Major Memory System

Learn how to memorize anything

About the Major Memory System


Gregor von Feinaigle. Line engraving by J. H. Lips after D. Wellcome V0001884
Gregor von Feinaigle

The Major System (also known as the phonetic memory system) is a mnemonic method for creating peg words for use with the Peg Memory System.


The origins of the Major Memory System can be traced back to The New Art of Memory by the German mnemonist Gregor von Feinaigle (1760-1819).


The modern reworking of Feinaigle's method works by associating the phonetic sound of particular consonants to each numeral. Memorable words or phrases can then be generated to represent any number by linking successive consonant sounds together using fillers based on vowel sounds.


Once the word or phrase to represent the number has been formed, it is then used as a peg word by linking it with the item you wish to associate with the number.

Learning the Phonetic Code


It is recommended that you learn the following standard set of numeral-sound associations. These have been well tested over the years and make it easy to generate words representing particular numbers.


Note how the different letters corresponding to each numeral make similar phonetic sounds and require similar positions of lips and tongue.




NumeralConsonant soundsAid for Memory
0s, z, soft c z is first letter of zero
1d, t (th)The letters have ONE downstroke
2nn has TWO downstrokes
3mm has THREE downstrokes; also m looks like 3 on its side
4rr is is last letter or FOUR.
5lL is the Roman letter representing 50
6sh, j, soft ch, soft gg is like 6 twisted round
7k, hard g, q, hard c, hard chk is made up of 7s
8f, ph, vScript f is like 8
9b, pb is like upside-down 9; p is mirror of 9
NullAll vowels, plus w, wh, h, yCan be added anywhere to make words or phrases

Forming Peg Words


To create peg words for any number, choose a word or phrase that is pronounced using a sequence of consonant sounds that corresponds to the sequence of numerals in the number. Vowels (and w, wh, h, y) can be freely used as fillers between consonants (or at the beginning or end of words).


There will often be several words or phrases that you could choose to represent a number. You should always choose the word or phrase that is most memorable. Generally, words and phrases that are easily visualised are best.



Examples



NumberConsonant SequencesSome Possible Words / Phrases
0(s, z)SEA,  ZOO
1(t, d)TEA,  DAY
20(n)  (s, z)NOSE, NOOSE, NAZI
34(m) (r)MARE,  MOOR,
746(k, q, hard c, hard g)  (r)  (sh, j, soft g)CARRIAGE,  GARAGE,  GARISH
2599(n)  (l)  (b, p)  (b, p)NAIL-POP,  KNEEL-BABY
685342(sh, j, soft g)  (f, ph, v)  (l)  (m)  (r)  (n)SHOVEL-MORN, JIVE-LAMB-RUN


For long numbers, form a sequence of separate words that you can then connect using the Link System

Learning PI


You can learn the first 50 decimal digits of PI (following the initial 3) by committing the following passage to memory:





PI MNEMONIC


TART-LIP NIGEL
A MALE FAB CAB-MAN MOVER
CHINA-CHARM MUFF-MINK POLICE
ENOUGH FOR THE PICTISH BUMPY-BUM KELTS

PI = 3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510 ...




OK, let's break this down


TART-LIP NIGEL
14159265
TaRTLiPNiGeL



A MALE FAB CAB-MAN MOVER
-35897932384
aMaLeFaBCaBMaNMoVeR



CHINA-CHARM MUFF-MINK POLICE
 
6264338
CHiNaCHaRMMuF
 
327950 
MiNKPoLiCe 



ENOUGH FOR THE PICTISH BUMPY-BUM KELTS
 
288419716
eNouGHFoRTHePiCTiSH
 
939937510
BuMPyBuMKeLTS

Comments


The Major System, when combined with the Peg System, is both powerful and versatile. You can use it, for example, to learn:


  • Dates of historical events
    For example, the first voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 can become COLUMBUS-TURBAN (visualise Columbus wearing a turban).

  • The Atomic Numbers of the Elements
    For example, Silver (47) can become SILVER-ROCK; Uranium (92) can become URANIUM-BAN.

  • Best Films at the Oscars
    For example, The Silence of the Lambs (1991) can become LAMBS-PET, or PET-LAMBS if you want to recall the date of the award). Note that you don't always need to use the full year when you already know the century.

  • Olympic Games venues
    For example, Tokyo (1964) can become TOKYO-CHAIR (visualise an elaborately decorated Japenese chair).

  • Phone numbers
    For example, Alice (4384-25421) can become ALICE-ROOM-FOR-NIL-RENT.

  • Your credit card PIN numbers
    Note that you can often change your PIN number to one that will make an easy-to-remember word.


You will soon find that the small effort you put into learning the Major System will be richly rewarded.