Perfect Pitch: You Are What You Hear

To say that the invention of the voice recorder had a major impact on voice training is like saying that the wheel had a major impact on human civilization. The ability to record your own voice is obviously a revolutionary development! But have you ever used a recorder in an analytical way, as a tool for learning? Probably not.

But why not? Here’s one possibility: most people dislike listening to their own voices. But that’s not all. They often dislike it so much that they deny it’s really them. “It doesn’t sound like me,” is certainly the most frequently heard comment from people who have just listened to a recording of themselves. And this is usually followed by a more tentative, worried continuation: “Is that really how I sound?”

Well, yes it is how you sound. The machine doesn’t lie. Don’t blame the machine. Instead, learn how to use the voice recorder and other similar technologies as powerful, indispensable tools for developing Perfect Pitch.

Here’s how to get started. First, read the list of vocal characteristics below. You may want to elaborate on the brief descriptions of each category, or you may think of some new ones that you want to add. Then, whenever you have some free time over the next week or so, go online to YouTube or other video sites and just listen to people talk.

Try to draw from a wide variety of speakers. Choose some who are prominent and well-known to you, and others who are “just plain folks.” Use the voice adjectives from this blog post to categorize the speakers that you hear – and if none of the adjectives seem to fit, and new ones to describe a particular speaker. Listen to as many different voices as you can. You’ll find it very enlightening.

As you go about this, there’s one very important rule you should follow. When you first listen to a new voice, don’t watch the video image of the speaker. Just listen to what’s being said or, more importantly, how it’s being said. Later, when you video as well as listen to it, you can explore how sight and sound combine to create and overall impression. But for the present we’re only concerned with what you hear. In a future post we’ll see how you can evaluate your own voice using this method.

Here’s the preliminary list of voice adjectives. Again, feel free to add new adjectives or to expand the brief descriptions of these:

Adenoidal – You voice sounds like it’s coming through your nose.

Breathy – You sound like Marilyn Monroe singing “Happy Birthday, Mister President.” If you haven’t heard this, Google it!

Brittle -- you sound uncertain and shaky, as if you might cry

Croaky -- A low and coarse voice as if you’ve had too many drinks over the years, but still want another.

Flat – a monotone, without any variation from loud or soft or fast to slow.

Grating – your voice seems willfully aggressive and unpleasant, like a bill collector.

Gruff  – similar to croaky but with more of a positive feel, like a wised-up old cowboy.

Guttural – a deep voice that seems to originate at the back of your throat. You sound like your native language is Russian.

High-pitched – it’s hard to seem very confident with a high-pitched voice, although Mike Tyson did it for a while.

 Honeyed – once again, watch Marilyn Monroe singing “Happy Birthday, Mister President.” But a “honeyed” speaking voice can sound false and untrustworthy.

Low – a low voice can sound authoritative (like Henry Kissinger) but may also be difficult to hear.

Modulated – a voice that makes use of different tones and cadences. The opposite of flat or monotonous.

Orotund – Strong and clear. Think of James Earl Jones.

Raucous – loud and rough but in an immature way, like trying to be heard at a frat party.

Shrill – high and unpleasant, like a chattering squirrel

Silvery – beautiful in a feminine way, like an angel.

Smoky – feminine and sexy, like Mrs. Robinson after a cigarette.

Stentorian – similar to orotund in loudness, but more severe. Good for making proclamations.

Taut – a nervous and potentially angry voice. It sounds like you have something to hide.

Tremulous – unsteady, as if you’re afraid or excited

Wheezy – the voice of someone who has difficulty breathing

 Have I missed any? Let me know!