- Joined
- Dec 21, 2012
- Messages
- 128
Kyuu,
You might have heard before about this pretty popular technique of voice deepening, but while it seems on the surface like bullshit, it actually works for people, and has worked perfectly for me. Doing this exercise not only pretty permanently deepened my voice, but makes it a ton easier for me to actively draw the perfect sounding voice out of my diaphragm.
This is the exercise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BZvy5So1vM
P.S, I would do it in private, someone might think you need to be committed if you start doing it in public.
You might have heard before about this pretty popular technique of voice deepening, but while it seems on the surface like bullshit, it actually works for people, and has worked perfectly for me. Doing this exercise not only pretty permanently deepened my voice, but makes it a ton easier for me to actively draw the perfect sounding voice out of my diaphragm.
This is the exercise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BZvy5So1vM
P.S, I would do it in private, someone might think you need to be committed if you start doing it in public.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 461
Hey Kyuu,
I wondered the same thing, and I was looking for more concrete advice. So I asked my voice teacher and he told me that he used a book called "The Voice Book" to help improve his voice. I'm still working on it. If I had to sum it up, it would be to think your voice forward so that the front of your face (called the maxilla) vibrates which creates a more resonant voice and to open your airway to get the best voice possible. Another trick my voice teacher told me was to think like there was cotton in your throat.
Here is the link for the book on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Book-Caring ... 1556528299
I wondered the same thing, and I was looking for more concrete advice. So I asked my voice teacher and he told me that he used a book called "The Voice Book" to help improve his voice. I'm still working on it. If I had to sum it up, it would be to think your voice forward so that the front of your face (called the maxilla) vibrates which creates a more resonant voice and to open your airway to get the best voice possible. Another trick my voice teacher told me was to think like there was cotton in your throat.
Here is the link for the book on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Book-Caring ... 1556528299
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 25
Hey Kyuu
I worked on radio for a time, so I know a little about this.
1: Clarity
This is a fundamental skill. Start here - There's no point working on anything else until you are competent in this. Maybe you speak too fast, or mumble, or pause too often. Read aloud; Shakespeare soliloquies incorporate verbose language with natural phrasing. If that's not your style, try movie speeches, or great speeches from history. Record yourself and become accustomed to how your voice sounds to others, then strive for clarity
2: Pitch and Inflection
With inflection comes a huge scope of meaning. Let's use the word "What" as an example. If you pitch upwards, it conveys confusion. If you keep the pitch flat and elongate the vowel, it implies exasparation. If you pitch downwards it implies disgusts, like you don't give a shit. However, this is simplistic. The subtlest of changes can completely reverse the meaning of words. Consider this conversation:
Kyuu: "Hey bro, do you mind if I borrow your car?"
Jarradical: (Starting high and pitching lower) "No!"
In contrast with
Kyuu: "Hey bro, do you mind if I borrow your car?"
Jarradical: (Starting low, emphasising the consonant and elongating the vowel) "No!"
Hopefully this comes across - It will be obvious in conversation. Anyway, enough of my boring lecture.
3: Bonus tips
Ever noticed how the movie voiceover guy does a huge pitch drop after each sentence? Practise that whenever you want to give weight to something you are saying. Here's an overly clear example.
And finally, use your diaphragm to support all the way through each sentence, then take a (slow and quiet) breath. That's the closest thing you'll get to a cheat code in this endeavour.
Cheers
Jarradical
I worked on radio for a time, so I know a little about this.
1: Clarity
This is a fundamental skill. Start here - There's no point working on anything else until you are competent in this. Maybe you speak too fast, or mumble, or pause too often. Read aloud; Shakespeare soliloquies incorporate verbose language with natural phrasing. If that's not your style, try movie speeches, or great speeches from history. Record yourself and become accustomed to how your voice sounds to others, then strive for clarity
2: Pitch and Inflection
With inflection comes a huge scope of meaning. Let's use the word "What" as an example. If you pitch upwards, it conveys confusion. If you keep the pitch flat and elongate the vowel, it implies exasparation. If you pitch downwards it implies disgusts, like you don't give a shit. However, this is simplistic. The subtlest of changes can completely reverse the meaning of words. Consider this conversation:
Kyuu: "Hey bro, do you mind if I borrow your car?"
Jarradical: (Starting high and pitching lower) "No!"
In contrast with
Kyuu: "Hey bro, do you mind if I borrow your car?"
Jarradical: (Starting low, emphasising the consonant and elongating the vowel) "No!"
Hopefully this comes across - It will be obvious in conversation. Anyway, enough of my boring lecture.
3: Bonus tips
Ever noticed how the movie voiceover guy does a huge pitch drop after each sentence? Practise that whenever you want to give weight to something you are saying. Here's an overly clear example.
And finally, use your diaphragm to support all the way through each sentence, then take a (slow and quiet) breath. That's the closest thing you'll get to a cheat code in this endeavour.
Cheers
Jarradical
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2012
- Messages
- 430
Pitch and inflection is a good one actually, it's something that adds life to your speech.
Think of the difference between a boring and lifeless lecturer and an exciting and inviting one. You can almost feel the energy in the voice.
I use a lot of humour this way, saying the same thing twice with different connotations. It's a bit hard to explain verbally but stuff like.
"You want sex?" - questioning
"You want sex!" - surprise
It's the verbal version of body language and it's a very useful push/pull tool.
Another example of saying something like "Your an ass" the same way you say "I love you".
There's really so much you can do especially if you have a good vocal range.
Again another example think which sounds better.
James bond saying "hello sexy" in a deep masculine voice. (although he's unlikely to say that)
Or
Mickey mouse saying it....
Think of the difference between a boring and lifeless lecturer and an exciting and inviting one. You can almost feel the energy in the voice.
I use a lot of humour this way, saying the same thing twice with different connotations. It's a bit hard to explain verbally but stuff like.
"You want sex?" - questioning
"You want sex!" - surprise
It's the verbal version of body language and it's a very useful push/pull tool.
Another example of saying something like "Your an ass" the same way you say "I love you".
There's really so much you can do especially if you have a good vocal range.
Again another example think which sounds better.
James bond saying "hello sexy" in a deep masculine voice. (although he's unlikely to say that)
Or
Mickey mouse saying it....