Buzz
Whether you're aspiring to become a radio host or simply want your voice to sound more authoritative, speaking in a deeper tone can be highly beneficial. While there's limited information available on this topic, we've conducted in-depth research to confirm that breath control is the first method to practice. You can also achieve a deeper voice by articulating clearly and trying immediate techniques, such as swallowing before speaking.
Steps
Articulate Clearly
Practice speaking in front of a mirror. Stand straight and hold your head high. Keep your chin slightly raised. Then, say your name and listen to the sound. Alternatively, read a passage from an article or a book. Assess the volume, tone, breath, and especially the pitch of your voice.
- Pitch is determined by the frequency of your vocal cord vibrations.
- If your voice sounds high or shrill, it means your vocal cords are vibrating at a higher frequency.
- If your voice sounds low or deep, it means your vocal cords are vibrating at a lower frequency.
Relax your throat. When attempting to speak in a deeper tone than usual, your voice is less likely to crack. Aim to relax your throat as much as possible, ensuring your vocal cords aren’t overly tense.
- Keep your larynx hydrated and maintain clear sound production by occasionally producing saliva and swallowing.
Practice reading exercises. Choose a short passage from one of your favorite books or articles. Practice reading it slowly and in a soft voice. If you notice yourself reading too quickly, you might lose vocal tone. Keep your chin slightly raised, breathe deeply from your diaphragm, and read the passage.
Use mobile apps for voice training. There are numerous smartphone or tablet apps available to help you train your vocal cords in your free time. These apps allow you to work toward specific goals and track your progress. For example, you can try one of the following:
- The Vocular app measures how deep your voice is. It shows you the depth of your voice and even lets you compare it to celebrities with similar vocal tones.
- The Eva app is designed for transgender users currently transitioning and looking to alter their voice characteristics, such as pitch, tone, or breathiness.
Try humming. Hum deeply from your throat with your lips slightly parted and your chin tilted downward toward your chest to warm up your voice. Humming exercises are an excellent warm-up for musicians, singers, and anyone looking to improve their vocal quality.
- Gradually raise your chin while humming and then begin speaking in that hummed tone to produce a deeper sound.
Speak from your mouth. Instead of speaking nasally, focus on using your mouth. While it’s possible to produce a deep tone through your nose, it’s better to achieve depth without nasal resonance.
- Avoid using sounds that are too light, thin, flat, hollow, or chest-resonant (often referred to as chest voice).
Practice vocal articulation. Learn to speak in a way that allows you to hear your own voice clearly. Don’t hold back your diaphragm while mastering this technique. Breathe from your diaphragm, feeling the air move from your abdomen to your chest and then out through your mouth.
Gradually adjust your vocal tone. Avoid rushing into intense voice training to prevent straining your vocal cords. Start by practicing for short periods, focusing on staying within the lower half of your natural vocal range. Over time, carefully lower your pitch further, giving yourself ample time to adapt.
- Have fun experimenting with friends and family to gauge their reactions (they’ll likely be forgiving). Try humorous or quirky tones to improve your control. Keep working toward your goal to ensure your voice sounds the way you want it to.
Try instant techniques
Keep your chin slightly raised. Good posture helps maintain a deep and clear voice. Instead of letting your head tilt downward or to the side while speaking, aim to keep your head straight and your chin slightly lifted.
- Posture is crucial for achieving a strong and resonant voice.
Swallow before speaking. A quick tip for achieving a deeper voice is to perform a swallowing motion right before you speak. You don’t need to swallow anything—just imagine doing so and then speak. Your voice will naturally sound slightly lower than usual.
Speak slowly. Try speaking slower than usual. Lower your pitch at the start of a sentence and then continue speaking at a slower pace. Speaking too quickly can raise the pitch of your voice.
Avoid loud or irritable tones. This habit can strain your vocal cords and may also indicate a health issue, such as strep throat.
- Avoid smoking. While smoking might give you a raspy or breathy voice, it will harm your health in the long run, including your vocal cords and lungs.
- If you have a persistent hoarse voice, consider getting a health checkup.
Control your breathing
Breathe naturally. Take a moment to observe the quality of your breathing. Notice whether you’re inhaling through your mouth or nose. Don’t try to change your breathing right now—just focus on being aware and breathing naturally.
Experiment with breathing techniques. Try inhaling through your nose and pushing the breath deep into your abdomen. Then, as you exhale, say “hello.” Listen to the pitch and depth of your voice. For comparison, try the same exercise but inhale into your chest or throat. The sound will be higher when inhaling into your throat, medium when inhaling into your chest, and deeper when inhaling into your diaphragm.
Practice diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Take deep breaths into your lower diaphragm. As you exhale, say something you’d like to express. Your voice will sound deeper when you breathe into your lower abdomen.
- Keep your mouth naturally open to speak normally. Avoid pursing your lips, puckering, or puffing your cheeks.
Expert Tips
Here are some exercises I use with my clients:
- Take deep breaths and hiss as you exhale. After inhaling deeply, clench your teeth and slowly release the air from your lungs to create a hissing sound. This expands your chest and deepens your voice before speaking.
- Open your mouth as wide as possible and try to yawn. This action pushes your larynx down your throat, making your voice deeper. Repeat this 4 or 5 times before speaking, but avoid yawning too forcefully to prevent vocal strain.
- Create chest resonance. Inhale deeply and hum for as long as possible. Humming warms and extends your vocal cords, resulting in a deeper tone.
Tips
- Record your voice. Purchase or borrow a recorder and make a short recording of yourself reading a passage from an article or book.
- Many singers and performers drink ginger tea before major performances. While there’s no scientific proof that ginger tea aids vocal training, many performers believe it helps them relax and warms their vocal cords.
- If your budget allows, consider enrolling in a public speaking or vocal training course. Discuss with the instructor or vocal coach to get advice and information about associated costs.
- Try singing songs with a lower vocal range or find a favorite song and lower the octave during practice.
Warnings
- Avoid speaking in a harsh, rough, or strained tone, as it can damage your voice over time.
- Don’t strain your voice by forcing sounds uncomfortably, such as speaking in a shrill or grating manner.
- Drinking cold water can tighten your vocal cords.
- If you have a naturally high-pitched voice, like a tenor, don’t stress or try to force a change in your natural tone.
