Voice Changing?

[Mikahcho]

Is it possible to chang what your voice sounds like? I mean permanently. I did find one ebook on causing your voice to become much deeper in a few easy steps, but I never bought it to find out how.

The reason I'm asking is that I don't feel my voice is... Well, to be completely honest, very nice to listen to.

Any procedures will be read, and thanks for responding/Reading (:

^_^

[Darth Bellows]

What specifically do you notice that you want to change? Has anyone else commented on this? Is it easy for other people to understand you when you speak?

The voice expresses your inner state and your emotions. Are they all good? More specifically is your posture good? The Alexander Technique can help here in identifying and releasing tension.

Then for pitch, resonance, tone and accent you need to identify specific areas that you want to control. There are acting/singing/vocal techniques to use what you've got and increase your control.

[Mikahcho]

Hmmm, damn, you're right, I was way too vague, I should have specified an area or something...

What specifically do you notice that you want to change? Has anyone else commented on this? Is it easy for other people to understand you when you speak?

It's a bit... murmurish? It's really deep. It used to be hard to understand what I was saying, but that seems to have disappeared as my confidence grew overtime.

I've been asked by a lot of people in the past to do a terminator impression, if that helps.

I suppose my resonanse is pretty low and my tone needs work ¬_¬

Specific enough? d:

[supertom]

Basically you hum, and try to find the spot that you like, and you keep focusing on that. The theory is that your mind has like a voice memory, and it finds that spot when ever you speak.

So try to sound like you want try different thing it could take a while but you'll find the spot your looking for, and you can practice that spot until it locks in.

Im sorry i couldnt articulate it, but i have those voice boosk and thats what they teach. They also teach diaphragmatic breathing, improving your posture and strengthening your neck muscles.

[Mikahcho]

I've already read up on how to use diaphragmatic breathing, and I feel I've got that aspect right (:

When I breath in, I can make sure that I breath out, expanding my stomach like a frogs, rather than moving my chest in and out.

I've read alot about posture too, but I need to work on that a bit more.

Neck muscles... I've still got ot read up on it properly, but I've picked up a few tips ^_^

But the humming technique you just described sounds simple and makes some sense. Hmmm, thanks, I think I'll be trying that one!

And don't worry about sounding smart in your posts, I don't either ;d

[bluelighth]

You remember your questions on singing? same answer here. You can change it, and the way is specific to you.

Lee-Orr

[Mikahcho]

But I'm after specific processes anyone can use to change their voice.

I read something about lying down on your bed with your head hanging, and bending your neck all the way to the left or the right until your neck REALLY starts burning, and then do it the other way. Apparently about 15 minutes of this a day will deepen your voice within a week

d:

[RagsToRiches]

Originally Posted by Mikahcho

Is it possible to chang what your voice sounds like? I mean permanently. I did find one ebook on causing your voice to become much deeper in a few easy steps, but I never bought it to find out how.

The reason I'm asking is that I don't feel my voice is... Well, to be completely honest, very nice to listen to.

Any procedures will be read, and thanks for responding/Reading (:

^_^

Yes you can, but voice is a complex thing. Don't push it too hard too fast or you risk damaging it.

Vocal chords adapt quite slowly.

Begin by learning how to sing - LOUDLY... An hour a day, 5 days a week, for a few months and you're well on your way.

Then you need to work on a combination of projection, tonality, and confidence (voice is designed to reflect confidence, they improve side by side ... in my experience).

Don't work on depth - depth is a red herring. Guys with "booming" deep voices which they "developed" sound ridiculous.

You want vibrant tonality - you want a strong vibratory tone more than anything else. That is determined by the strength of your chords, which you will develop through talking loudly and confidently.

One mroe thing - check out your diet. Dairy stimulates the creation of mucas which will clog your chords. Other foods can dry your throat etc... you need to bear this stuff in mind.

Good luck!

Rich

[Mikahcho]

Okies...... Loud talking, loud singing and confidence are all pluses
Depth, dairy and developing too fast are all no-nos

Cheers (:

Any other foods I should be watching out for?

Thanks guys for the advice! I know I can't sing well, no matter how much you guys try to persuade me ^_^

But I can try improving my voice (:

[Darth Bellows]

Originally Posted by Mikahcho

It's a bit... murmurish? It's really deep. It used to be hard to understand what I was saying, but that seems to have disappeared as my confidence grew overtime.

That's great. I'd say relaxation, confidence and mood are your number one influence so go with that. It's easy to overanalyze this stuff. There are lots of exercises out there if you want greater vocal control but primarily you just want to cultivate bodily peace and free, confident movement.

Originally Posted by Mikahcho

I suppose my resonanse is pretty low and my tone needs work ¬_¬ Specific enough? d:

One exercise for resonance awareness: Lie on your back. Hum a middle note. Then slide down in pitch. You'll prob feel resonance in your chest spreading into the floor. Play around with your chest resonance. See how much you can create! Next, slide your voice up to a high but comfortable pitch (you're not going for any records here, stay comfortable). See if you can make your face and nose resonate. And your head in general. This is your head voice. Play around. Focus it on your nose. Focus on your cheeks. Take control of the resonance. Then try speaking and singing things while playing with your resonance. Once you've played around with yours, notice how pros like newsreaders use their resonance. Try mimicing them and cartoon voices. Have fun with it.

[Darth Bellows]

Originally Posted by Mikahcho

But I'm after specific processes anyone can use to change their voice.

I read something about lying down on your bed with your head hanging, and bending your neck all the way to the left or the right until your neck REALLY starts burning, and then do it the other way. Apparently about 15 minutes of this a day will deepen your voice within a week

d:

Um......any vocal teachers in the house? My alarm bells are ringing here. Do not try this at home, please. You will find the range of your voice easily with a professional teacher. He or she will not ask you to strain your neck. Ergh.

Drink a lot of vodkda and smoke a pack of cigarettes. You'll be singing like a Russian bass the next day. But does it sound very healthy to you? :P

[bluelighth]

I am still waiting for a recording, and I'm sure you can learn to sing well... You're giving up way too easily with singing.

As for general pointers - Try talking loud, while feeling comfortable. The most important thing is that whatever you do should feel good.
And - strenghening the neck muscles like that excercise won't work, at least not directly. Those muscles should actually relax more, in most cases.

Again - to give real pointers I'd need to hear something.

Lee-Orr

[Mikahcho]

I am still waiting for a recording, and I'm sure you can learn to sing well... You're giving up way too easily with singing.

Yeah.... about that.... I'm really sorry >_<
Everytime I do record myself, I listen to it and my voice disgusts me, I can't bear uploading it. Even if I'll probably never ever see any of you in person, I just hate the thought of it being up here........ >_____<

Maybe if I can make my voice more crisp, I'd be more comfortable with trying to improve on my singing...

As for general pointers - Try talking loud, while feeling comfortable. The most important thing is that whatever you do should feel good.
And - strenghening the neck muscles like that excercise won't work, at least not directly. Those muscles should actually relax more, in most cases.

Thanks for those tips, the reason I never tried the neck burning excersize was the fear that it might do damage.


Thanks Darth Bellows, Imma try that humming excersize tonight whilst trying to fall asleep :3
I've recently been humming, trying to smoothly move between my head and chest voice, but never tried it whilst lying flat down d:

And I don't drink or smoke hahaha

[Darth Bellows]

Originally Posted by Mikahcho

Thanks Darth Bellows, Imma try that humming excersize tonight whilst trying to fall asleep :3 I've recently been humming, trying to smoothly move between my head and chest voice, but never tried it whilst lying flat down d:

Pleasure. By the way, I should have given better instructions. That exercise is meant for lying on the floor, so that your resonance will be picked up and reflected by the floor boards. I got that from a book called "The Voice Book" by M McCallion, which has loads of interesting exercises and info. Knees up, arms by your side, put a small book under your head...hum away

[Mikahcho]

Originally Posted by Darth Bellows

Pleasure. By the way, I should have given better instructions. That exercise is meant for lying on the floor, so that your resonance will be picked up and reflected by the floor boards. I got that from a book called "The Voice Book" by M McCallion, which has loads of interesting exercises and info. Knees up, arms by your side, put a small book under your head...hum away

Haha, thanks for the specifics (:
Floor boards? So a wooden floor would be the best... Hmmm, having a big family, it'd be difficult to do without being easily embarrassed hahaha! I'll try it when I can :3

[bluelighth]

Would you prefer skype/msn voice chat to recording something? If so, PM me your details, and we might find a good time. One thing though - if you want, I can point you to people who are far more experienced than me(I'm mainly experienced at the recieving end of vocal coaching), and will probably be able to help more.

Enjoy!

P.S

Hmmm, having a big family, it'd be difficult to do without being easily embarrassed

Its very likely that if vocal practice isn't embarrising, you're doing something wrong :P That, at least, is my experience. Very few of the excercises, especially in the beginning, sound "pleasant" or "good".... they tend to be more "comical"

[Mikahcho]

Hmmm, how does an audio sound? Just my voice, talking, saying a simple sentence, instead of singing?

[rawxstasy]

Try the book "Love your Voice" It explains different voices and how they can happen. It teaches breathing exercises to help with speaking. There's also a CD with it and you follow along with the vocal exercises. The first few times I did the exercises, my throat was tired!! But it works.

I used it only a couple of months ago, after about five days I noticed a big improvement. I also noticed that people responded differently to me. ( I was told I have a monotone voice, I also felt that I speak rather slow, giving the impression that I am not intelligent - when that is not the case at all)

I used the CD everyday for about three weeks. I still want to make some minor changes, which I will do when I have more time to focus on it. I was very happy with the book and CD.

[vanica28]

Originally Posted by Mikahcho

Is it possible to chang what your voice sounds like? I mean permanently. I did find one ebook on causing your voice to become much deeper in a few easy steps, but I never bought it to find out how.

The reason I'm asking is that I don't feel my voice is... Well, to be completely honest, very nice to listen to.

Any procedures will be read, and thanks for responding/Reading (:

^_^

I THINK YOU NEED IT

[Mikahcho]

I THINK YOU NEED IT

THAT ISN'T VERY NICE

Try the book "Love your Voice" It explains different voices and how they can happen. It teaches breathing exercises to help with speaking. There's also a CD with it and you follow along with the vocal exercises. The first few times I did the exercises, my throat was tired!! But it works.

I used it only a couple of months ago, after about five days I noticed a big improvement. I also noticed that people responded differently to me. ( I was told I have a monotone voice, I also felt that I speak rather slow, giving the impression that I am not intelligent - when that is not the case at all)

I used the CD everyday for about three weeks. I still want to make some minor changes, which I will do when I have more time to focus on it. I was very happy with the book and CD.

Thanks, Imma look for it tomorrow (working through the night right now). Sounds pretty impressive..... Hmmm, but I don't wanna get my hopes up :3