The _lower_ pharynx gradually opens in the descending series 7'-1'. The researches of Helmholtz, Koenig, Willis, Wheatstone, Appunn, Bell, and others have shown that each vowel sound has its own characteristic pitch. The Scale of Vowel Sounds given above corresponds closely to the order of resonance pitch from the highest _ee_ to the lowest _oo_. In the natural resonance of the vowels _ee_ is highest in the head, _ah_ is midway in the scale, and _oo_ is lowest in resonance. LIP POSITION Figure 2 shows the best position of the lips to give the sound of _ee_. Hold the under jaw without stiffness and as far from the upper teeth as is consistent with delivery of the pure sound of this vowel. Figure 3 shows the best position of the lips to produce the vowel _oo_. Figure 4 shows the position of the lips for the vowel sound of long _o_. The opening of the lips should be made as round as is the letter _o_. When preparing the lips to give the sound of _o_, the inclination is strong to drop the lower jaw; in practice, to develop action of the lips, the under jaw would better be held quite immovable. It will be found possible to produce all of the vowel sounds without any change except in the form of the opening of the lips. The vowel sound of _i_ is an exception; for as a compound of _ah_ and _ee_, the extremes of the vowel scale, it requires two distinct positions for its utterance with a movement of transition between; it is not, therefore, a good vowel for initial practice. [Illustration: FIGURE 2.] [Illustration: FIGURE 3.] [Illustration: FIGURE 4.] [Illustration: FIGURE 5.] Figure 5 shows that the sound _aw_ is produced from _o_ by raising the edge of the upper lip outward and upward, and flattening the raised portion laterally. Figure 6 shows the position for producing _ah_. It differs from the position assumed for _aw_ in that the opening of the lips is larger, the upper lip is raised higher, the flat portion is wider, and the under lip is a little relaxed. The form of the opening to produce _aw_ is oval; the form for _ah_ is more nearly square. [Illustration: FIGURE 6.] [Illustration: FIGURE 7.] Figure 7 shows the under jaw relaxed, as it should be in practice, to enlarge the throat and give roundness and largeness to the tone. The use of the word _hung_ will accomplish this end. The vowel sounds illustrated above are embodied in a series of vocal exercises to be found in Chapter VIII on _Placing the Voice_. CHAPTER III BREATH CONTROL It has been said that "breathing is singing." This statement is equally applicable to speaking. While the aphorism is not literally true, it is true that without properly controlled breathing the best singing or speaking tone cannot be produced, for tone is but vocalized breath; hence in the cultivation of the voice, breathing is the first function to receive attention.