Location refers to the chest position where the murmur is the loudest. Auscultation is usually begun at the aortic area. The stethoscope is then moved sequentially to the pulmonary, tricuspid and mitral areas. Keep in mind that murmurs may radiate widely and that they may be present in areas other than the classic ones described. Inching the stethoscope across the chest is the usual technique to define the area where a given acoustic event is best heard. For best results, one should selectively tune in on the individual sounds and murmurs that may be present.