voice, but the more I'm used to talking like this, the more comfortable I'll feel. It may sound weird also, but during covid, i feel it's easier to speak in my most feminine voice while wearing a mask, lol..... not sure why that is. I will continue both practicing and therapy, because i DON'T want throat surgery, out of fear this will affect my singing, so continuing voice therapy is the way for me!!!
I’m a singer and NB. The most important body part/ feature for me is my voice. Due to wrong technique and sickness I had to relearn speaking and singing with a different technique, because I was damaging my vocal chords badly. Learning the new technique was not that difficult, but getting to the level that I instinctively used it, took me years. Whenever I feel extremely stressed or tired, I still sometimes tend to fall back into old habits. So I agree with starting as soon as possible with Voice Therapy.
@@happinesspridejoy7394 I don’t mind at all. I have a deep voice for an AFAB and can sing in Alto or Tenor register. As I also have a lot of power and instead of controlling it, I used too much pressure on my larynx. Instead of projecting the sound outward, I used to build it in my throat, putting more pressure on it. My tongue, jaw and neck were mostly tensed and the strain affected the vocal chords badly. I had to learn to relax everything. Using Mix-Technique (Speech Level Singing) now. Building the sound at the front of my mouth with a relaxed voice box. If I need to “power” through a song I use Belting.
absolutely agree. Its not just about the pitch and resonance. A good teacher will teach you stretches to avoid voice strain. A good teacher will help with pacing and intonation. Pitch is easy. Its all the other things that trip transpeople up. You need the practice more than you might think :-( I am completely tone deaf. I think I have convinced music teachers that they are a failure because I am so incapable of singing on key. I am so bad that I have to use an app to know when I am close to the feminine range. I spent about 6 months working on my voice. I got some things addressed but I struggle. I have noticed that getting anxious about the voice has caused me to get tense. That is the part I am working on.
I started voice training once I realised I was trans and before I began HRT. And after so many months I'm still nowhere near a feminine voice, so it's definitely helpful to start as early as you can! Watching your videos always make me feel better, and more hopeful. Thank you
For me, my voice was one of the most emotionally profound parts of transitioning. It connected to my expression of myself and the core of who I am. The hard thing to get used to was using my trained voice around people I knew from "before." It really helps to pause a bit before I speak to them to just hear my voice in my head for an instant and then continue.
I remember that when i was like 12 i was soooo scared that my voice would change in that time, so i started doing voice training with youtube videos ( i wasn't even nearly to start my transition ), also i remember that my classmates bullied me because of my high pitched voice, now i'm 18 and i'm so grateful that i did that, my voice didn't change even though all the testosterone that i had in my body, i have what some people called "the privilege of a passable voice" now I'm on hormones. Bess you and all your family thanks for your videos 💞
I started my voice therapy the day before going full-time. It take me about two years to get a voice that's fit me. On the psychological point of view, it took me a year to accept to use again my deep voice. The voice training is very time consuming two hours a day of training. I used to do it in my car in traffic jam. Note: I also have individual singing lessons which is very complimentary to voice lessons. I have today the full range of barython (3 octaves), but for some song I have to switch my voice to alto. In church choir, I prefer to be with the tenors: Gwendoline and the boys. Note: My voice goes automatically at it is correct high and modulation works alone. I speak 3 languages on daily basis. This is make the voice training harder.
You don't have to do 2 hours a day. If anything, it's healthier doing it for much shorter periods many times a day. If it works for you, fine. But telling people they have to do two hours a day just discourages them from doing it and encourages avoidance.
I started voice therapy the day I started transition. Even though I started as a high tenor, it took two years to develop a convincing middle alto. Three close friends are voice teachers in two different countries and two different states. We are all good friends and we gather once a week for two hours for voice and singing lessons for myself and our bandmates. It must have worked as I am never misgendered on the phone or anywhere else at this point. Dr. Z, I think your advice is wonderful as always.
Love getting an ad for Prager U right before this lol. In all seriousness, this video was very helpful. I'm a vocal performance major in college and I'm also just figuring out that I'm a trans guy. You've given a lot of great resources and advice here and it's very much appreciated
Ohh ohh is that a bad ad? I guess the irony is that they are paying for me to have time to create this videos :). Glad to hear the content was helpful to you.
Thank you for another great video. I'm only 3 months into transition. Right now I am transitioning socially while I figure out my gender identity and my expression. One thing I have noticed though is that I've been very cautious about doing certain things in public that I feel would cause the world to see me as a man being feminine. Like wearing women's clothes in public it's something that I'm not comfortable with yet and wearing makeup I'm not quite comfortable with you either. I do wear nail polish and I can wear undergarments since that stuff can be hidden. The thing that causes me the most dysphoria with all this is the idea of being perceived as a man doing all this stuff when I want to be a woman. Passibility is definitely important to me so that is why I want to work on local training early on. So thank you again for the advice and I will even check out WPATH as you suggested in another video to find a vocal therapist.
I started mine 2 months after I began HRT. Been at it almost 5 months and making progress but it takes a lot of practice and patience. I am at the stage where I need real-world practice and I am fighting with performance anxiety, I tend to focus so hard on what I'm doing that I wind up figuratively tripping over my own feet.
Even though people tell me my voice is more androgynous than masculine, I'm still uncomfortable with my voice. I had 3 voice therapy sessions before feeling as if people were making fun of my attempts at speaking in a female voice. I almost immediately slipped back into the darkest of thought patterns. Thankfully, my psychiatrist has taught me to refocus on how much I love life when such things happen so I didn't dwell on the dark thoughts. However, I have cancelled all bookings I made with my voice therapist. I've committed to trauma healing session(s) to hopefully put myself in a state where I can handle such setbacks without sliding back into depression (or worse).
this is one area in my life when I'm in female mode as I call it I am a singer and that has helped with my vocals and I also watch tutorials for voice on TH-cam which has helped the bad thing is is when I'm in female mode you need to have this on your mind all the time because there's been several times that I caught myself and I slipped being female and speaking like a man it's embarrassing but it takes time thank you for this video I really appreciate it it has helped a lot
Thanks for sharing and yes, voice takes time. For a singer such as yourself it should be easier as you know how to manipulate voice cords to your advantage.
Voice training was one of the biggest factors on changing how I was percieved by other people, the HRT physical changes were already kind of there, but that didn't change that much on how I was being treated by others. But once I started training my voice and actually made some progress, it was as if I had flipped a switch, they started treating me in a way nobody did before. Life got so much better.
Completely agreed with all of this! I started voice therapy right before HRT, and I'm so glad I did. It allowed me to pass in public really early, which made things so much easier. I also got to experience what it was like to be naturally perceived as a woman at the start. I loved it, which made me super confident about my identity. Side note: Mask wearing played a huge part too since no one could see my facial hair. Hair removal is another long journey to start early if you're confident! It's been 15 months since, and I completely agree about the long road to it being natural. Even after all this time I'm still in-between. Using my old voice takes a LOT of effort, whereas my voice is much easier. It's still something that's always in the back of my head though when I'm speaking. I can't wait for it to be completely effortless!
Another great video on the psychological aspects that my voice therapist did not explain to me, why i quit, I felt like a fraud, but my feminine voice was great. Its very important that the psychological aspects are explained. Great video Dr.Z.🙂😎
Thank you, and the timing on this video was perfect as I had my first voice feminization therapy session with professional vocal therapist like 10 days ago - had practiced my voice last 4 months and started my transition a year ago. I wanted to start practice my voice early on my transition because i thought the practicing would take some time, plus my dysphoria... I noticed early on that what REALLY takes time, is the mental process of voice feminization, just as you said. When i'm by myself and practicing my voice pitch etc, i have reached multiple times average ~180Hz which feels great and i love how i sound. However, i'm still a bit shy and a lack of confident (+ maybe a bit ashamed) to speak on that pitch around other people, especially around people who already know me (friends, people from work etc...) because i have met them before i started my "voice transition" + occasional feelings of imposter syndrome. I'm also 38 years old so i have spoke on a lower pitch a loooong time, so the shift doesn't happen like a snap of a finger. So yes, this really takes some time to process that mental shift, before my feminine voice comes naturally without the need of "pushing" it or thinking it. Love your videos Dr Z - found your videos a year ago when i started my transition and you have helped me so much already. Thank you ❤️
i haven't done voice therapy for most of my transition, because i never really had intense dysphoria over my voice. but once i started to pass physically it became a mental burden to watch peoples perception of me change the moment i started talking to them. the tipping point for me to start voice therapy was when i was was on a road trip and had to stop to use the women's bathroom in what i would call a, "dangerously conservative area". i could tell the people inside were perceiving me as female, but i was shaking from anxiety because i knew that if anyone asked me a casual question i wouldn't be able to answer it without feeling the possibility of physical danger.
I wish I had followed this advice at the beginning but I really wanted to start transitioning as soon as I realized I needed to. I think my starting voice was already close to androgynous, at least in terms of pitch, so while I wasn't happy with it, it didn't feel like something I had to address right away. I also had a lot of trouble getting started, I tend to get deterred too easily when I get put on wait lists or don't get a response. Eventually I did get started and while my friends say I sound fine I have a hard time believing them. I've found it really hard to maintain a positive mindset while practicing. I often feel like I'm making progress but when I listen to a recording it sounds about the same as before. I do find it funny in a strange way that before I knew I was trans I always hated my voice for not being masculine enough. Now it's the opposite.
When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything - from The Sound of Music Edit: I was unaware that one could "finish" transitioning. Thanks for the tip. :)
Yes you can put it off; I did. And while I am in the early stages of transition, I can tell you that many expect those claiming to BE “female,” to look, dress, and sound feminine when you arrive to see them.
I am a singer so use my head voice when I am femme. I think the hardest part is using more feminine gestures and body language, as well as speaking in female idiom/patterns
I started voice training 11 months ago, about the same time as hrt. I went full time 5 months ago. My voice clocks me constantly and is also my biggest source of dysphoria. I work a job where I speak on the phone a lot and every day I am called sir over the phone. But I’ve made a little progress. I’m trying not to give up
So if you are a few years in is it too late to retrain your voice ? I have depth in pitch but I feel often there’s a particular resonance I am lacking - I hear it when I have it but I have to work my chords too much and have fatigue and it’s a lot of energy - You’re the only person Doc who is putting out this information..I had no idea and I’ve watched a lot of people on TH-cam ...you’re spot on with the psychological aspect !
Subconsciously, I knew to work on feminizing my voice even before I knew transition was right for me! Now, I’m almost to years on hormones and I still get anxious about using my voice in certain settings, like the phone! So I know first hand that it’s a long, continuous process and I’m glad I started before HRT cause it provided me with something I could do to tell myself I’m actively working to achieve my goals!
Thank You so much for doing this! My voice has always been an issue for me, so I’ve been rather anxious to get started on vocal feminization. So far I have been doing it on my own, though I have watched quite a few videos on here on techniques, as well as other people’s experiences. I have found a voice that I actually like, which is quite surprising, since I’ve always hated my voice. But now the problem is that I don’t know if I’m going about it the right way. I certainly don’t want to damage my voice. Thankfully, I have insurance now and my provider covers vocal feminization, including surgery and therapy. So it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be on the right track to safely feminizing my voice. Thank You again, for your insight! This was really helpful.
As a musician. I am very sensitive to the way that voices sound, and it's one of the bigger things I worry about in terms of passing. But I also know just how little difference there is between (average) masculine and feminine voices (because specific voices are a different issue entirely). And having lived in many places around the world, I can confidently say that a *lot* of what we perceive as masculine and feminine speech is *clearly* culturally constructed. On top of all this, I am starting to understand that there is a dissociative aspect to my transgender experience and I experience my own voice differently when femme me is speaking. I guess that I'm trying to say that voice is really complicated for me. thank you for speaking about it
I didn’t even know voice therapy for trans people was a thing until today and as someone who is in the process of figuring out what my end goal is as a non-binary/genderfluid person with only mild dysphoria, this is the one thing that I think could be extremely helpful for me. ❤️
Glad you realized it. I just interviewed great voice therapist, to be related on 23rd of this month, and I think info she shares may be helpful to you.
Of course! Muscle memory. I realized early on in my transition how glaring and telling the timber of one's own voice can be in conversation. I first looked to TH-cam but soon moved to a professional voice therapist. Months and months later, slowly this skull muscle has begun to respond to my incessant monologue. Everyone else just sees crazy me talking to myself all day. It is getting easier and more automatic. Like a seconded language.
No voice therapy yet for me at 1.5 years (mtf), but I do notice my voice tends to drop lower among close relatives and friends whereas my voice sounds more feminine out in public or at work. Idk why that is, but it is noticeable. Ppl tell me my voice passes but a mental change between being home and away makes me think twice :/
I grew up in choir singing and I would do voice impersonations growing up, so voice was one of the first things I looked up. Voice is also something I must work on as I have never liked the sound of my speaking voice. Knowing I am transgender now, I do understand why I did not like my speaking voice, and that is that voice is not who I feel I am on the inside.
Its the only thing I failed to plan in my 20s, but im working at it now in my 50s. Yes, i had the misconception as a m2f tg, i could do it later, its very very very very important to start early, even as your biological born sex.
Dr. Z, thanks for another great video. I have begun transitioning MtoF about 2 months ago. Recently, I have started HRT. Yes, the voice is important to fully realize yourself in transition. My struggle though is so many people expect me to sound masculine as I have a long road to reach passibility, since I am quite older. This is especially the case with friends and family who only know me as male. On the one hand you do not want to dissappoint them since they expect me to be and sound male. How do you take care of your own needs and yet remain sensitive to how other people feel about your transition? Do you eventually have to break these relationships, or are there ways to maintain some semblance of a relationship with people who are having difficulty with your transition? This can be especially an issue with a spouse or family member. Yes, we can get divorced and choose to lose touch with family. But, if there is love, this is something quite hard to manage once you accept you are trans and begin a transition.
HI and thanks for sharing. I find in such instances good communication, balance, and boundaries become important. There won't be a time everyone is pleased, but there can be a time of compromises.
I wonder how many people change perspectives when they talk in different voices like those who speak different languagea might. I know for myself when I'm at work and wearing my guy mask I subconsciously drop my voice to sound more masculine and it shapes my thought process as well. But soon as I take that mask off I become my feminine self and my voice automatically chnages to match. Maybe it's from theater and language classes that shaped my mind this way.
This is one thing I've worried about because of low tone and pitch of my voice regardless. Just like my physical size and build "ie" hands, feet, it's not something I can change. I'm always going to stand out in a crowd and being self-conscious doesn't help one bit, trust me I have grown up in this zone uncomfortable under scrutiny.🙁
I've been able to do voices and impressions for decades, but I had never been able to do a female-sounding voice until after I came out. Doing the voices and impressions gave me a vocal flexibility which I liken to being double-jointed. I had tried before, but it sounded terrible. I work in a call center, so I get LOTS of practice. I hardly ever get misgendered anymore because of my voice; on the rare occasions it does happen, it's usually because of my height (I'm 5' 11 1/2" tall.) The female voice I have feels emotionally better to me. It's almost like it's become my real voice, and the old male-sounding voice I had has become the impression.
I had my first visit to a therapist but my voice is my weakest point and I care about it very much, so I want to start working on it as early as possible.
Thank you for the video. I am going to see a therapist about gender tomorrow. I am 26 and never thought I could transition. Voice is the big one for me. I just don't want to sound like a dude at all.
DR Z Thank you one more time. My thoughts and experience. It is difficult-it takes time. Very important not to feel you are faking and in work. I work in hotel industry so a masculine voice in a female appearence is not a must. Dο it to be more passable my opinion. Thank you-Ευχαριστώ.
Hi, I began my voice feminization at the same time I started hormones. 12 weeks with a voice therapist at a hospital. It was affirming & effective. I use it when I’m out, but not as often as I should when at home. (My s.o. Is one of those who “tries” to understand, but really doesn’t). This answers a question I has for you re a video on “the first 3 things you should do” early on. Electrolysis, voice feminization and what’s # 3 please? Michelle
Hi and thanks for sharing. In my view, electrolysis, voice feminization and hair (if hair is an issue) are three main things for trans women in my opinion.
@@DRZPHD thank you. Voice is done, soon to start electrolysis, epilating body hair for @t least 1.5 years, head hair is thin & sparse on top. Not worth it. I did grow it lonf & get a woman styling. I guess I’m stuck with being a wig lady. Appreciate All your videos. As far as I’m concerned, you’re The go to authority. Relevant, succinct & actionable.
Before finishing the video, I feel it’s mainly that once you have transitioned (arguably the vastest transformation a human being can undergo), it’s very hard to build a new identity again - of which voice is so central to
Thanks for sharing. I feel its less of building a new identity and more of merging into a more authentic you as there are many qualities about you that will remain constant.
I was one of the lucky ones, born without an Adam's Apple but a higher pitched voice. Learned early on I was NOT a MAN MAN if you know what i mean. Legs that raised a whistle, oh how i laugh now. Had plenty of Army pers run behind me and mutter "those legs are better than my Wifes"! Never took offence as i was Hiding in plain sight so to say. Lucky i guess. Nature does win out in the end. So to those under 30, take heart it's certainly worth the journey. Kia Kaha Wahine Toa, UBIQUE
I'm wanting to do voice training to masculinise rather than taking hormones cuz I'm afraid hormones will give me side effects I dont want (nonbinary) even saw that if you're forwarded the proper ways in my country, most insurance companies will cover it for you. Just waiting to hear back from my GP about where she wants to forward me to but it is one of the things I want to work on since top surgery is likely going to be ways off regardless, will help me feel like I'm actually working towards something that I will notice on a daily basis.
Dr. Z, Would you know if MtF Transitioning would have a Positive or Negative effect on Prostate Cancer? I have been reading online where they use Hormone Therapy (i.e. Estrogen, androgen blockers...) to shrink Prostrate Cancer. So, would MtF Transitioning actually help the Prostrate
Medical science seems to be advancing exponentially. Im curious if you happen to know if there are any major advancements coming that are promising for those wishing to transition.
Hi. There is always minor advancement in the way surgery is performed. Including PPV option for trans women and no drainage top surgery for trans guys.
OMG the entire process is overwhelming. I spend hours with call centers. here's a new pitch, am I believable? I've Benn downgraded so long, where do you reemerge?
I was just wondering earlier today weather it's too late for me to start voice training. I sent a recording to my friends and when i listened to myself, i hated it. I sound like most people's idea of a stereotypical gay man. There's nothing wrong with that voice, but i feel it doesn't suit me and makes it easier to "clock" me as trans. Im about 10 months on T now but because I still live with my parents I'm essentially hiding myself from them, which means having to speak more "feminine" during the day. I fear i may have ruined my vocal chords or otherwise slowed down the process of my voice dropping. It makes me sad to think about so i try not to 😅 i can't sing any more either. It sounds awful and hurts too much. I know I need voice training but idk how to balance the hiding from my parents and the being my true self when and where I can
Before transition I also tended to use a higher pitched voice in my second language. It's just something to do with how the language fits in my brain. Now when I try to use it in "male voice" i just don't know how. I never thought the pitch of my voice would affect my ability to use a language, ha
Doctor, what if I still pass with my voice in public and on the phone, but I still feel that it is not feminine enough, at least to how I want it to be? It is very difficult when passing and being validated with the right pronouns, but deep down inside, you still are not happy with level of voice feminization?
Hi and thanks for sharing. If you pass, and thats your goal, sounds like you than have achieved it. Beyond that, there are personal inner subjective perceptions that may be skewed and inaccurate. So one has to work on inner confidence vs having a high bar to meet. Hope it helps.
@@DRZPHD Doctor, yes, your response is tremendously helpful and it further validates what I already know is true: inner confidence is key. I just hate it when gender dysphoria makes me question even the best of compliments paid towards me. For example, a woman had complimented my voice saying it sounded deep and sexy, but I automatically perceived this as being clocked. I was aware that I was too relaxed and not being too hyper vigilant with my voice modulation, so I viewed her compliment as a way of her saying “I know you’re trans”. I hate this. I don’t want to complimented on a “deep” voice. Can deep be feminine?
I'm still pre-everything and not out but I tried to start earlier but the moment I focus on my voice I get extremely dysphoric and can't go on, and stay like that for weeks/months until I try again and it happens again and I can't break this loop
I've seen some very beautiful trans woman that actually pass as cis-gender and continues using their male voice. I don't understand why they don't even try. I've been practicing for over a year now.
Why doesn't Caitlyn Jenner try to feminize her voice? I feel that she's lazy and expects people to accept that she has a terrible voice. I would at least try.
Hi. In my opinion, voice is subjective and it seems she is comfortable with her voice. We dont know how she feels about it or her life to make assumptions.
I wonder how many people change perspectives when they talk in different voices like those who speak different languagea might. I know for myself when I'm at work and wearing my guy mask I subconsciously drop my voice to sound more masculine and it shapes my thought process as well. But soon as I take that mask off I become my feminine self and my voice automatically chnages to match. Maybe it's from theater and language classes that shaped my mind this way.
@James Sutterfield thats an interesting point. I would say its not so much a matter of perspectives per se, but that the more authentic voice enables you to connect to parts of you you have not yet seen, hence may feel like a changed perspective.
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There are some great voice trainers on TH-cam for free! Trans voice lessons comes to mind.
The hardest part of voice transitioning wasn’t learning how. It was the mental road block when speaking to old friends. I felt like people who knew me wouldn’t take me serious. It took a very long time to get over.
Try practicing on the drive through. Strangers are easier to get comfortable with. Especially if you can’t see their face. I feel like It reduces anxiety.
Great points with those who are familiar with you!
You may need to start where you believe no one can hear you. At the conservatory of music and speech arts, there was one external staircase which only went to a small paved area on the roof with a fence around it, it was far from the edge of the building so you could only see the sky around you. It was the perfect place to practice recitals. The college also had many stair wells between the levels that were rarely used so those were also great locations to practice. Perhaps the first thing to do is to find a place where you're not self conscious to speak, perhaps soundproofing a closet or wearing a motorcycle helmet, maybe just sitting in your car in the garage. The more you practice, the less self conscious you will be.
I was doing voice training before I knew I was trans. So I guess I cheated :)
Good for you.
I think when I finally retire I’ll be able to use my feminine voice more reliably. In work situations, I cannot seem to sustain my feminine voice. I do better when I’m around my trans friends. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for sharing.
Its the same for me as a man only, when Im out in the world my customer voice lowers and mellows. When at work, I get enthusiastic and voice can be almost anywhere, even if my high voice is muddier now a days.
Me too. I need to present a consistent image professionally, and while I socially transitioned 6 months ago, I have done nothing about voice yet as I cant afford to sound inconsistent.
I've loathed my voice since before I even knew I was trans, so feminizing it has become top priority as the very first stage of transition. I've already begun training, fully aware that the process is nonlinear, but that's fine with me. I find a growth mindset important in making progress.
Yes to the growth mindset! Its vital.
It was literally the first thing I looked when I started my medical transition. I have never and probably will never be a very feminine person, and I still use my old boy clothes from time to time, so for me the voice is so important, because usually is the only thing that can make people gender me correctly, apart from my long hair.
Glad to hear it was the first thing you started.
Voice for me is a major cause of dysphoria that has, without being too dramatic, spoiled all the best opportunities in my life. I've lived under a rock (or in the closet) for so many years I didn't even know that voice training existed for anyone other than actors and singers.
Thanks for sharing.
This.... so much. I haven't even started hormones yet, and while I'd prefer personal one-on-one training, just taking tips from free videos I've seen on the internet has helped my early dysphoria so much. I felt awkward at first, because I came out literally after the second week at work to my coworkers at first where I immediately changed my name, pronouns, the way I dressed and the way I presented myself at work to my coworkers, as well as immediately started feminizing my voice. I felt awkward, I was worried of being made fun of, etc. but everyone was so supportive...... I think in just the few months afterward, I feel i've built at least some muscle memory and after watching a video of myself just recentl where I was expecting to cringe and never wanting to speak again, I realized..... I really don't sound bad at all!! There were times in my speech where my voice could actually pass!! I feel that the more I focus on voice every day, the better it gets. There's still that psychological "block" at times with my wife, friends, and family where I'd regress into my masculine voice, but the more I'm used to talking like this, the more comfortable I'll feel. It may sound weird also, but during covid, i feel it's easier to speak in my most feminine voice while wearing a mask, lol..... not sure why that is. I will continue both practicing and therapy, because i DON'T want throat surgery, out of fear this will affect my singing, so continuing voice therapy is the way for me!!!
Thank you for sharing. Glad to hear you started early.
I’m a singer and NB. The most important body part/ feature for me is my voice. Due to wrong technique and sickness I had to relearn speaking and singing with a different technique, because I was damaging my vocal chords badly. Learning the new technique was not that difficult, but getting to the level that I instinctively used it, took me years. Whenever I feel extremely stressed or tired, I still sometimes tend to fall back into old habits. So I agree with starting as soon as possible with Voice Therapy.
Thank you for sharing. Yes its one of the things thats never too early to start.
Do you mind if I ask about the wrong technique so I can avoid doing that? I’m a singer and NB too ☺️
@@happinesspridejoy7394 I don’t mind at all. I have a deep voice for an AFAB and can sing in Alto or Tenor register. As I also have a lot of power and instead of controlling it, I used too much pressure on my larynx. Instead of projecting the sound outward, I used to build it in my throat, putting more pressure on it. My tongue, jaw and neck were mostly tensed and the strain affected the vocal chords badly.
I had to learn to relax everything. Using Mix-Technique (Speech Level Singing) now. Building the sound at the front of my mouth with a relaxed voice box. If I need to “power” through a song I use Belting.
@@IssyVoca ah okay! Thank you 🙏🏼✨
absolutely agree. Its not just about the pitch and resonance. A good teacher will teach you stretches to avoid voice strain. A good teacher will help with pacing and intonation.
Pitch is easy. Its all the other things that trip transpeople up.
You need the practice more than you might think :-(
I am completely tone deaf. I think I have convinced music teachers that they are a failure because I am so incapable of singing on key.
I am so bad that I have to use an app to know when I am close to the feminine range.
I spent about 6 months working on my voice. I got some things addressed but I struggle.
I have noticed that getting anxious about the voice has caused me to get tense. That is the part I am working on.
Thanks for sharing.
I started voice training once I realised I was trans and before I began HRT. And after so many months I'm still nowhere near a feminine voice, so it's definitely helpful to start as early as you can!
Watching your videos always make me feel better, and more hopeful. Thank you
Thank you for sharing and I am glad the videos are helpful.
For me, my voice was one of the most emotionally profound parts of transitioning. It connected to my expression of myself and the core of who I am. The hard thing to get used to was using my trained voice around people I knew from "before." It really helps to pause a bit before I speak to them to just hear my voice in my head for an instant and then continue.
Thanks for sharing.
I remember that when i was like 12 i was soooo scared that my voice would change in that time, so i started doing voice training with youtube videos ( i wasn't even nearly to start my transition ), also i remember that my classmates bullied me because of my high pitched voice, now i'm 18 and i'm so grateful that i did that, my voice didn't change even though all the testosterone that i had in my body, i have what some people called "the privilege of a passable voice" now I'm on hormones.
Bess you and all your family thanks for your videos 💞
Thanks for sharing.
I started my voice therapy the day before going full-time. It take me about two years to get a voice that's fit me. On the psychological point of view, it took me a year to accept to use again my deep voice. The voice training is very time consuming two hours a day of training. I used to do it in my car in traffic jam.
Note: I also have individual singing lessons which is very complimentary to voice lessons. I have today the full range of barython (3 octaves), but for some song I have to switch my voice to alto. In church choir, I prefer to be with the tenors: Gwendoline and the boys.
Note: My voice goes automatically at it is correct high and modulation works alone.
I speak 3 languages on daily basis. This is make the voice training harder.
You don't have to do 2 hours a day. If anything, it's healthier doing it for much shorter periods many times a day. If it works for you, fine. But telling people they have to do two hours a day just discourages them from doing it and encourages avoidance.
@Gwendoline thanks for sharing.
I started voice therapy the day I started transition. Even though I started as a high tenor, it took two years to develop a convincing middle alto. Three close friends are voice teachers in two different countries and two different states. We are all good friends and we gather once a week for two hours for voice and singing lessons for myself and our bandmates. It must have worked as I am never misgendered on the phone or anywhere else at this point. Dr. Z, I think your advice is wonderful as always.
Thank you for sharing and I am glad to hear.
Love getting an ad for Prager U right before this lol.
In all seriousness, this video was very helpful. I'm a vocal performance major in college and I'm also just figuring out that I'm a trans guy. You've given a lot of great resources and advice here and it's very much appreciated
Ohh ohh is that a bad ad? I guess the irony is that they are paying for me to have time to create this videos :). Glad to hear the content was helpful to you.
Thank you for another great video. I'm only 3 months into transition. Right now I am transitioning socially while I figure out my gender identity and my expression. One thing I have noticed though is that I've been very cautious about doing certain things in public that I feel would cause the world to see me as a man being feminine. Like wearing women's clothes in public it's something that I'm not comfortable with yet and wearing makeup I'm not quite comfortable with you either. I do wear nail polish and I can wear undergarments since that stuff can be hidden. The thing that causes me the most dysphoria with all this is the idea of being perceived as a man doing all this stuff when I want to be a woman.
Passibility is definitely important to me so that is why I want to work on local training early on. So thank you again for the advice and I will even check out WPATH as you suggested in another video to find a vocal therapist.
all the best to you.
I started mine 2 months after I began HRT. Been at it almost 5 months and making progress but it takes a lot of practice and patience. I am at the stage where I need real-world practice and I am fighting with performance anxiety, I tend to focus so hard on what I'm doing that I wind up figuratively tripping over my own feet.
Thanks for sharing. Real world practice is often the scariest especially around ppl who do know you as it may make you feel too self conscious.
Even though people tell me my voice is more androgynous than masculine, I'm still uncomfortable with my voice. I had 3 voice therapy sessions before feeling as if people were making fun of my attempts at speaking in a female voice. I almost immediately slipped back into the darkest of thought patterns. Thankfully, my psychiatrist has taught me to refocus on how much I love life when such things happen so I didn't dwell on the dark thoughts. However, I have cancelled all bookings I made with my voice therapist. I've committed to trauma healing session(s) to hopefully put myself in a state where I can handle such setbacks without sliding back into depression (or worse).
this is one area in my life when I'm in female mode as I call it I am a singer and that has helped with my vocals and I also watch tutorials for voice on TH-cam which has helped the bad thing is is when I'm in female mode you need to have this on your mind all the time because there's been several times that I caught myself and I slipped being female and speaking like a man it's embarrassing but it takes time thank you for this video I really appreciate it it has helped a lot
Thanks for sharing and yes, voice takes time. For a singer such as yourself it should be easier as you know how to manipulate voice cords to your advantage.
Voice training was one of the biggest factors on changing how I was percieved by other people, the HRT physical changes were already kind of there, but that didn't change that much on how I was being treated by others. But once I started training my voice and actually made some progress, it was as if I had flipped a switch, they started treating me in a way nobody did before. Life got so much better.
Thanks for sharing. Glad to hear it had such an impact on your life.
Completely agreed with all of this! I started voice therapy right before HRT, and I'm so glad I did. It allowed me to pass in public really early, which made things so much easier. I also got to experience what it was like to be naturally perceived as a woman at the start. I loved it, which made me super confident about my identity. Side note: Mask wearing played a huge part too since no one could see my facial hair. Hair removal is another long journey to start early if you're confident!
It's been 15 months since, and I completely agree about the long road to it being natural. Even after all this time I'm still in-between. Using my old voice takes a LOT of effort, whereas my voice is much easier. It's still something that's always in the back of my head though when I'm speaking. I can't wait for it to be completely effortless!
Thanks for sharing.
Another great video on the psychological aspects that my voice therapist did not explain to me, why i quit, I felt like a fraud, but my feminine voice was great. Its very important that the psychological aspects are explained. Great video Dr.Z.🙂😎
Thank you.
Still early in my transition and my voice is a thing for me. Grateful for this post!
Never too early to start.
Thank you, and the timing on this video was perfect as I had my first voice feminization therapy session with professional vocal therapist like 10 days ago - had practiced my voice last 4 months and started my transition a year ago.
I wanted to start practice my voice early on my transition because i thought the practicing would take some time, plus my dysphoria... I noticed early on that what REALLY takes time, is the mental process of voice feminization, just as you said. When i'm by myself and practicing my voice pitch etc, i have reached multiple times average ~180Hz which feels great and i love how i sound. However, i'm still a bit shy and a lack of confident (+ maybe a bit ashamed) to speak on that pitch around other people, especially around people who already know me (friends, people from work etc...) because i have met them before i started my "voice transition" + occasional feelings of imposter syndrome. I'm also 38 years old so i have spoke on a lower pitch a loooong time, so the shift doesn't happen like a snap of a finger.
So yes, this really takes some time to process that mental shift, before my feminine voice comes naturally without the need of "pushing" it or thinking it.
Love your videos Dr Z - found your videos a year ago when i started my transition and you have helped me so much already. Thank you ❤️
Thanks for sharing and I wish you all the best.
i haven't done voice therapy for most of my transition, because i never really had intense dysphoria over my voice. but once i started to pass physically it became a mental burden to watch peoples perception of me change the moment i started talking to them. the tipping point for me to start voice therapy was when i was was on a road trip and had to stop to use the women's bathroom in what i would call a, "dangerously conservative area". i could tell the people inside were perceiving me as female, but i was shaking from anxiety because i knew that if anyone asked me a casual question i wouldn't be able to answer it without feeling the possibility of physical danger.
Thanks for sharing and please stay safe.
I’ve been… sort of… working on it. Not enough. Okay, you convinced me, I’m getting serious. Thanks for another very helpful video!
You got this!
I wish I had followed this advice at the beginning but I really wanted to start transitioning as soon as I realized I needed to. I think my starting voice was already close to androgynous, at least in terms of pitch, so while I wasn't happy with it, it didn't feel like something I had to address right away. I also had a lot of trouble getting started, I tend to get deterred too easily when I get put on wait lists or don't get a response.
Eventually I did get started and while my friends say I sound fine I have a hard time believing them. I've found it really hard to maintain a positive mindset while practicing. I often feel like I'm making progress but when I listen to a recording it sounds about the same as before.
I do find it funny in a strange way that before I knew I was trans I always hated my voice for not being masculine enough. Now it's the opposite.
Thanks for sharing and I hope you adapt to your voice without so much mental strain.
When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything - from The Sound of Music
Edit: I was unaware that one could "finish" transitioning. Thanks for the tip. :)
Thanks for sharing. Yes you can "finish" but there are layers to it. I will make a video on it.
@@DRZPHD How lovely! I'm looking forward to that video. Also I was delighted at the quality of that lipstick!
Yes you can put it off; I did. And while I am in the early stages of transition, I can tell you that many expect those claiming to BE “female,” to look, dress, and sound feminine when you arrive to see them.
Thanks for sharing.
I am a singer so use my head voice when I am femme. I think the hardest part is using more feminine gestures and body language, as well as speaking in female idiom/patterns
Thanks for sharing.
I started voice training 11 months ago, about the same time as hrt. I went full time 5 months ago. My voice clocks me constantly and is also my biggest source of dysphoria. I work a job where I speak on the phone a lot and every day I am called sir over the phone. But I’ve made a little progress. I’m trying not to give up
Thanks for sharing.
So if you are a few years in is it too late to retrain your voice ? I have depth in pitch but I feel often there’s a particular resonance I am lacking - I hear it when I have it but I have to work my chords too much and have fatigue and it’s a lot of energy -
You’re the only person Doc who is putting out this information..I had no idea and I’ve watched a lot of people on TH-cam ...you’re spot on with the psychological aspect !
Hi. Not sure what you mean "retain it?" Our vocal box is a tool we can master. IF you neglect it, it may be a bit a challenge to pick it up.
@@DRZPHD re - train ...maybe it’s like a muscle and you can build it even if you’re a few years into your transition
Subconsciously, I knew to work on feminizing my voice even before I knew transition was right for me! Now, I’m almost to years on hormones and I still get anxious about using my voice in certain settings, like the phone! So I know first hand that it’s a long, continuous process and I’m glad I started before HRT cause it provided me with something I could do to tell myself I’m actively working to achieve my goals!
Thanks for sharing.
Thank You so much for doing this! My voice has always been an issue for me, so I’ve been rather anxious to get started on vocal feminization. So far I have been doing it on my own, though I have watched quite a few videos on here on techniques, as well as other people’s experiences. I have found a voice that I actually like, which is quite surprising, since I’ve always hated my voice. But now the problem is that I don’t know if I’m going about it the right way. I certainly don’t want to damage my voice.
Thankfully, I have insurance now and my provider covers vocal feminization, including surgery and therapy. So it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be on the right track to safely feminizing my voice. Thank You again, for your insight! This was really helpful.
Thank you for sharing. Glad it was helpful.
As a musician. I am very sensitive to the way that voices sound, and it's one of the bigger things I worry about in terms of passing. But I also know just how little difference there is between (average) masculine and feminine voices (because specific voices are a different issue entirely). And having lived in many places around the world, I can confidently say that a *lot* of what we perceive as masculine and feminine speech is *clearly* culturally constructed. On top of all this, I am starting to understand that there is a dissociative aspect to my transgender experience and I experience my own voice differently when femme me is speaking.
I guess that I'm trying to say that voice is really complicated for me. thank you for speaking about it
Thanks for sharing and yes, dissociative states due to prolonged time being unable to focus on self transition will have this affect.
I didn’t even know voice therapy for trans people was a thing until today and as someone who is in the process of figuring out what my end goal is as a non-binary/genderfluid person with only mild dysphoria, this is the one thing that I think could be extremely helpful for me. ❤️
Glad you realized it. I just interviewed great voice therapist, to be related on 23rd of this month, and I think info she shares may be helpful to you.
@@DRZPHD thank you so much!! I’ll be sure to check it out 😊
Of course! Muscle memory. I realized early on in my transition how glaring and telling the timber of one's own voice can be in conversation. I first looked to TH-cam but soon moved to a professional voice therapist. Months and months later, slowly this skull muscle has begun to respond to my incessant monologue. Everyone else just sees crazy me talking to myself all day. It is getting easier and more automatic. Like a seconded language.
Thanks for sharing.
No voice therapy yet for me at 1.5 years (mtf), but I do notice my voice tends to drop lower among close relatives and friends whereas my voice sounds more feminine out in public or at work. Idk why that is, but it is noticeable. Ppl tell me my voice passes but a mental change between being home and away makes me think twice :/
Thanks for sharing.
I grew up in choir singing and I would do voice impersonations growing up, so voice was one of the first things I looked up. Voice is also something I must work on as I have never liked the sound of my speaking voice. Knowing I am transgender now, I do understand why I did not like my speaking voice, and that is that voice is not who I feel I am on the inside.
Thanks for sharing and I wish you well.
Its the only thing I failed to plan in my 20s, but im working at it now in my 50s. Yes, i had the misconception as a m2f tg, i could do it later, its very very very very important to start early, even as your biological born sex.
Just start now! I seen all ages see success with training.
Dr. Z, thanks for another great video. I have begun transitioning MtoF about 2 months ago. Recently, I have started HRT. Yes, the voice is important to fully realize yourself in transition. My struggle though is so many people expect me to sound masculine as I have a long road to reach passibility, since I am quite older. This is especially the case with friends and family who only know me as male. On the one hand you do not want to dissappoint them since they expect me to be and sound male. How do you take care of your own needs and yet remain sensitive to how other people feel about your transition? Do you eventually have to break these relationships, or are there ways to maintain some semblance of a relationship with people who are having difficulty with your transition? This can be especially an issue with a spouse or family member. Yes, we can get divorced and choose to lose touch with family. But, if there is love, this is something quite hard to manage once you accept you are trans and begin a transition.
HI and thanks for sharing. I find in such instances good communication, balance, and boundaries become important. There won't be a time everyone is pleased, but there can be a time of compromises.
I wonder how many people change perspectives when they talk in different voices like those who speak different languagea might. I know for myself when I'm at work and wearing my guy mask I subconsciously drop my voice to sound more masculine and it shapes my thought process as well. But soon as I take that mask off I become my feminine self and my voice automatically chnages to match. Maybe it's from theater and language classes that shaped my mind this way.
Thanks for sharing.
I'm starting hormones in early August, I guess it was time to start voice therapy yesterday 🙃
Never a bad idea to start early.
This is one thing I've worried about because of low tone and pitch of my voice regardless. Just like my physical size and build "ie" hands, feet, it's not something I can change. I'm always going to stand out in a crowd and being self-conscious doesn't help one bit, trust me I have grown up in this zone uncomfortable under scrutiny.🙁
I have seen amazing results with voice therapy.
Thank you for the advice! 🙏🏽I'll start this now
Most welcome.
I've been able to do voices and impressions for decades, but I had never been able to do a female-sounding voice until after I came out. Doing the voices and impressions gave me a vocal flexibility which I liken to being double-jointed. I had tried before, but it sounded terrible. I work in a call center, so I get LOTS of practice. I hardly ever get misgendered anymore because of my voice; on the rare occasions it does happen, it's usually because of my height (I'm 5' 11 1/2" tall.)
The female voice I have feels emotionally better to me. It's almost like it's become my real voice, and the old male-sounding voice I had has become the impression.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the info I have been needing to get started on my voice but did not really know how .
Best of luck to you.
Right, thanks doc
I had my first visit to a therapist but my voice is my weakest point and I care about it very much, so I want to start working on it as early as possible.
All the best to you.
As much as I'd love to be assumed to be female,there's no way I will pass visually. This I can actually do something about.
You'd be surprised how much of your perception of that is also dysphoria talking.
Thank you for the video. I am going to see a therapist about gender tomorrow. I am 26 and never thought I could transition. Voice is the big one for me. I just don't want to sound like a dude at all.
Best of luck to you.
DR Z Thank you one more time. My thoughts and experience. It is difficult-it takes time. Very important not to feel you are faking and in work. I work in hotel industry so a masculine voice in a female appearence is not a must. Dο it to be more passable my opinion. Thank you-Ευχαριστώ.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi, I began my voice feminization at the same time I started hormones. 12 weeks with a voice therapist at a hospital. It was affirming & effective. I use it when I’m out, but not as often as I should when at home. (My s.o. Is one of those who “tries” to understand, but really doesn’t). This answers a question I has for you re a video on “the first 3 things you should do” early on. Electrolysis, voice feminization and what’s # 3 please? Michelle
Hi and thanks for sharing. In my view, electrolysis, voice feminization and hair (if hair is an issue) are three main things for trans women in my opinion.
@@DRZPHD thank you. Voice is done, soon to start electrolysis, epilating body hair for @t least 1.5 years, head hair is thin & sparse on top. Not worth it. I did grow it lonf & get a woman styling. I guess I’m stuck with being a wig lady. Appreciate All your videos. As far as I’m concerned, you’re The go to authority. Relevant, succinct & actionable.
Thank you Dr. Z
You are very welcome
I plan on going to Yeson!
Before finishing the video, I feel it’s mainly that once you have transitioned (arguably the vastest transformation a human being can undergo), it’s very hard to build a new identity again - of which voice is so central to
Thanks for sharing. I feel its less of building a new identity and more of merging into a more authentic you as there are many qualities about you that will remain constant.
@@DRZPHD That’s true.
I was one of the lucky ones, born without an Adam's Apple but a higher pitched voice. Learned early on I was NOT a MAN MAN if you know what i mean. Legs that raised a whistle, oh how i laugh now. Had plenty of Army pers run behind me and mutter "those legs are better than my Wifes"! Never took offence as i was Hiding in plain sight so to say. Lucky i guess. Nature does win out in the end. So to those under 30, take heart it's certainly worth the journey. Kia Kaha Wahine Toa, UBIQUE
Thanks for sharing.
I'm wanting to do voice training to masculinise rather than taking hormones cuz I'm afraid hormones will give me side effects I dont want (nonbinary) even saw that if you're forwarded the proper ways in my country, most insurance companies will cover it for you. Just waiting to hear back from my GP about where she wants to forward me to but it is one of the things I want to work on since top surgery is likely going to be ways off regardless, will help me feel like I'm actually working towards something that I will notice on a daily basis.
Thanks for sharing.
Dr. Z,
Would you know if MtF Transitioning would have a Positive or Negative effect on Prostate Cancer?
I have been reading online where they use Hormone Therapy (i.e. Estrogen, androgen blockers...) to shrink Prostrate Cancer. So, would MtF Transitioning actually help the Prostrate
Sorry this is a good question for your medical doctor.
I was wondering if I should do this right away. I just started HRT on July 12, so now is a great time to start voice training.
Yup, never too early.
Medical science seems to be advancing exponentially. Im curious if you happen to know if there are any major advancements coming that are promising for those wishing to transition.
Hi. There is always minor advancement in the way surgery is performed. Including PPV option for trans women and no drainage top surgery for trans guys.
funny, started electrolysis little while ago & voice recently, didn't start HRT yet, want to work on those 1st
Best of luck to you.
OMG the entire process is overwhelming. I spend hours with call centers. here's a new pitch, am I believable? I've Benn downgraded so long, where do you reemerge?
Thanks for sharing.
Has it been mentioned that TransVoiceLessons has an excellent voice training channel where she takes a technical and biomechanical approach to it?
Thanks for sharing. She is an excellent resource and I also have her listed on my resources page.
I was just wondering earlier today weather it's too late for me to start voice training. I sent a recording to my friends and when i listened to myself, i hated it. I sound like most people's idea of a stereotypical gay man. There's nothing wrong with that voice, but i feel it doesn't suit me and makes it easier to "clock" me as trans. Im about 10 months on T now but because I still live with my parents I'm essentially hiding myself from them, which means having to speak more "feminine" during the day. I fear i may have ruined my vocal chords or otherwise slowed down the process of my voice dropping. It makes me sad to think about so i try not to 😅 i can't sing any more either. It sounds awful and hurts too much. I know I need voice training but idk how to balance the hiding from my parents and the being my true self when and where I can
Before transition I also tended to use a higher pitched voice in my second language. It's just something to do with how the language fits in my brain. Now when I try to use it in "male voice" i just don't know how. I never thought the pitch of my voice would affect my ability to use a language, ha
Never too late in my book.
Doctor, what if I still pass with my voice in public and on the phone, but I still feel that it is not feminine enough, at least to how I want it to be? It is very difficult when passing and being validated with the right pronouns, but deep down inside, you still are not happy with level of voice feminization?
Hi and thanks for sharing. If you pass, and thats your goal, sounds like you than have achieved it. Beyond that, there are personal inner subjective perceptions that may be skewed and inaccurate. So one has to work on inner confidence vs having a high bar to meet. Hope it helps.
@@DRZPHD Doctor, yes, your response is tremendously helpful and it further validates what I already know is true: inner confidence is key. I just hate it when gender dysphoria makes me question even the best of compliments paid towards me. For example, a woman had complimented my voice saying it sounded deep and sexy, but I automatically perceived this as being clocked. I was aware that I was too relaxed and not being too hyper vigilant with my voice modulation, so I viewed her compliment as a way of her saying “I know you’re trans”. I hate this. I don’t want to complimented on a “deep” voice. Can deep be feminine?
My voice is so deep I don't know if I'll ever be able to achieve even a slightly feminine voice. Guess I'll just pretend to be a mute in public 😆.
Ohh no I hope you won't
I'm still pre-everything and not out but I tried to start earlier but the moment I focus on my voice I get extremely dysphoric and can't go on, and stay like that for weeks/months until I try again and it happens again and I can't break this loop
Sorry to hear. Sadly, what you mention is another reason to start early. You can also practice your voice in privacy.
@@DRZPHD Thanks. I guess in my head my own judgement is as bad as others' but I'll have to push through it... Though it is hard
I've seen some very beautiful trans woman that actually pass as cis-gender and continues using their male voice. I don't understand why they don't even try. I've been practicing for over a year now.
It's called different preferences
@Cristina Gonzalez thanks for sharing. Voice is very subjective and many are very comfortable with their voice.
I want to start voice feminization lessons. But they are so expensive. I feel like I will never be passable.
I am so sorry to hear. There are many voice therapists who will work with you and can have monthly vs weekly sessions.
For me passability must be 100%. Thats why i think i will die like a full man without transition.
I am sorry to hear. Seems like a lot of pressure.
@@DRZPHD If it is, i dont feel it. Because i dont feel any real dysphoria. But i would feel it big time if im not 100% either way. Thank you! :)
Why doesn't Caitlyn Jenner try to feminize her voice? I feel that she's lazy and expects people to accept that she has a terrible voice. I would at least try.
Hi. In my opinion, voice is subjective and it seems she is comfortable with her voice. We dont know how she feels about it or her life to make assumptions.
I wonder how many people change perspectives when they talk in different voices like those who speak different languagea might. I know for myself when I'm at work and wearing my guy mask I subconsciously drop my voice to sound more masculine and it shapes my thought process as well. But soon as I take that mask off I become my feminine self and my voice automatically chnages to match. Maybe it's from theater and language classes that shaped my mind this way.
That's a really good point, James. Hadn't considered that. Cheers.
@James Sutterfield thats an interesting point. I would say its not so much a matter of perspectives per se, but that the more authentic voice enables you to connect to parts of you you have not yet seen, hence may feel like a changed perspective.