How do I lower my voice pitch without it sounding forced?

As a fellow singer, I suggest "rasping and sighing" at the same time. Pay attention to how the noise comes "from your gut" rather than the chest. If you could practice that exercise, it should help. In addition: hum and slowly raise your head until you face the ceiling and then slowly lower it back down whilst doing it. It also helps to do that again but instead of humming, repeat the words "ding dong, ping pong, King Kong". You should hear the difference if you're doing it right. Drinking cold water helps too.

 

[edit] I actually misread some of your post so what is there below is more of a general advice. Since you probably know what head/mixed/chest voices are, you should focus on the last paragraph. That is, apply chest voice technique and accept that you won't get results fast. Subtle changes over weeks and months.[/edit]








you need to understand how human voice works. Best idea is to try "chest voice" on YouTube and see instructions for singers, and apply the principle for speech.

It's basically about using your diaphragm more as you speak, because that's how a typical male produces voice/breathes - hence most men have deep voices. For women it's usually the opposite, more of a mixed/head voice. You are probably speaking in that other way, using mixed and head register. It's difficult to describe here but YouTube is your friend. Find out there (try more than one video) what head, mixed and chest voices (registers) are. Knowing how the three work you should be able to apply the technique to your own speech. Also, knowing all three basic types of voice will help you avoid practices that put you in the upper registers.

One piece of advice is that while to you the difference might be very subtle it will be more for the observer. That's how you make it sound unforced - by not trying too hard and accepting you yourself won't hear a huge difference. Once you accept that you should have an easier time and if you continue putting some effort into it you will naturally improve. Don't try too hard and accept to hear subtle difference only. That's essentially how trans women should train their voices as well, or trans men... just for the former it's obviously about developing a head/mixed speaking voice.

 

yeah, I know. I edited the post but probably a bit too late for you to notice (guess you started responding as I was correcting the thing), to account for the fact you are a singer.

But the point still stands. MtF people also need to learn how to use more of the upper register and it can sound forced and can put strain on the voice. You are asking to do the opposite and it works the same way. Patience, practice, slow progress. There isn't really any other way. You are asking how to make your voice sound not forced and the only method is to practice and that you need time for it. It's a muscle and it needs to be trained.