Every June, I’m reminded of how powerful and joyful it can be to explore your voice as part of your gender expression—and how daunting it can feel to begin.

So if you’re starting your trans voice journey, this post is for you.

Whether you’re transfeminine, transmasculine, nonbinary, or anywhere in the galaxy of gender, these are the four foundational steps I recommend to every new student before jumping into more technical exercises. These tips will help you start your voice practice with clarity, confidence, and way less overwhelm.

💸 Psst—if you’re reading this in June 2025, I’m having a Pride Month sale! All of my trans voice courses are 30% off using the code PRIDE2025. That includes Mindful Voice Feminization, Masculinize Your Voice Without Testosterone, and Mix & Match: Designing Your Nonbinary Voice. Grab the discount here.

Watch the video version of this blog post here:

Step 1: Start With a Daily Warm-Up

Before you think about gender presentation or voice goals, you need to start using your voice regularly. The best way to begin is with a simple, gender-neutral warm-up.

Think of it like stretching before a workout—you wouldn’t start running a marathon without loosening up first (or at least, I hope you wouldn’t).

Daily warm-ups help you:

• Build a habit — You’re going to hear your voice every day anyway, so this gives you a low-stakes way to get used to it without judgment.

• Connect to your body — Most of us haven’t consciously used our vocal muscles before. Warming up builds awareness and control over those muscles in a gentle, exploratory way.

• Release tension — Tension is the enemy of flexibility. A few slow breaths and gentle sounds can go a long way toward relaxing your voice and body.

• Reduce embarrassment — Making silly noises in private helps normalize vocal experimentation. What feels weird at first gets easier the more you do it.

🆓 Not sure how to start? I made a free follow-along warm-up video just for this. You can access it here.

Step 2: Notice How You Already Use Your Voice

Before you try to change anything, take a moment to explore what’s already there.

Try this: pick a single phrase like “Hey there” and say it in a bunch of different ways—how you’d talk to a pet, a crush, a friend, a boss, or a stranger. Say it sleepily, excitedly, angrily, gently. Notice how your voice changes depending on your intent or context.

This is what I call a voice audit—a chance to explore the range of voices you already have.

What do you notice about your pitch, resonance, inflection, or pace? How do different voices feel in your body? Are some more aligned with your gender goals? Some more fun? Some more cringey?

Write your observations down. This process builds awareness and helps you define your starting point—something you can return to and track over time.

Step 3: Pay Attention to Other People’s Voices

Next, tune into the voices around you.

Listen to friends, podcasters, TV characters, game streamers—anyone whose voice makes you feel something. Jealousy, delight, confusion, gender euphoria—these are all valuable signals.

Start an inspiration list of voices that speak to you. Don’t worry about technical terms, just go with your gut. Describe them however you like: “smooth and sparkly,” “gravelly and grounded,” “warm and melty.” You’ll get more specific over time.

This list will become a roadmap for your own exploration. Eventually, you might even clip short audio segments to imitate (more on that next!).

Step 4: Imitate

Once you’ve found a voice that excites you, try mimicking it. Start small—just 5 to 10 seconds of audio. Listen to it passively while you go about your day, then actively, with full focus. Try repeating it aloud in sync, and then try speaking it on your own.

Imitation helps you:

• Tune your ear to subtle vocal patterns

• Move past perfectionism by doing instead of overthinking

• Discover techniques that you may not have tried naturally

Remember: imitation isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about uncovering new tools and possibilities already inside your voice.

Final Thoughts

Starting your trans voice journey can feel overwhelming. There’s so much information out there, and it’s easy to feel like you have to get it “right” from day one.

But you don’t.

All you need to do is start. Warm up. Pay attention to yourself. Listen closely to others. Try things out. Be curious. And show up again tomorrow.

You already have more capacity than you think—you just need to build the foundation.

🏳️‍⚧️ Want more support?
Here are some links to get you started:

• Free Follow-Along Warm-Up

• Mindful Voice Feminization

• Masculinize Your Voice Without Testosterone

• Mix & Match: Designing Your Nonbinary Voice

🎉 Don’t forget: If you’re reading this in June 2025, all of these are 30% off with code PRIDE2025.

That’s all for today. I’ve been Renée, and I hope this helps.