What's your pitch?

Apparently many people don't speak at their natural - their most breath-efficient - pitch.  For a variety of psychosocial reasons both sexes may artificially adjust their voice pitch up or down, until it bcomes second nature and subconscious.

Photo: L.Lukatsky @Flickr

So much of our identity, emotions and history is bound up in voice the process of finding the natural pitch may be cathartic or hugely overwhelming.  Especially if you're not aware you don't speak like wot you oughtta. 

Try out this exercise if you want to see how different your natural voice is...

Keeping within a sustainable range so that each count is at a very similar pitch, and without hitting a falsetto, count at moderate speed from 1 to 20, alternating between lowest and highest pitch.


After 20, take a breath, and then hum with the lips just closed, for a few seconds.


Then speak.  What comes out?

This will probably work best  for you if warmed up and loose, so sing in the shower or phone the bank first.