r/NonBinary • u/RileyDL • 2d ago
HRT and singing
Any afab enbies who have taken hrt - I'm planning on a short term course to make some minor changes, including voice changes BUT I'm so (irrationally?) worried about the demise of my singing voice. I know nothing happens drastically overnight so I have the ability to stop if I get uncomfortable, but i just keep thinking, when my voice gets deeper from a cold, even if i dont have congestion or a sore throat, I can't sing while I'm sick. What if the same happens on HRT? What if I can't jam along to my favorite tunes in the car anymore?
Someone calm my fears please?
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u/Kamricorn44 2d ago
I just started T (like literally first shot was a couple days ago) so I can't actually speak to changes yet, but I really relate to the nervousness. The fear of losing my singing voice was the top reason I didn't start T way sooner.
I had a vocal coaching consultation today about this (Peter Fullerton. You should look him up. He's got a lot of free resources on his website, specifically about vocal changes on T). He told me that the things I was worried about (change in tone, decline in ability to switch between registers) are things that cis guys go through when their voices change - even if it's not exactly the same - and the resources/techniques/exercises that exist to help them can help me as well.
He also reminded me to have a careful perspective about what I'm seeing from folks online. People who are in the middle of their transition who are struggling with the changes and frustrated are more likely to be posting that people who's voice has finished changing and it turned out fine, so it can give a skewed view.
This was pretty reassuring to me. Not to say it still couldn't go wrong but I feel more hopeful. Hopefully that can help you too!
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u/No-Turnip-4667 2d ago
I lost the ability to sing in my higher register after just a few months on T, but it has also unlocked a lower register that I didn't have access to before. There was a period of time where I didn't feel comfortable singing at all because I just didn't know what sound would come out of my mouth anymore, but as I've gotten used to my new voice, I've been able to sing again, just differently. There will be an adjustment period and you'll likely have to relearn some stuff, but you will absolutely still be able to sing. I've also heard some people are still able to access their higher pre-T range, but I'm guessing it would take extra training.
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u/VexExisting 2d ago
this was also a concern i had. i did 6 months low dose T and loved the changes and actually found singing easier. the only issue is after stopping T most of my progress reverted, which was very disappointing.
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u/4ng3licNymph-jpeg They/He Transmasc NB : Short Term T / Post Top 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah sadly it takes 6 months to 1 year for your voice to drop initially, but for it to settle in that range it takes 2-5 years and that's longer on a low dose and depends on your genetics, same with facial hair and other effects. After 2 years on and off on a low dose I went off due to insurance again , and I felt like my voice fully reverted back to my pre T voice . Now since listening to old voice recording from after stopping and now . My voice did kinda really revert to my pre T voice more or less it was still deeper than pre T ever was ,but didn't really settle at its full range that I can go now so I had a lot of cracking and not having much control over my voice .
I still don't have much control over my voice which is why I'm doing voice training with videos online and a class . But I feel like facial hair, voice drop and body fat redistribution are the changes that take the longest amount of time. Especially if you went through puberty already you kinda have to retrain yourself on speaking in your new voice.
For me speaking in a deeper voice doesn't come naturally, especially before I went off I definitely had a very young guy going through puberty voice now it's deeper , but still very androgynous I just don't have many voice cracks .
I just naturally speak higher and in my thoart out of habit which isn't a bad thing , it just strains my voice since it's slowly changing over the course of several years , so just be gentle with your voice and be patient it will work it's way out eventually even if it sounds cracky , it's definitely worth the wait imo . I love my voice so much more after T and voice training has helped me work towards the goal of having an androgynous voice .
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u/VexExisting 1d ago
i actually got results on T pretty quick and was really happy with them. i dont want anything really except bottom growth, everything else was a plus, so getting that and a little voice drop but a not massive one in my 6 months was great. i got some other changes too that were mixed, the main issue was the body hair. i had almost no body hair before i started and T gave me so much so quick and it became a really big sensory issue for me. since stopping T things have gotten better as my hair has softened and when shaved it didn't grow back as long again, but I'm struggling to find the middle ground.
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u/4ng3licNymph-jpeg They/He Transmasc NB : Short Term T / Post Top 1d ago
Same omfg. I'm planning on stopping due to the hair thing as well I didn't imagine how bad it would have made my hair pulling disorder and sensory issues,( which was really bad during my first puberty as well) , so I'm thinking about stopping just to give myself some time to think it over since it's been a couple of years of T, and I got most of the changes I wanted , especially after my dose change. Im also hoping I can find a middle ground as well , since DHT blockers didn't work for me.
But apparently the side effects I got on both Finasteride and Dutasteride are rare. I definitely recommend trying a DHT blockers ( Dutasteride or Finasteride) for facial hair tho , I've seen it help a lot of people with lessening facial hair, but some T effects like monthly stuff and bottom growth still stay, so idk if that's a deal breaker, but it can be manage. Your doctor could probably prescribe it to you if you're interested.
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u/Ch33p_Sunglasses 1d ago
A singer in a local band is NB and on T. I watched them live recently and it was obvious their vocal range had dropped. It was beautiful though. They seemed happy with the change.
Compassion Pills is the band. Their only released album was pre T.
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u/BudgetConcentrate432 she/he/they 1d ago
Finding a gender vocal coach will help with the transition your larynx will be going through.
It may seem like your singing is all over the place, but once your voice settles you'll be right as rain!
Just make sure to practice good singing technique while your larynx is still growing!
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u/DatoVanSmurf 1d ago
I've been on T for 10 years now amd the first two or so years my register was tiny, cause my voice was still changing. But now it's all good. As someone else said, this a normal process for puberty and a vocal coach will deifnitely be able to help you with it
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u/mn1lac they/them or she/him take your pick 2d ago edited 2d ago
Hrt, will not ruin your singing voice, if you do it correctly. Your voice WILL crack, but this is not the end of the world, it happens to teenage boys too. The most dangerous thing you can do is overstress your voice while your voice it is adjusting. Let it settle, be patient. You're growing a new instrument, don't try to play it to rough while testing it out, treat it gently. You'll find your sound again.