The voice is one hell of an instrument. I imply, what number of guitars can do a Scottish accent, or an ideal recreation of Gollum’s eerie tones? There’s nothing else on the planet fairly prefer it. I listened to an audiobook lately and had my thoughts blown once I found it solely had one narrator. The best way they modified and formed their voice to every of the characters was nothing lower than unbelievable and it made me very jealous. So transfer over Mel Blanc, at the moment we’re studying methods to develop one million (and one) character voices.
The power to develop totally different character voices is massively helpful for actors; it will probably will let you work in a various array of fields corresponding to animation, audio books and even video video games. Character voices would require constant warm-ups and a give attention to talent areas corresponding to accents and dialects, in addition to growing traits and qualities specific to a given function. Always, your selections must really feel actual—irrespective of how ridiculous the job. Goal for transformation, quite than imitation.
Okay: let’s begin out with the fundamentals and get slightly loopy from there. The primary voice to develop is crucial. And that’s your personal…
Get Heat
Your voice is a muscle. Type of. In truth, there are a BUNCH of muscle tissue that work collectively to make and form sound. So as with all muscle, earlier than we begin placing it underneath any form of stress, we have to heat it up.
If you happen to’ve been within the recreation for some time, it’s best to have already got a well-rounded and constant voice warm-up routine. If you happen to’re new round these elements, I’d recommend trying out this epic warm-up article written by our very personal fearless chief, Andy.
The trick is to develop a routine that works for you. It may be one thing you be taught from a category, discover on-line or add to and subtract as wanted. These days, I’ve been utilizing an app known as Heat Me Up which I couldn’t advocate sufficient (although it does value a little bit of pocket cash.)
Beginning Easy: Accents
“Easy” may be an understatement right here, relying in your consolation degree. However accents are your bread and butter on the subject of character voices. Studying methods to do totally different accents may look like a mere social gathering trick, but it surely’s a foundational talent of your vocal potential.
All proper: have you learnt your ABCs? Nicely, let me introduce you to a complete new sort of alphabet.
The Worldwide Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
Each sound the human voice is able to making has been documented within the phonetic alphabet. Which is nothing in need of mind-blowing. Reasonably than our well-known Roman Alphabet, the worldwide phonetic alphabet is made up of an entire load of funky symbols that symbolize totally different sounds. Try an instance by way of this hyperlink.
On the finish of the day, the voice is simply air being pushed via our vocal folds to create vibrations. We manipulate these vibrations utilizing our tongue, lips and throat, which form this air into sounds we use to speak. Isn’t that unbelievable?!
Totally different accents use totally different phonetic sounds, formed by the evolution of language and the tradition surrounding these audio system. And whereas these accents may use the identical language, the phrases spoken can sound remarkably totally different. Think about this paragraph spoken by a New Yorker, after which by a Boston native simply 4 hours away.
Talking of accents, let me introduce you to the second most mind-blowing instrument on the web.
IDEA: Worldwide Dialects of English
Each accent within the English Language is recorded and documented proper right here on IDEA. So in case you’ve been combating a personality’s Slovakian accent, with no Slovakian buddy to make use of as reference, yow will discover the reply to your troubles proper right here.
By utilizing this superb archive along side the IPA, there isn’t a single accent in English you’ll be able to’t be taught. Right here’s how we do it.
Dissecting an Accent
First, decide an accent. Let’s use our above instance: Slovakian.
Now, bounce onto IDEA and have a hearken to Slovakia 2. What we’re searching for as we hearken to any accent are key vowel sounds which can be totally different to our personal.
For instance, at 0:51, the topic says “Washed her face in a rush.” Let’s take a look at the best way he says “hurry.” I’ve an Australian accent so once I say hurry, the “u” sound is “uh” or “ɐ” in IPA. When our Slovakian topic says hurry, the vowel sound turns into “eh” or “ø”.
Subsequent, we will take a look at the consonants. A bit of additional on within the speech, he says “costume” by which he faucets the “r” sound which is represented by “ɾ” in IPA. Attempt to mimic that sound by bringing your tongue to the roof of your mouth and rolling it down and again while you say “costume.”
If you happen to pay attention additional, you’ll discover that this ‘tapped’ r is an important a part of the accent. So take note of when it occurs and when it doesn’t. In sure accents, tapped r’s solely happen in the course of phrases, not the start or the tip. However within the Slovakian accent, it seems persistently all through.
By approaching accents like a scientist, you create an excellent foundational understanding of the voice and the best way it really works.
Getting Particular: Vocal Qualities
Let’s say you’ve nailed your Slovakian accent and also you’re going round convincing hapless baristas that you simply’re a Bratislava native. All properly and good, but when we need to truly create a personality distinct from ourselves, we have to get extra particular about the best way we’re talking.
“Vocal Qualities” is a broad time period. Right here, I’m particularly referring to pitch, tone and timbre. We’ll play with some extra distinctive qualities in a bit, however let’s persist with the sandpit for now.
Utilizing your flawless Slovakian accent, begin by altering the pitch. Resist the urge to go to the extremes immediately–you’ll create a extra convincing voice in case you begin by making slight modifications.
Attempt pitching it up a number of notes first and see the distinction in the way it feels–possibly your throat feels slightly tighter? Perhaps your getting extra vibration in your nasal cavity and head? What about in case you go down a number of notes?
Now, let’s play with tone. You need to consider shifting the sound round your resonators together with your chest, nostril and head. You’ll discover totally different tonal qualities relying on the place your voice is ‘sitting.’ Perhaps it sounds tender and ethereal, deep and gravelly or nasal and sharp?
Lastly, timbre. That is essentially the most particular of the three qualities as a result of it includes including little prospers like breathiness, raspiness or smoothness. Attempt rounding out or shaving the perimeters of the vowel sounds with out diverting too far out of your chosen accent. Difficult, proper? However this type of texture is what separates the hopeful voice artists from the professionals.
You’ll be able to, in fact, play with these qualities together with your pure accent, too. In truth, I’ve in all probability jumped the gun by making you’re employed with an accent immediately! Take note of how these qualities change in your unusual voice as a result of they actually do change on daily basis. It’ll provide you with extra toys to play with as you’re employed in your character voices.
Give it Some Physicality
In the identical manner that the physique and thoughts aren’t truly separate (regardless of what fashionable western philosophy may insist) neither are the physique and the voice. The best way you maintain your self adjustments the best way your voice sounds.
Fast experiment for you: sit comfortably, in your pure posture, and say “hey.” Now crane your neck as far ahead as you’ll be able to and say it once more. Loopy distinction, proper?
Even in case you’re in a recording sales space, your complete physique must be engaged. Attempt totally different facial expressions: tightening your lips could have a big impression on the best way you sound. Even pyscho-physical changes like hunching over barely to create a personality who’s nervous or shy will have an effect on your voice.
It may be slight however that’s the place the juicy element is. Play with totally different shapes in your physique and see how they have an effect on not solely your voice but additionally your psychology then discover how your psychology impacts your voice and so forth. The human physique is a fantastic suggestions loop that may be harvested for data by the eager and curious.
Give it Some Persona
Now we’re going to show that voice into a personality—distinguishing them additional with efficiency selections. Is that this individual a quick or a sluggish talker? In the event that they’re a quick talker, is it as a result of they’re actually intelligent and have loads to share or are they stressed of their minds? Do they converse languidly and simply or is their speech uneven and inconsistent?
What about issues like their age? It is a complete can of worms that might affect plenty of different issues like pitch, tone and timbre. Perhaps you’ll must make a number of changes when you’ve determined how outdated they’re.
It’s humorous: you make the identical changes to a personality voice that you’d a job on display screen or stage. Discover the issues that differentiate them from your self—from all people—and use these qualities to deliver them to life!
Cheat Code: Vocal Hooks
When you choose a voice you actually like, you’ll want a manner of remembering it. Recording your self is the best technique to construct up an archive, however you’ll additionally want to concentrate to vocal hooks in an effort to simply slip again right into a voice after you’ve left it on the shelf for some time.
Vocal hooks are key sounds or phrases that get you again right into a voice. They’re mostly used with accents. For instance, once I was in a manufacturing of The Laramie Mission, we needed to excellent a Southern accent and a phrase all of us used to get it proper was “Lemon yellow Cadillac rolling down the highway.” The phrase is especially helpful for a Southern accent as a result of there’s plenty of emphasis on the “L” and “R” sounds—key sounds that helped me get a fast grasp of what I wanted to be doing.
In order you develop a voice, provide you with a catchphrase for it that hones in on key sounds. “She wearing a rush.” might be an excellent one on your Slovakian character.
A Ultimate Be aware: Imitation vs Transformation
Once I was in drama college, we had been assigned a Welsh accent as our research, which is notoriously troublesome. I’ve all the time been one to chop corners on assignments, so all I did was hearken to the Welsh recording on IDEA a number of instances and hope that was sufficient.
My vocal tutor knew instantly that I hadn’t touched my IPA. They defined that whereas I used to be fairly adept at imitation, I hadn’t utterly remodeled my voice and so, had fallen quick.
There’s a distinction between an imitation artist and a voice artist. You can begin out by imitating fashionable voices to get a really feel for shaping your voice, however you’ll finally need to begin tweaking the main points to make the voice your personal and really remodel. The extra thought of your voice work is, the extra actual and grounded your character will change into.
Conclusion
As soon as your telephone begins to refill with voice memos of various character voices, give them names and resolve which archetype they match into. This one might be Johnny Fast-Palms, an enthralling thief with a greasy smile; that one might be Girl Lollabout, a wealthy bourgeois who’s obsessive about cats.
Particulars are what create voices and characters which can be really convincing. Get nerdy and be taught as a lot as you’ll be able to about how the voice works and how one can bend it to your will. It’s one hell of an instrument, in spite of everything…
Hope this helps. See you across the traps!
