LOOK INSIDE MY MOUTH: Oropharyngeal Closure and Tongue Repositioning to Feminize Voice

Hi everyone! In this video I demonstrate what you should expect to see when looking in the mouth during voice feminization. Hopefully this will help many individuals out there who are visual and kinesthetic learners rather than aural and verbal which most feminization content is geared towards.
I am demonstrating the primary mechanics which elevate and raise your first resonance (R1). R1 is crucial to determining and expressing the sex of a voice. The male throat is significantly larger meaning it produces a lower R1. The female throat is smaller which produces a higher R1. In these techniques, the goal is to reduce the space in the throat and rear oral chamber.
Key things to look for: 1) oropharyngeal closure, where the sides of the throat close inwards. 2) tongue alteration, where the root retracts, the middle-rear elevates, and the jaw slightly closes.
Warning: this video is slightly weird and shows up close video of the inside of my mouth. Please don't be a creep. This was created for the sole purpose of educating and empowering individuals wishing to alter their voice. Any rude comments will be met with a permanent shadow ban from my channel. Specifically because this is a very personal and awkward thing for me to share.
pardon my use of clickbait... i did deliver though lmao
warmly,
z
/ transvoicelessons
www.transvoicelessons.com/
zheaerosemusic.bandcamp.com/
/ zheannaerose
[e-mail]

[@taproot0619]

This is going to be rambly because I'm really emotional right now but god do I hope you see this and read it. I have ADHD and as such, I tend to get fixated on doing a thing, and until I have made what I consider significant progress in the thing, I obsess over it. Well, last week,my brain decided its going to hyperfocus on changing my voice. So I got on youtube and started searching. I found your channel and have been binging your videos like a weeb watching a new season of MHA. I have some choir training, so I'm able to isolate my voice pretty well. So I figured out false folds, pitch, and shifting my lyranx pretty quick. But it still didn't sound right. It didn't have the "ring" the "shine" that femme voices have. But then I watched this video and realized its because I wasn't closing my oropharynx. So I went into the bathroom, put a light in my mouth and practiced opening and closing that for a bit, then I put it all together and tried talking. And while it was super nasally, IT SOUNDED FEMININE!!! I heard about 10 seconds of the video I recorded and fell on the floor crying because I didn't hear a voice that sounded "like a guy" anymore. I'm still crying and on the floor of the bathroom as I type this. My voice has been my BIGGEST source of dysphoria, and the fact that you've been able to help me umderstand my voice and what I need to do to change it in A WEEK through your videos is just amazing. Thank you for putting up these videos. Thank you for this!

[@SerrinTheElf]

Hahaha, I totally get your fixation lol, I do the same thing... been at it for like 4 days now and I still can't get it right D: I need it to click soon, or I'm gonna go insane hahaha

[@Eldritch.horror]

I know I’m late to this comment but I’m so happy for you! Just keep being yourself🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

[@ViridiansVivarium]

I know you were saying that you were slightly uncomfortable making this type of video, but gosh thank you so much for making it. This has already helped my practice a ton by giving me a strong visualization of what I'm aiming for. Thank you!!!

[@LILOEVERYTHING]

While this video was extremly helpful in understanding the position of the muscles visually my biggest problem is understanding how to get the muscles to actually do it

[@FairyCRat]

Same! I still have no idea how to raise my larynx or the back of my tongue

[@BilliThePig]

@@FairyCRat there are plenty of lessons in the new york voice coaching channel that have exercises which helped me a lot, i'm certain you'll find value in them too

[@Freak80MC]

@@BilliThePig What videos from his channel would you recommend watching?

[@vajraayudha5062]

Just wondering, any improvement for now, You need to start with "Me" with face frontal emphasis on "EEEEEEEEEEE" and hold E at 350Hz. watch this kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6Pdi6imjN-Mm9U That's the key. Use Voice tools app and see if you bring up your pitch up to F4 (350Hz) once you have that rest is easy , E4, G4 is the hardest its at 400-450Hz. Now I sing in my native language and some phrases of the Pitch I take is so high , I'm surprised myself. its around 550 -600 Hz..

[@Skelliiie]

yeah same, i just can't figure it out i dunno

[@kristyanne719]

That's pretty cool. No one else on YT ever goes into this level of detail concerning changing our voices. You are #1 girl.

[@pollygirl3049]

I've never seen the actual position of the throat and tongue close up to get an idea of what mine should look like. I had no idea of the control you have and now i know of the science you've put into your program. Thank you so much for this.

[@InquisidorOmega]

NOTIFICATION SQUAD LOOKING INSIDE THE MOUTH RIGHT NOW:p

[@M-CH_]

Laryngology squad.

[@TransVoiceLessons]

i love seeing your notif squad posts

[@johnbrown4253]

@@TransVoiceLessons can you do that again

[@nemurinemuri2212]

Ayaya!

[@katat4649]

My partner taught me how to use these muscles.... but for different reasons

[@girlwithcats5390]

"If the space in the throat is very tiny, the r1 goes higher"

[@daniantifada7451]

I’ve been doing good with thinness and retraction, but I’ve been trying so hard to figure out how to raise my resonance. like I got the idea of needing to make my mouth and throat smaller, but just mechanically couldn’t figure out how to do it. But seeing your demonstration, I was able to do it instantly. It’s making such a difference! Thank you so much! 🙏🏽❤️

[@pepper5872]

oh wow! this is actually really helpful when trying to figure out how this actually works. I've been looking around the internet trying to figure out how voice feminization works and so far all of your videos have been just the absolute best and just so incredibly helpful. I'm gonna start trying to get my voice from a pretty masculine one to a more androgynous one, so I'll start seriously practicing this stuff every day from now on. looks like I've got a lot of work ahead of me, but I'm excited! thank you so much for what you're doing, you're so awesome and amazing!

[@pi19rimx]

You are the absolute best. I really believe these videos of yours save lives. Thank you!

[@TransVoiceLessons]

Thank you! That means a lot. I really love being able to help our sisters, brothers, and neithers!

[@pi19rimx]

@@TransVoiceLessons ♥️

[@kittyli419]

I know you probably get this a lot, but your voice is literal goals. It's so cute! Thanks so much for the videos - I'm really dysphoric about my voice and want to fix it as soon as possible.

[@Ashrah_Vell]

The tongue positioning is one thing that's giving me a headache haha I've been waiting for you to talk about this in a video, so thank you for taking the time to record this! Hopefully, by having this visual guide, the process can get a little easier x)

[@GnomeHats]

I touched the bottom of my uvula to my tongue to feel where the general area is, and started “thinking” around that area. Doing this, I managed to stumble upon the oropharyngeal muscles! Thanks Z!

[@AuricomSystems]

This is so helpful, now I have a visual idea of what's supposed to be going on in there, I think I'll have a better ability to make it happen!

[@TransVoiceLessons]

Yay! I'm so happy this is helpful for you. Thanks so much for watching!

[@dareokoski8158]

ikr

[@batmanAMA]

Hey Z - Thank you for everything you do. I could never handle doing a video like this, so I salute your bravery!

[@TransVoiceLessons]

Thanks. I hate it. But it's necessary. :3

[@JohnSmith-ep2sd]

This has been SUPER helpful! I've heard people describe the process but this really helped me understand it!

[@blorbdestroyer]

Thank you for your sacrifice! I've been able to produce proper resonance before but I always struggled to replicate it as I couldn't quite intuit what I'd done right. Using this video to compare my own voice work in front of a mirror has made me realise which muscles exactly I need to target to reproduce the right sound 🖤

[@Morriaphant]

So... im not trans at all. Pretty comfortably male. I say this to emphasis just how effective you are at teaching. I have been getting into voice impressions and singing for the better part of a few months now, and this single video has allowed me to put on a passable female voice without relying on pitch at all. ...that's insane... So for anyone who is in doubt, just know that literally anyone can achieve what she teaches. I am a guy with average testosterone levels, and im about as straight as an arrow. So just know, you CAN achieve this! Have a good day!

[@Rezkeshdadesh]

I've been looking for something like this for months.

[@Rezkeshdadesh]

Any advice on how to close the larynx like that? I can't seem to get the smooth closure that you do there.

[@infonode1783]

This was exactly what I needed to start tying everything together from your other lessons. Thank you so much!

[@narcissistwhisperer]

Love your videos. I have not yet seen anyone else so detailed & thorough in your examples & explanations. Bravo, Zhea. :)

[@leonie9248]

Wow it was suuuper helpful to see that, and much easier to mimic by not only hearing your H sounds, but also mirroring the throat feeling you were so brave to share publicly. Thanks so much! This is super valuable.

[@lenadora]

Your channel is incredibly rich and generous, you're giving us all of your magic tricks, THANK YOU for all of us 💜

[@CreativiTimothy]

You're such a genius and such a generous person to share all your knowledge. It's much appreciated ^-^

[@squitist]

Thank you for this video! I've been working on my voice by raising my laranyx and pitch increase for 4 months of consistent practice. I practiced 2 times in the morning and 2 times at night. Right now, my voice sounds feminine but it sounds a little bit off. I'm going to try this excercise.

[@spacechannelfiver]

this was the simplest easiest best explanation on how to pitch shift. thank you

[@LARVAMOLT]

Omg i had no idea these muscles could be seen with a mirror. I always assumed they were wayy further down. Tysm for this!!

[@lexxisszz2193]

I probably have to remove my swollen tonsils before i can practice this ☹️. I feel like I’m choking when i try to close my pharynx

[@TransVoiceLessons]

Lexxisszz that’s a possibility. It’s hard to comment one way or another without seeing them and hearing what you are doing. If you a slightly wrong motion with the back of your mouth it can trigger a gag reflex. It could your tonsils but it’s most likely just improper technique

[@carlossegundo230]

That was brilliantly useful! 😻 Many thanks Sweetie!! 💙💜💜💙

[@robinlaszlo]

I don't quite understand how to move the different parts of my mouth like that... but I think these videos are helping me understand a little better thank you for making this even though it was uncomfortable!

[@junikohana]

I was literally just rewatching one of your videos earlier today

[@NatalieRath]

This is useful. Will watch later when I am practicing 😄

[@muttonchops953]

I can't thank you enough for these!

[@neith4556]

I'm unsure how to feel out those muscles. I think I've been doing it just recently but there was a couple times where I couldn't speak properly.

[@steruset3590]

Thank you for the continued free content! I submitted a message on your website but I’m afraid it might not have gone through :/

[@beccacertifiedpersonaltrai3636]

It is easy to understand how to train specific muscles in the gym. However, I find that trying to train specific muscles to raise my larynx is a formidable challenge and I have not yet been successful. I am considering transgendering, but studying the matter. I am asking God Energy Source Universe for supportive people, love, and provision regarding this.

[@peterjmaida2057]

This video helped me. I love Karaoke but I try to sound my best even if it’s just a hobby. With my throat open I sound better. 🎤🎵😃. You were brave to make this video I might add.

[@davidmmcnamara8142]

you look so gorgeous with glasses

[@ragekage209]

this genuinely made a huge difference for me, i'm actually really amazed at what i can sound like. thank you so so much for all the work and research and detail you put into these videos! you're helping so many people! though as good as it sounds my head always tenses up when i do this? like i can't hold the muscle placement without stressing out the back of my head. is this something to be concerned about or do you think it'll stop as i get more used to it?

[@stevieboyXI]

I thought you had some dirt on your face but turns out my screen is just dirty. Carry on. Lol.

[@tashatelese3622]

I have a high rising epiglottis and during oropharyngeal closure I can visibly see the walls of my throat rubbing against it. I wonder if having a high rising epiglottis is in any way impeding my ability to progress or has been causing my persistent soreness in the area.. Great video btw!

[@IElrekkaI]

do you have any resources for people wanting to practice oropharyngeal closure? im not certain how to move my throat that way

[@bingotries]

yeah ive never heard of this, i thought it was all larynx and tongue? i tried in the mirror and i have no idea how to get my throat to close like that

[@freyanox9443]

I think you do her method she lists in a previous video. It's when she talks about the "ha" method like saying hat and sounding like a vampire and stuff.

[@c00ki3IIIm0n5t3r]

Here's a great resource, covers most components of voice fem: www.reddit.com/r/transvoice/comments/d3clhe/ls_voice_training_guide_level_1_for_mtf/

[@allisongross2946]

@@freyanox9443 I thought that was just larynx height. If OPC happens as well as it can when you just raise the larynx, and I can't raise the larynx any higher, and I still sound like a man... I'm just doomed, aren't I?

[@freyanox9443]

@@allisongross2946 I'm not sure what OPC is but its not just in the larynx and I'm not a master of this but from what I've seen in her videos and what I've noticed myself is it's not about any one technique Its something you develop by listening to yourself and experimenting and practicing while figuring out what works and what makes sense to you and as long as you keep learning and trying new things you'll figure it out eventually.

[@Kaliskot]

This is useful for trying to replicate. thanks

[@azizhajri8703]

Lovely vid

[@johnbrown4253]

This was soooo awesome

[@user-xr7uf5gl6z]

that's useful! ty!

[@user-zu8ox3lx4d]

thank you so much for your lessons is voice surgery necessary for such results?

[@voynich7119]

I have a question that I'm hoping you could answer. Is it generally a good idea to try to breathe with a raised larynx (basically always keeping it high) or should you just raise it when talking? I was thinking that might help for muscle memory but I don't want to do anything that might end up being damaging to my muscles. Love your videos btw. I only recently realized that I'm trans and your videos are sooo helpful.

[@jajjgabi]

ooookay, thats soooooooo awesome!! wow.

[@jennym_edits]

would it be a good idea to record my throat to practice holding this and as i dont know if im doing it right

[@milanrotar8176]

Yes it was helpful thank you Zoe.

[@Van_La_Van]

Thank you so much xox

[@mlce4701]

Appreciate you so much 💛

[@zelmori942]

do you have any tips/tricks for raising the tongue like that ?

[@yuzu4570]

I still have problems get a thin voice and to reduce the space in my throat and larynx

[@greycox4782]

I’m about an hour into learning this and trying this out, and I think I’m able to do it well, but I’m not completely sure if I’m doing it right. Whenever I do it, I feel like there’s a knot in my throat. Is this the oropharynx closing? Is is that and a combination of my tongue? I’m just wondering if this is normal and if I am doing it right. Love the videos btw!

[@idi0tdriver]

i'm tone deaf.. difficult to learn.. *sigh*.. keep practicing.. i guess..

[@beccacertifiedpersonaltrai3636]

I continue to be amazed at how well "Z" in the video has her voice perfect, whilst I struggle intently. I really need help.

[@SlugcatDahlia]

If you had your tonsils out, will that make things sound different? Make it more difficult to make that oro-cavity smaller?

[@criszabala4315]

Amazingly interesting

[@AtlanticSiren]

This is easy lol but I can’t get the my voice to come out while my mouth is positioned like this

[@PiedPiper97601]

I think you are adorable 😍. This is so nerdy. ♀️

[@hacgiaythiengia7516]

Okay I still don't understand. I will watch it many times. Thanks for your lessons, you are a great passionate teacher. ❤

[@Freak80MC]

I actually can see my muscles in the back of my throat closing inwards, but I still am not sure exactly what you are doing with your tongue. I swear I hold mine in the same position and it doesn't sound as good. I swear I'm struggling with tongue placement, some tips I've read don't seem to be actually possible to do while actually talking so I'm super confused.

[@stuartoneill5968]

You have a beautiful trohat it is amazing

[@allisongross2946]

OK but... how do I actually do this? I can't figure it out. I can't raise my larynx any higher and I still sound very manly, so this is kinda my only hope now. But I can't figure out how to do this at all.

[@KamiKitsuneVA]

I still don't understand how to do it, I'm so confused ;-;

[@skylerplayz3713]

But I felt my throat tired when doing both the rise of the larynx and the good air output, Why?

[@relzyn5545]

It's using a muscle in a way you're not used to, so it is likely to get uncomfortable. Edit: in response to another comment she stated that discomfort is usually caused by using the wrong muscles.

[@Mstea0149]

So is my aura what's wrong then? I need aural exercises

[@rainbowhow6431]

The thing I get, is I struggle to breathe a bit.

[@olrominic206]

It's really sad because I'm trying to understand but no of this makes sense and I'm afraid to ruin my voice

[@freyanox9443]

I'm having a hard time doing this without straining the top of my mouth or jaw. Do you have to do warmups before you do this?

[@TransVoiceLessons]

Freya Lukavitch hi! If you are straining (especially those areas) that indicates you are activating the wrong muscles to execute the function. One of the key points we must keep in mind is that when doing the technique properly, there will be essentially zero strain or discomfort. This isn’t a problem solved by brute forcing the muscles. It’s a delicate and precise movement which makes it harder to locate than the more obvious brute force muscles.

[@freyanox9443]

@@TransVoiceLessons Thanks for the tip! Since watching your videos I figured out how to stop straining my throat but now its the roof of my mouth that seems to catch it. I can do it without strain while I'm thinking about it but I think I'm flexing something I shouldn't be subconsciously so when I go to relax I feel all this ache. I think I built up a bad habit over the years.

[@phelyne]

My throat starts hurting after I've voice trained for a long time (a few hours). How do I prevent this? I've been trying to use my girl voice as much as I can, when at parties, voice-chatting, etc. in order to make it muscle memory (does it work that way?), but my throat always gets really dry and starts hurting after a few hours, depending on how hard I'm trying. Would love any tips on this. Love ya, Z!

[@Laogeodritt]

My vocal experience is more with singing than vocal feminisation, but hopefully this might be helpful anyway. Keep in mind I'm neither a vocal teacher or speech therapist, though. On one hand, doing it constantly *is* tiring, so if you're tired out after several hours that's normal. Give it time, keep using it and the muscles will get stronger and you'll get more used to it. If it's painful, though, that's usually your body telling you you're doing something wrong. This could just be overuse/fatigue. Often, though, it's too much tension-which is natural, you're learning to use new muscles in new ways, you'll often end up straining muscles or engaging smaller/weaker muscles instead of stronger ones. But that can be unhealthy in the long term. Try to identify unneeded tension, and practise trying to find ways that feel different but achieve the same/similar results and find the least tiring/most comfortable ones-this is really easier said than done without in-person training though. (I'm speaking super generally here because I don't really know what muscles and sensations to target in this case.)

[@phelyne]

@@Laogeodritt That definitely makes sense. Thank you! I've been trying lately to relax my muscles more while voice training, and it's made me last much longer before getting tired/hurting, so I'm glad that was the right move. I'll definitely try to identify the right muscles to use and such. In the country I live in, I'm entitled to a few free voice lessons from a professional, but my logic is that if I learn as much as I can before that, they can help me learn the actual difficult stuff. (As opposed to something as basic as raising the larynx)

[@mathieuleader8601]

lemon helps

[@phelyne]

@@mathieuleader8601 Thanks for the tip!

[@mathieuleader8601]

@@phelyne :)

[@deborahp.2085]

It’s good but confusing thx

[@bubblegumbarbieslayed]

I still don’t get it please help meeee I’m Trans 13 year old girl but i sound like I’m a 40 years old woman :(

[@nschultz417]

Linguistics major here, although admittedly not a very good one. Do you have any textbooks for voice feminization or just voice in general that you would recommend?

[@cloyun-hee9564]

I can recommend Speech and Voice Science Third Edition as well as Dr Ingo Titze's Principle of voice production

[@TransVoiceLessons]

For voice feminization? No. All of the texts in the field I've surveyed and read over seem very very very weak. I am working on my own voice feminization textbook, The Art of Voice Feminization, because the literature is so weak. Voice in general, yes. Acoustics and Auditory Phonetics Third Edition is short and sweet. Clo Dufours recommendations are pretty solid as well.

[@nikkigress5473]

@@TransVoiceLessons Have you read over "Voice and Communication Therapy for the Transgender/Transsexual Client: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide Second Edition" yet? This is a reference text speech pathologists use for transgender voice feminization.

[@nschultz417]

@@cloyun-hee9564 Thanks, I'll check it out!

[@nschultz417]

@@nikkigress5473 I haven't, but it sounds good, so I will. Thanks!

[@vampirewitchfate7202]

Wait... Hoooow 😲 thats crazy Im able to rise my pitch but I think Im at yours 2016 phase 😅

[@ExpertBustice]

No luck on closing my oropharyngeal-whos-a-whatsit, but I found out I can throw up on command :(

[@Zenithdrawz]

So would these work even for girls that aren't transitioned at all?

[@TransVoiceLessons]

Do you men ciswomen? or pre-transition transwomen? These techniques will work for anybody regardless of biological sex or transition status.

[@Zenithdrawz]

@@TransVoiceLessons OK. Thank for u telling me that, I'm not the smartest when it comes to voice related stuff, lol, again thank you

[@fosspointer]

3 minutes and 14 seconds. wow

[@user-uv5pm9mi9n]

01:26

[@iLikeTheUDK]

I was today (0.00000) years old when I found you have a video on OPC and tongue root retraction. I only learned about this being a thing thru lessons with other teachers. Wish I noticed this vid sooner, it's much easier for me to learn things through pre-canned media than trying to listen to someone explain it to me in real time

[@stuartoneill5968]

💗💕💖😀

[@Noctua8]

THIS IS A THING. WTF THIS IS A THING. WUT?

[@Elli_Hamato_Todoroki]

Me: thinks anything with close-ups on mouths are gross and disturbing Also me: watches this

[@PH580418]

Thank you, you should be doing that professionally? 😒😏😂😁👍💋😎lol. You are very good at what you do, never stop !

[@TransVoiceLessons]

Thank you very much!! I do this professionally. Teaching voice feminization has been my full time job for 3.5 years now. I'm super busy and honestly so thankful for the amazing community we have here.

[@kloebbyy]

I should call him...

[@mathieuleader8601]

what clean teeth you have no plaque whatsoever

[@Freak80MC]

I feel like I'm watching an alien emulating a human being because I didn't think muscles in the throat could even be controlled like that...

[@lolitagames5669]

The mouth part makes me uncomfortable but like sjsndndnznsnss

[@mika9578]

Cool but how to you move those walls like that