Skip to content
Welcome to QueerDoc
Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin
Request Appointment
Search
Close this search box.
MENU

Safely Changing Pitch: Finding Your Voice

  • March 21, 2022

Our last blog series focused on physical activity for transgender folx. Today, we start a series on voice and voice training. Jordan Jakomin joins us today to discuss his approach to finding your voice and safely changing your pitch. This week and next week, Jordan provides tools to identify your starting pitch and some exercises for safely moving your pitch higher or lower.

Jordan Jakomin, a white person with short dark hair and light beard growth smiles at the camera. He is wearing a dark blue shirt and stands in front of out of focus greenery. | QueerDoc Voice Training

Jordan Jakomin (he/him,) is a queer speech-language pathologist and wellness coach. He’s the owner of Jordan Ross Communication, an online private practice dedicated to making voice and communication training safe, affirming, and empowering for trans and nonbinary people.

Jordan’s career and love for travel have led him to work with the LGBTQIA+ community in schools, hospitals, and private practice clinics across the United States, Spain, and Brazil. He holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a member of The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). After receiving his B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Elmhurst College, and interning at Stanford University, he earned his M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at St. Ambrose University, Iowa.

Safely Changing Pitch: Finding Your Voice

For some trans and nonbinary individuals, their voice may not align with their gender identity and/or gender expression. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) specializing in gender-affirming voice and communication can play an essential role in helping their clients reduce vocal dysphoria.

The gender-diverse individual should always be the one in control of their voice, while the SLP’s role is to guide them on how to modify pitch, resonance, and intonation. Additional elements of voice training include releasing vocal tension, developing awareness of breathing patterns, and modifying vocal actions like laughing, coughing, sneezing.

In this and next week’s blogs, I’ll guide you through some pitch exercises and helpful apps that you can use for at-home practice. Before we jump into the exercises, it’s important to understand the definition of pitch.

Pitch

Pitch: Refers to how high or low the sound of your voice is perceived and describes how fast your vocal cords vibrate per second. “Hz” is the symbol for “Hertz.” A Hertz is a unit of frequency equal to 1 vibration per second. Sounds made by faster vibrations have more Hertz and are higher in pitch.

So, if you measure your pitch and find out that you’re speaking at 130 Hz (or the note C3 on the piano), it means your vocal cords are vibrating at 130 times per second.

The notes of octave A2 and their corresponding Hertz are in two vertical columns. Image background is of treble and bass clef staves in light grey. | QueerDoc Voice Training

It’s important to know your starting point so you can move your pitch higher or lower without causing vocal tension.

You may experience vocal tension as tightness or discomfort in the muscles around the larynx (voice box) while speaking. If your voice sounds rough, hoarse, or strained, that may also be a sign of vocal tension. A slow and gradual approach to changing your pitch can avoid vocal tension.

Using your voice with excessive muscle tension and inefficient breathing patterns can lead to something called “Muscle Tension Dysphonia”. This can also lead to inflammation or nodules on the vocal folds. This can negatively affect vocal clarity and your ability to project.

I recommend using the app Voice Tools to perform your own mini acoustic analysis. In the “analyze” section of the application, you can record yourself reading out loud, and the app will calculate your average pitch.

Text on dark gray background with a red horizontal stripe near the bottom of the image. A black microphone image is centered on the red stripe. | QueerDoc Voice Training
Image of the screen in Voice Tools where the average pitch of a read selection is identified. There is a vertical light gray bar and light gray circle to the right of the bar on a darker gray background. The bar is a scale of pitch from 50Hz at the bottom to 350Hz at the top of the scale. A dark gray horizontal bar is near the bottom of the bar. The circle contains the text "114.8Hz." A light gray section at the bottom of the image contains the text "Pitch: Average 114.8Hz Median 114.2Hz High (95%) 129.1Hz" 114.8Hz has a purple circle around it. | QueerDoc Voice Training

In my approach, I categorize pitch into three ranges: low, neutral, and high.

Pitch Categories

Low: 90-140 Hz
Neutral: 140-180 Hz
High: 180-220 HZ

In the example above, the average pitch is around 114 Hz (low zone) which is closest to the note A# on the piano. If this person were seeking a higher or lighter voice, I wouldn’t suggest starting pitch exercises in the high zone because it may cause tension or strain.

A suggested starting point could be the notes D3 (146 Hz), D# (155 Hz), or E3 (164 Hz). You slowly and systematically want to work your way up the scale and stop at a place that feels comfortable and affirming for your unique voice. It’s possible to make it to the high zone (if that is your goal) with time and practice.

The app Voice Tools is available in both the App Store and Google Play.

Next week, Jordan leads us through some pitch exercises intended to help you change your starting pitch safely.

*** Disclaimer

This blog is for entertainment, informational, and general educational purposes only and should not be considered to be healthcare advice or medical diagnosis, treatment or prescribing. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Share This Post

More To Explore

5/29 – Your Legal Rights In Healthcare: Consent vs. Assent

05/29/2023

5/22 – Super Useful Handouts By Other Organizations

05/22/2023

Getting PrEP

05/17/2023

22 Scintillating Sex Ed Handouts and Resources

05/15/2023

Request a free 15-minute introductory
appointment to find out more!

Request Appointment

What our amazing clients say

We are getting a lot of love!

Progress Pride flag colors in a stripe, LGBTQ+, trans flag
I just had an appointment with queerdoc and it was amazing. I was using another telehealth company and queerdoc was much more individualized. The doctor actually took about 4 hours after our initial visit which was about an hour, to give me an individualized treatment plan. Answered all my questions throughout. Explaied why the treatment most likely didn't work the way I wanted it to with the last place I was with. I also like that the actual prescriptions are through whatever pharmacy you want to use, not just you have to pay us this no if and or buts. They also wrote me a letter of support for laser hair removal as hrt won't necessarily "stop" the hair growth. Also I l love that it's a sliding scale so you pay what you can afford within their set prices.
u/lillyABDLmtf
u/lillyABDLmtfReddit
I couldn't have felt happier and I'm finally able to start being the person I've always been meant to be after 27 years. Thanks to Dr. Lin-Fan Wang MD, she helped ease my everything during the process and I highly recommend her and she's accepting new patients. But practices only in certain states and does telehealth for it via ( https://queerdoc.com/ ). Very good service and no gatekeeping (https://www.reddit.com/r/MtF/comments/wn6tb8/can_officially_say_i_started_my_medical/)
Redditor
RedditorReddit
They have Very thorough information. They were very understanding and even found a translator for my guardian. They care and They can help.
Anonymous
AnonymousEmail
Process was super quick, easy, and I felt extremely comfortable. I met with Dr. Wang and after discussing all of my options I had my prescription the same day less than two hours later. Especially in light of certain socio-political difficulties we are currently facing I cannot recommend QueerDoc enough!
Fae
FaeEmail
Hello, my name is Zoey and I'm a psychology undergrad attending the University of Wyoming. I've been receiving care from QueerDoc for the past few months, and it has hands-down been the best experience I've ever had with any organization. Growing up, it always seemed like getting HRT was an unattainable goal for me and it's been like magic to get a prescription without being dragged around by paperwork and red tape.
Zoey
ZoeyQueerDoc Patient
Excellent treatment, thorough information, great experience overall
 Gunnar Gill
Gunnar GillGoogle Reviewer
They can help
Iris Luna
Iris LunaGoogle Reviewer
Dr. Beal is empathetic, knowledgeable, responsive, and enthusiastic about helping their patients. I would recommend them to anyone!
QueerDoc Patient
QueerDoc PatientHealthgrades Reviewer
Crystal is a very good HRT doctor. She provides plenty of options for types of estrogen and T blockers instead of just spiro to suit people's wants and needs. She was very friendly when she talked to me and my family and I felt comfortable communicating with her about everything. Highly recommend her if you want treatment that is more personal and flexible to your needs :)
Miss Mario
Miss MarioHealthgrades Reviewer
I am feeling very hopeful, safe and excited about this option and just want to let you know how grateful I am for your assistance and your research.
QueerDoc Care Navigation Client
QueerDoc Care Navigation ClientMoon
Amazing bedside manor. Doctor bell made me feel heard and seen. I felt entirely comfortable disclosing information that normally I'd be apprehensive about sharing. I've never had a doctor talk smack about capitalism ever, and I truly felt seen when she did that. Thanks for everything doctor.
5 Star Reviewer
5 Star Reviewerat Sharecare.com
Dr. Beal does telehealth visits, which were extremely convenient before this pandemic and are now a necessity. This is especially helpful in that nothing about the appointment process was interrupted or changed by the pandemic. Dr. Beal is friendly, attentive, and well organized. Even between appointments, if I need to get something clarified or resolved, I get a timely response via the secure messaging system attached to the appointment portal. I always feel good about these visits.
QueerDoc Patient
QueerDoc PatientHealthgrades Reviewer
Great Medical services from the safety of your own home!
Reviewer
ReviewerFacebook
Entirely professional, usage of telehealth was convenient for me, and they helped me, and continue to help me figure out a dosage and regime of medications that have massively improved my life. I cannot be more grateful.
QueerDoc Patient
QueerDoc PatientHealthgrades Reviewer
Very warm, welcoming and very attentive to my needs. Gave me choices and a chance to give input with regards my treatment.
QueerDoc Patient
QueerDoc PatientHealthgrades Reviewer
Dr Beal guided me through my gender reaffirming journey in a safe, informed, and compassionate manner.. I just can't thank them enough !!
QueerDoc Patient
QueerDoc PatientHealthgrades Reviewer
I'm so beyond happy someone told me about you. I think I've said this to you before, but I had given in. I had decided I was just going to suppress and hide my true self the rest of my life. I can't believe I held back all these years! Owning who you are and being yourself is one of the best things a person can do! I'm so happy! There are not words to convey it properly other than, thank you.
Philip
PhilipQueerDoc Patient

Support our gender diverse community in our often uphill battle for equitable access to affirming Healthcare.

TransFamily Support Services and QueerDoc have partnered together to create a scholarship fund!

DONATE NOW
QueerDoc Logo
  • (541) 604-8276
  • (352) 553-4934
  • info@queerdoc.com
Get Social With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin
featured IN
WPATH 2023 Badge
Talk to Us

© 2023 QueerDoc • All rights reserved | Cookies

d&d by mobian

Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept", you consent to our use of cookies.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Main Menu
  • What we do
    • Telemedicine Services
    • Provider Education
    • Organizational Services
  • Who we are
    • Meet the Team
    • Work with Us
  • How It Works
    • Getting Started
    • Before Your Visit
    • All The E
    • All The T
    • All the NB (nonbinary, genderqueer, gender fluid…)
    • Self-Injections
    • Patient Forms
  • Pricing
    • Our Pricing
    • Scholarship Based Care
  • Resources
    • Youth Gender Care
    • Gender Expression Resources
    • Gender Affirming Surgery
    • Legal Transition Consult
    • Gender Care Navigation
    • Insurance Dictionary
    • Pharmacies
    • Video Library
    • Virtual Resources
    • Virtual Communities and Support Groups
    • State Based LGBTQ+ Resources
  • Blog
  • Portal
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase TextIncrease Text
  • Decrease TextDecrease Text
  • GrayscaleGrayscale
  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Readable FontReadable Font
  • Reset Reset