Are you eager to gain control over your pitch and resonance once and for all? If so, you've come to the right place! In this blog post, we will walk through a follow-along exercise designed to help you isolate and master pitch and resonance. Whether you're new to the world of trans voice training or a seasoned practitioner, understanding and controlling these two elements is key to unlocking the full potential of your voice. So, let's dive in!

Pitch and Resonance Defined

Before we begin the exercise, let's clarify what we mean by pitch and resonance.

Pitch refers to the fundamental frequency of your voice. It is determined by the rate of vibration of your vocal folds and can be measured using a regular tuner. Pitch is often expressed as musical notes or Hertz (Hz), and we describe it as either high or low.

Resonance, on the other hand, refers to the colour or quality of an individual pitch. It is influenced by the size and shape of your vocal tract and is described as either bright or dark.

Visualizing Pitch and Resonance

To better understand the relationship between pitch and resonance, imagine a graph where pitch is plotted on the x-axis and resonance on the y-axis. In this graph, high and bright are located in the top right quadrant, while low and dark are found in the bottom left quadrant.

Isolating Pitch and Resonance

To distinguish between pitch and resonance, it is crucial to practice isolating each characteristic. Follow these steps and follow along with the video:

Step 1: Sing a Sustained Pitch

Start by singing a single sustained pitch. This will serve as our foundation for the exercises that follow. Make sure to hold the note consistently. If you're uncertain about maintaining the pitch, you can use a tuner for feedback.

Step 2: Change Resonance while Holding the Pitch

While still holding the sustained pitch, alter the shape of your mouth from "aw" to "ah." Observe how this modification affects the resonance of the sound. Remember, as long as the pitch remains stable, any changes in the sound's colour will be a result of adjusting resonance.

Step 3: Modify Resonance without Moving Your Lips Too Much

Repeat the previous step, but this time, try to change the resonance while minimizing the movement of your lips. This exercise will help you gain control over resonance while keeping the pitch consistent.

Step 4: Explore Changing Pitch while Holding Resonance

Once you feel confident in step three, challenge yourself by holding a particular resonance and altering the pitch. Experiment with different notes while maintaining the desired resonance. This exercise will allow you to explore the full range of your voice.

Conclusion

Congratulations! By following these steps, you've taken a significant stride towards mastering pitch and resonance. Remember, practice is key to further developing your skills. If you wish to continue honing your abilities, I have created a PDF version of this exercise that you can download for free here:

Download the free Pitch/Resonance Isolation practice steps PDF

The PDF has been designed to be discreet and does not contain any explicit mention of "trans" or "transgender" so that you can keep it safely on your desktop.

Now, go ahead and download the exercise, put it into practice, and witness the transformative power of controlling pitch and resonance in your voice. Happy exploring!