Think back to a time when you felt nervous–let’s say a presentation you gave or a recent job interview. Chances are, your voice sounded a bit higher in pitch during these moments, especially if you compare how it sounds when you’re in a casual conversation with a friend or family member. Any idea why our voice goes up in pitch when we’re nervous and down when we’re not? Don’t worry, we’ll get to that. 

If you want to know how to make your voice sound deeper, you’re not alone. In this article, we’re going to dive into why some voices sound deeper or higher than others, tips to speak with a low pitch voice, and why a deeper voice is so appealing to begin with. Take a look! 👇

Why do people prefer a deeper voice?

First thing’s first, what’s so great about a deep voice anyway? Let us start by saying: Every voice is different and has its own unique qualities that make it awesome. But generally speaking, yes, it’s true that a deeper voice has a different impact on listeners than higher-pitched voices. And that’s because deep voices tend to make a person sound more confident and in control of a situation, while a higher-pitched voice is often linked to feeling nervous or less confident. 

In a study done by the University of Stirling in 2017, the research confirmed that people change the pitch of their voice depending on the situation and who they’re talking to. Take a look at what Dr. Viktoria Mileva, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Stirling, said:

“A deep, masculine voice sounds dominant, especially in men, while the opposite is true of a higher-pitched voice. So, if someone perceives their interviewer to be more dominant than them, they raise their pitch. This may be a signal of submissiveness, to show the listener that you are not a threat, and to avoid possible confrontations.

These changes in our speech may be conscious or unconscious but voice characteristics appear to be an important way to communicate social status. We found both men and women alter their pitch in response to people they think are dominant and prestigious.”

Long story short: A deeper voice sounds more dominant and confident, while a higher voice sounds more submissive and nervous. That being said, it’s no wonder why many people might want their voice to sound deeper depending on the situation they’re in. But before we get into how you can make your voice sound deeper, we think it’s important to have a basic understanding of why our pitch sounds the way that it does. Take a look at what exactly voice pitch is and what determines a person’s pitch.

What determines the pitch of your voice? 

To keep it short and sweet, voice pitch is how high or low someone’s voice sounds based on the sound waves. The longer, more detailed answer? Voice pitch is related to fluctuations in air pressure when air moves through our vocal tract. Our vocal cords and our larynx–plus the tongue, jaw, and lips–change and alter the vibration. The frequency of these vibrations caused by this movement of air through our vocal tract is ultimately where voice pitch comes from. The range of our pitch has to do with the size of the vocal cords, which are determined by the size of the larynx.

We could go on and on into more detail and the science of why voices are lower and higher than others. But we think you get the picture. So let’s get into the good stuff: How to get that low pitch voice. 

How do I make my voice sound deeper? 

Moral of the story: Voice pitch is largely determined by a person’s throat anatomy. That being said, there are still things that you can do to make your voice sound deeper. Whether you want to sound more confident when you speak or maybe you just don’t like the sound of your voice, don’t sweat it. Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you hit that lower pitch: 

• Speak through your mouth, not your nose. When you speak through your nose, the sound can come out as more of a nasal sound, resulting in a higher pitch. Try standing with good posture, slightly raising your chin, and opening your mouth when you speak to help open your vocal cords and get that deep sound. 
• Relax your throat. Higher pitch tends to happen when your vocal cords are tightened. Try to relax your throat before speaking by rolling your head and neck, keeping your throat moist, and opening your mouth. This can also help prevent your voice from cracking when you speak.
• Practice vocal exercises. Humming, for instance, is a great technique to warm up your voice from deep in your throat. Once you’ve warmed up with a few good “hums,” try speaking from that same place in your throat for a deeper sound.
• Use a voice changer. Our new PowerPitch technology lets you alter the pitch of your voice in a very natural way. It’s so natural sounding that no one will even be able to tell that you’re using a voice changer. Try our new Voice Enhancer effect, which is backed by PowerPitch, to give you powerful pitch control and overall crisper audio quality. This effect is honestly the perfect add-on for online presentations or remote interviews. 

Embrace your natural voice! 

We hope you find some of these tips helpful when trying to speak in a lower pitch. But remember friends, it’s important to take pride in your natural voice. We get it–a deeper voice can go a long way depending on the situation you find yourself in. But with a few vocal exercises and Voicemod’s awesome PowerPitch effects, you shouldn’t feel the need to mask your natural voice–only enhance the awesome characteristics you already have.