How to modify your voice

Pinch your nose while speaking. Closing off your nostrils when speaking is a quick way to significantly alter your voice, and the easiest way to do this is by pinching both sides of your nose to close your nostrils.

• You can also achieve a similar effect simply by blocking the airflow from your nose through your mouth.
• When speaking, air naturally flows through your mouth and nose. Pinching your nose prevents air from escaping through the nostrils, forcing it to stay deeper in your throat and mouth. This change in airflow and pressure causes your vocal cords to vibrate differently, thus altering the sound of your voice.

Use different expressions while speaking. You can try speaking with a smile or a frown, regardless of what you're saying.

• Expressions not only influence emotions but also alter the way words are formed, as the mouth's shape changes with different expressions.
• For example, compare the sound of "oh" when you're smiling versus when you're speaking normally. The regular "oh" will be rounder, while the one with a smile will sound shorter and slightly like an "ah" sound.

Choke your voice. Place a hand or a handkerchief over your nose when speaking. The object must be held directly over the mouth to create a stronger effect.

• Your voice, like any other sound, must travel through various mediums as sound waves. These sound waves travel differently through air compared to a solid medium. By placing an obstruction in front of your mouth, you force the sound waves to pass through it, altering how the listener perceives and interprets the sound.
  
  

Mumble. Create quieter sounds and keep your mouth more closed when speaking.

• Mumbling affects both the way words are formed and the attitude conveyed in your voice.
• When mumbling, the mouth is more closed than usual. Some sounds, when the mouth is barely open, are less affected, while sounds that require a wide mouth opening will change significantly.
• Consider how the sound of a simple word like "oh" changes. First, say "oh" with your mouth wide open, then repeat it with just a slight opening. You'll notice a difference if you listen closely.
• Mumbling also makes your speech quieter. The middle and clearer sounds can still be produced easily when speaking softly, but lighter sounds and final sounds are often blocked.
• Consider the difference in sound when repeating a phrase like "got it". Say it normally, and the final "t" will be pronounced, although in everyday speech the "t" often blends with the next word. Then, try repeating it with a softer and weaker tone. The vowels will still be heard, but the "t" will be much less noticeable.

Speak in a monotone voice. Most people naturally express some degree of emotion in their voice. Try focusing on keeping your voice even and steady. The less emotion you express, the more different your voice will sound.

• The easiest way to notice this difference is to ask a question in a monotone voice. Normally, when asking a question, our intonation rises. Saying the same question with a flat tone, without rising at the end, will make it sound very different.
• On the other hand, if people often tell you that your voice sounds too monotone, try to speak with more emotion. Think carefully about what you're saying and change your intonation based on the content. A good way to practice is to say a simple word like "Oh". When said in a distressed way, the tone will fall, but when said enthusiastically, the tone will rise.

Practice speaking with a regional accent. Choose a regional accent you like and study how it differs from your own. Every region has slight variations in speech, so you need to familiarize yourself with the features of each accent before you can convincingly speak with a local accent.

• British and Boston accents often drop the "r" sound at the end of words. For example, the word "later" sounds like "lata" and "butter" sounds like "butta".
• The long "A" sound is another common feature in many regions, including British, Boston, and several English-speaking countries in the southern hemisphere, such as New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. In these regions, the "a" sound is lengthened.

Find a smartphone app. Download voice-changing apps that allow you to record audio on your phone and play it back with sound-modifying filters. There are many different apps available, some free and some paid.

• Look for apps on the Apple App Store for iPhone, Windows Marketplace if you have a Windows phone, or Google Play for Android users.

Use computer software. Search for free text-to-speech software that can be downloaded. Once installed, you can type words into the software's text box and click the "Play" option to hear the text converted into speech.

Use a voice-changing device. While these devices may be difficult to find in stores, you can easily purchase them online.

• A mid-range voice changer typically costs between 500,000 to one million VND.
• Each voice changer may operate differently, so it's important to review the technical specifications to determine which one suits your needs. Most of these devices can alter the tone of your voice in various ways, and many are portable.
• Some devices require you to record audio beforehand, while others can modify your voice in real-time as you speak, with the altered sound transmitted through mobile phones or other speakers.
• Read the user manual carefully to understand how to use the device properly.

Listen to how your voice sounds. If you want to change your voice to be higher or lower, start by recording it to figure out the best approach. Use a recording device to capture your voice while speaking softly, loudly, and even when singing. How would you describe your voice? What would you like to alter?

• Is your voice nasal or hoarse?
• Is your voice hard to hear or easy to understand?
• Does your voice sound clear, or does it carry breath sounds?

Stop speaking through your nose. Many people have what is known as a "nasal" voice. A nasal voice tends to have a higher, unnatural pitch because it lacks enough resonance to produce deeper tones. It sounds thin and unclear. To eliminate this nasal quality, try the following:

• Make sure your airways are clear. If you suffer from allergies or nasal congestion, your voice may become blocked and sound nasal. Address any allergies, drink plenty of water, and ensure your sinuses are clear.
• Practice opening your mouth wide when speaking. Lower your jaw and pronounce words deeper in your mouth instead of using the soft palate area.

Avoid speaking from your throat. When adjusting a high-pitched voice, many people deliberately speak from their throat to create a fake deep tone. However, speaking from your throat can make it hard to control volume, causing your voice to sound muffled and difficult to understand. Furthermore, forcing your voice to sound deeper by speaking from your throat can strain your vocal cords, potentially leading to a sore throat and even voice loss over time.

• Practice breathing exercises and exercises to strengthen your voice. After some practice, you’ll be able to better utilize your vocal range.

Speak through the "mask" area. To make your voice deeper and fuller, you need to speak through the "mask," which refers to the area including both your lips and nose. Engaging the entire "mask" helps your voice sound lower and richer.

• To determine if you're speaking through the "mask," touch your lips and nose while speaking. You’ll feel vibrations if you're fully engaging this area. If you don’t feel vibrations at first, experiment with different sounds until you notice the effect, then continue practicing this technique.

Speak from your diaphragm. Deep breathing and speaking from your diaphragm is key to achieving a full, deep, and strong voice. When you breathe deeply, your abdomen moves up and down with each breath rather than your chest. You can practice diaphragm-based speech by pulling in your stomach to exhale while speaking. You’ll notice your voice becomes louder and clearer with this technique. Breathing exercises focused on deep breathing will remind you to speak from the diaphragm.

• Exhale fully, pushing all the air out of your lungs. Once the air is gone, your lungs will automatically take in a deep breath to meet the air demand. Be mindful of the sensation in your lungs as you inhale deeply.
• Inhale comfortably and hold your breath for about 15 seconds before exhaling. Gradually increase the hold time to 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and eventually up to 1 minute. This exercise will strengthen your diaphragm.
• Laugh freely, intentionally making the "ha ha ha" sound. Exhale all the air from your lungs as you laugh, then quickly inhale deeply.
• Lie on your back, placing a book or a firm object on your diaphragm. Relax your body and pay attention to the movement of your diaphragm, watching the book rise and fall with each breath. Pull your stomach in as much as you can when exhaling and repeat this until your waist naturally expands and contracts with your breath.
• Stand up and inhale deeply. Exhale while counting aloud from 1 to 5 in one breath. Repeat this exercise until you can comfortably count from 1 to 10 in one breath.
• Once you're familiar with this technique, you'll be able to speak in a way that people across the room can hear clearly, without straining your voice.

Change the pitch of your voice. Human voices are capable of producing sounds across a vocal range. You can temporarily adjust your voice by speaking at a higher or lower pitch.

• The pitch of your voice primarily depends on the movement of the laryngeal cartilage. This cartilage moves up and down in your throat when you sing a scale: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do.
• When the laryngeal cartilage is raised, your voice will sound higher and more feminine. Lowering it will make your voice sound deeper, more masculine.
• To speak with a lower voice, try exercises that relax your throat, such as yawning or opening your mouth widely in a vertical direction. As you speak with your mouth open, you’ll notice your voice becoming fuller, stronger, and deeper.

Take care of your vocal cords. Vocal cords, like your skin, need to be protected from premature aging. If you strain your vocal cords, your voice can become hoarse, breathy, or raspy. To protect them, follow these steps:

• Avoid smoking. Smoking greatly affects your voice, causing a gradual loss of volume and range. If you want to maintain a clear, strong voice, it’s best to quit smoking.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Excessive drinking can cause premature aging of your voice.
• Inhale fresh air. If you live in a polluted area, plant indoor plants to purify the air and try to spend more time outside breathing fresh air.
• Avoid shouting too much. If you're a fan of hardcore music or enjoy yelling occasionally, remember that overusing your voice can lead to strain. Many singers suffer from laryngitis or other vocal disorders due to excessive vocal cord use.

Monitor your stress levels. When people are stressed or surprised, the muscles around the larynx contract, resulting in a higher-pitched voice. If you're frequently anxious, nervous, or stressed, this higher-pitched voice may become your regular speaking tone. There are methods to stay calm that can help keep your voice steady and full.

• Take a few deep breaths before speaking. In addition to calming you down, this helps you speak from your diaphragm, improving the sound quality of your voice.
• Take 10 seconds to think before reacting. Taking time to center yourself before responding to anxiety or surprise allows you to have more control over your voice. Think, swallow, and speak – you’ll notice your voice becoming steadier and more comfortable.

Practice singing. Singing along with an instrument or accompaniment is a great way to expand your vocal range and maintain vocal cord health. You can also challenge yourself by singing songs outside your usual vocal range. Each time you sing along, try to match the notes and pitch as closely as possible to the singer, but be mindful not to strain your voice.

• Use piano accompaniment and start singing a scale: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do. Begin with the most comfortable and natural pitch.
• Repeat the scale, each time increasing the pitch by one note until your voice starts to feel strained. When you feel strain, stop.
• Repeat the scale again, this time decreasing the pitch by one note and stopping when you feel tension in your voice.
• Keep your throat muscles relaxed to produce lower sounds more easily.

• Voice changer device
• Smartphone
• Computer