Convo-Tip #3: Speak like a singer

Songify your voice (Photo: davidchief)

Ever met someone who sounds like a constant library voice? What about the other guy, the one who sounds like the “Cold beer here!” baseball salesman… all the time?

Guess what… you can learn from both. Because most people speak flatly, whether that flatness is way up top, way down low, or way in the middle.

So shake it up – speak like a singer.

If you listen to some contemporary, mainstream music, you can pick up the formula. Singing begins in the verse. This is where you hear the song’s story. After the verse, though, the singing busts out in chorus. This is where the pitch rises and you’re most likely to hear the name of the song sung.

While I don’t suggest you start screaming in your conversation or slipping your own name in, you can certainly take advantage of multiple voice tones.

Bring your voice down near a whisper when you’re sharing something important and personal. Speak. Slower. For emphasis. But don’t be afraid to raaaaaaaise your pitch and speed to convey energy and excitement and enthusiasm.

Warning: Don’t change your voice just to change it

If you do it just to do it, you automatically sound contrived. Like a lot of lame singers. Instead let your voice follow the flow of the conversation to coax it where you want it to go. Don’t fall overboard into theater land but definitely push what feels comfortable.

Overall, don’t fall for the “I’m an extrovert, so I raise my voice” trap, and don’t fall for the “I’m an introvert, so I speak softly” trap. Use both. Take command of your vocal range and exploit it. It’s straight up exciting to practice.

And listen to.

Serving Suggestions:

(1) In a conversation today, vary your voice just a little more than you normally would. Specifically, I’d suggest trying to bring your voice down near whisper quality. That seems easier than going the other way. But with practice, try going both ways with your voice.

(2) You can even try it first with someone you know you can explain it to if it flops.

(3) Start listening for friends of yours or even people you don’t know who use more vocal variety than avarage. This might be the only time I recommend watching any TV… or you could listen to different people online. However you listen, learn from them. And then try it.