# Male voice pitch **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456 "2010-01-26T02:13:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456/1 "2010-01-26T02:13:57Z")
What accounts for the pitch of a man’s voice (or vocal range), his testosterone level or the actual shape of his vocal folds (cords)? And when a man’s testosterone level drops, from age or other factors, does his voice get higher . . . or is his range set at puberty? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456/2 "2010-01-26T02:17:54Z")
Voice is determined by the shape of the vocal cords, and shape of the vocal cords is determined by testosterone. The shape might change a little if the testosterone is taken away, but the only way to get a castrato singer is to snip before the change. Certainly, there’s nothing to the old gag of someone getting kicked in the crotch and immediately talking soprano. ---
**Author:** ![Godinama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@Godinama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godinama)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456/3 "2010-01-26T03:38:25Z")
So if I have a fairly deep voice, does that mean that I’m producing more testosterone than average? I _have_ been known to be awfully manly 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456/4 "2010-01-26T06:08:29Z")
> [@Godinama](#): > > So if I have a fairly deep voice, does that mean that I’m producing more testosterone than average? > > I _have_ been known to be awfully manly 🆒 Thinking of the scene in _Crocodile Dundee_… It means your vocal cords are thicker than normal. Whether that’s due to abuse of them, normal (for you) development, or hormone imbalance - that’s why there are lab tests. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456/5 "2010-01-26T06:26:08Z")
> [@Godinama](#): > > So if I have a fairly deep voice, does that mean that I’m producing more testosterone than average? > > I _have_ been known to be awfully manly 🆒 Possibly. You could also be talking in the lower end of your range. Have you ever run into someone who talked like Bette Davis and sang like Kristin Chenoweth? I have. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456/6 "2010-01-26T07:23:17Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > It means your vocal cords are thicker than normal. Whether that’s due to abuse of them, normal (for you) development, or hormone imbalance - that’s why there are lab tests. “I call you on the telephone, my voice too rough from cigarettes.” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-voice-pitch/526456/7 "2010-01-26T07:35:29Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Have you ever run into someone who talked like Bette Davis and sang like Kristin Chenoweth? I have. I know someone who speaks with a low, husky voice, yet sings high tenor. And yes, he smokes.