Hey there, it's Renée, your go-to gender-affirming voice teacher. I recently stumbled upon a fantastic question from one of our community members about trans voice training, and it got me thinking. This Instagram commenter asked:

"Question, I try to do voice training but I don’t prefer to do a higher pitch, rather I like to do a more sultry pitch in a feminine way, how does one train like that?"

You see, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing that a more feminine voice must always be higher and brighter. But what if sultry is more your style? Well, buckle up, because today we're looking into the world of sultry voices and how to train for that irresistible allure.

Defying Stereotypes: The Sultry Voice

Before we jump into the nitty-gritty of voice training, let's explore what we mean by a sultry voice. I've curated a little playlist of sultry voices for you to check out, and trust me, there's no one-size-fits-all here:

As you'll notice, there's a diverse range of sultry voices, each with its own unique charm. But if we had to pinpoint some common characteristics, they'd include breathiness, glottal fry, a slower pace, and a touch of monotony.

The Sultry Symphony: Breaking Down the Components

1. Breathiness

Breathiness is all about the control of vocal fold adduction and abduction. Think about that moment right before you cough — that's complete vocal fold adduction. Now, to experience the release, try saying "ah-ha." If you're confused or need an example, check out the video above.

In my courses, I refer to this control as vocal fold mass or vocal weight. If you're curious, I've got a bunch of exercises on my blog to help you finesse this characteristic. Just keep in mind that a breathy voice, while sultry, isn't the most efficient way to communicate due to its higher air consumption.

2. Glottal Fry

Now, let's talk about glottal fry, which occurs when we adduct the vocal folds and let a little air bubble through. Remember that pre-cough sensation? Repeat it and allow a tiny bit of air to pass through while maintaining that connection. Again, there is an example of me doing this in the video above.

Putting It Together

Here's the tricky part: balancing breathiness, where the vocal folds are more open, with glottal fry, where they're closed. I recommend alternating between the two positions until you discover your unique mode of expression.

Putting It Into Practice: Learning from Kim Cattrall

To illustrate how to use breathiness and vocal fry effectively, let's dissect a snippet from Kim Cattrall, known for her sultry voice:

In this clip, you can hear that she speaks with breathiness, except where I have bolded her words:

"I am harsh. I’m also demanding, stubborn, self-sufficient, and always right. In bed, at the office, and everywhere else."

Notice the alternation between breathiness and fry in the emphasized words. It's a subtle yet powerful technique that adds a sultry, sexy quality to her voice.

The Final Touches: Speaking Slowly and Monotonously

Speaking slowly and with a touch of monotony are the cherries on top of the sultry cake. These elements enhance the mysterious allure of your voice, drawing people in with every word. These two features are a little more self-explanatory than breathiness and glottal fry, so I'll leave it here for now.

So, are you ready to embark on the journey of creating your own sultry voice? I hope these tips help you discover the voice that resonates with your true self. Until next time!