Most people can agree that deeper voices sound much better. In fact, listening to some podcasts and watching some movie trailers or ads is enough to prove just that. And while a lucky few are born with a natural, deeply resonant voice, the rest are on the other side of the spectrum.
As a result, you might be wondering how to make your voice deeper. But first, let’s start with the basics.
Can You Deepen Your Voice?
Yes, you can. According to multiple online articles and forum posts, specific exercises can help you achieve a lower pitch voice. But just like any exercise, the key is consistency, so you will have to do voice exercises regularly. However, since most experts haven’t tried them, without proper care, you could end up harming your throat.
It’s worth mentioning that making your voice deeper permanently is a completely different story. And while it is possible to do so, it requires intense training, vocal surgery, or taking hormones regularly.
What Causes Your Voice to Deepen?
Generally speaking, the deepening of your voice occurs naturally but is also a part of learned behavior. More specifically, everybody has a physical structure that gives them a specific vocal range.
To put it simply, a person’s vocal range spans everything between the lowest note and the highest they can sing. And while the vocal range tends to remain stable, some factors can modify it during your lifespan.
1. Age and Gender
During the teenage years, your body goes through a series of changes, including your voice, due to testosterone and hormones. In fact, the voice crank typical of adolescent boys is the result of testosterone and is a sign of vocal pitch shift.
Therefore, males with a lot of testosterone will have a deeper voice than other males or females. Not only that, but a male’s Adam’s apple can also affect the voice, making it deeper or softer.
2. Vocal Cords and Diaphragm
The thickness of the vocal cords determines the voice’s pitch. As a result, people with thicker vocal cords tend to have a deeper voice. Additionally, the diaphragm is an important part of your body that determines the amount of air you receive. So, by mastering your diaphragm, you can increase or decrease your voice’s tone.
3. Genetics
At this point, scientists are still debating whether genetics has anything to do with one’s voice. But one thing they agree on is that genetics plays a role in the gender of a person, the development of the larynx, and the structure of their vocal cords. In other words, some people can win the genetic lottery and end up with a deep and resonant voice.
How to Make Your Voice Deeper?
Whether you want to become a voice actor or join your local metal band, there are many ways to deepen your voice. The following technique will allow you to make your voice deeper. However, consistency is key, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t notice immediate differences.
1. Breathe Using Your Diaphragm
As previously mentioned, your diaphragm plays an important role in your voice’s pitch. Therefore, mastering it can prove essential in deepening your voice for long periods of time. But what many people don’t know is that they’re breathing wrong, making it harder to control your diaphragm. Yes, you’ve heard that right — you can breathe wrong.
Do your shoulders constantly bob up and down as you breathe in and out? If that’s the case, you are doing what’s called shallow breathing. And while you are still getting enough oxygen, this method of breathing shifts effort to your upper body and puts tension on the neck and vocal cords. But how should you do it?
Normally, your diaphragm is responsible for breathing. As you inhale, shift the effort downward so your stomach flexes out while your shoulders remain still. You should be able to feel like you are using your abs to summon the air.
When exhaling, just relax your stomach and let air flow through your body right up your trachea. Keep doing this and, eventually, your body will get used to your new breathing method, making it an unconscious habit.
Improving your breathing will ultimately reduce the strain on your vocal cords and allow you to better control them. Besides, your voice will sound much crisper and clearer, making it easier to understand. Diaphragm breathing will also help your athletic performance and can reduce overall stress.
2. Drink More Water
Even though it might sound funny, water heavily influences your vocal pitch. Why? Because the depth of your voice is partly caused by the size of your vocal cords, which shrink due to dehydration. More specifically, loss of water causes loss of mass, which leaves you with thinner vocal cords.
But I’m not dehydrated, I hear you say. Well, according to research, almost 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. In fact, that’s why so many people speak with a higher voice than they should be. So, the solution is obvious — stay hydrated.
The easiest way to do so is to fill a jug with water each morning and keep it close to you while working. And since you will keep water nearby, you will be more tempted to drink it consistently. Not only that, but you should also try to drink less soda, as paradoxically, soda tends to cause dehydration and make you more thirsty.
If you believe that drinking more water isn’t effective, just give it a try. Worst case scenario, you will end up more hydrated. In the best-case scenario, your voice becomes deeper, cleaner, and sharper. In other words, it’s a win-win situation.
3. Fix Your Posture
Your posture is another important factor that can alter the air supply you receive and, consequently, your voice. First of all, you need to understand that a bad posture can put immense pressure on your lungs and throat. As a result, your voice gets distorted and its pitch is much higher than it should be.
In order to correct your posture, you need to check yourself in the mirror and watch yourself talking. As you talk, notice your movements, especially your spine and shoulders.
Normally, you want your shoulders to move as little as possible and for your spine to be aligned. If you notice anything weird, such as sudden or constant body movements, you will have to adjust your posture.
However, the right posture varies from one person to another, so you will have to find your own. The best way to do this is to read passages from a book while changing your spine position. Take note of how it affects your voice and repeat the process until you find the best posture-voice combination.
Once you have found your perfect posture, make it a habit. Remember to keep your spine straight when you work on a computer, when you walk, and most importantly when you sleep. If you are consistent, you will see an improvement in both your posture and voice.
4. Relax Your Muscles
It should be clear by now that the more stressed your muscles are, the more problems you’ll have with your voice. To make your voice deeper, you will need to learn how to relax specific muscles that affect your voice.
- Neck: Pillows, work, and weightlifting put a lot of tension on your neck muscles. So, you’ll have to stretch it. Simply, roll your head over to one side, then to the other, and bring it back to the center.
End the exercise by dropping your head forward and breathing. By doing this a couple of times a day, you will feel the tension release.
- Tongue: The human tongue has eight different muscles, each having the ability to accumulate tension. Luckily, you only need one exercise to relax your tongue muscles.
Start by sticking the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth and leaving it there for ten seconds. Repeat the procedure a couple of times in order to relax the whole area and release unwanted tension.
- Jaw: During the day, your jaw can become tense for a variety of reasons, so you will need to relax it. Massage your masseter muscles, which are in front of your ears, for about two minutes.
Then, find the temporal bone right next to your masseter muscles and rub it in a circular motion while keeping your mouth open. In a matter of minutes, your jaw will feel lighter and much more relaxed.
5. Start Humming
Last but not least, humming is an easy exercise that you can do daily to warm up your voice. Not only that, but humming can help relax your muscles, allowing you to control your voice’s pitch easily. So, what is the correct way to do it?
Start by breathing in, pointing your chin toward your chest. Then, put your chin up and hold your breath with a deep humming for as long as possible. This stretches your vocal cords, giving you a deeper tone.
However, remember not to overdo it, as you could damage your vocal cords while humming constantly. The best advice is to hum every day in the morning for about a few minutes. This will relax your muscles after a rough night and will prepare your voice for an entire day of speaking.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, everybody’s voice is beautiful and unique. And while some are born with their desired voice, others struggle to accept theirs. But now that you know how to make your voice deeper, you’re one step closer to achieving your dream voice.
