Plosives are consonant sounds produced by stopping airflow in the vocal tract. The basic English plosives are voiceless t, k, p and voiced d, g, b. Plosives are articulated by closing the lips, alveolar ridge, or velar region. Plosives go through three stages - closing, compression with built up air pressure, and abrupt release. English plosives are distinguished by place of articulation (bilabial, lingua-alveolar, lingua-velar), voicing (voiced or voiceless), aspiration of initial sounds, and degree of muscular force in production.