Did you ever want to be able to recite pi up to 22,500 decimal digits? As for me, I never felt attracted to that sort of stuff. But remembering phone numbers, passwords, PINs, birthdays and all sorts of everyday numbers — that’s something I resonate with!
Meet the Major memory system, one of the most powerful techniques around for memorizing numbers. If you think you could use a boost to your memory, or just want to jog your brain a little, here’s a great way to do it. (And yes, you’ll also be able to pull off the pi digits stunt if that’s what catches your fancy.)
How the Major Memory System Works
Our brains are notoriously poor at memorizing numbers. The problem lies in the fact that numbers are abstract concepts. Although they are represented visually by symbols, they don’t feel very real or appealing to our brains. As I explored in a previous article, our brains usually work best using lively, vibrant images. Numbers hardly qualify.
And that’s what the Major system is about: converting abstract, dull numbers into vivid, striking images. When we do that, committing these numbers to memory is a snap. Let me show you how to do it.
The Major Memory System in 3 Steps
1. Learn to Encode Numbers as Images
The heart of the Major system — and the key to convert numbers to images and vice-versa — is a 10-item mnemonic table. The table shows how to transform the digits 0-9 into corresponding sounds; which we’ll eventually use to form words. The mnemonics are easy to learn (it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes to fully master them) and, once learned, they can be used for life. Here they are:
| Digit | Sound | Memory Aid |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | s, z, soft c | z is the first letter of zero. The others have a similar sound. |
| 1 | d, t, th | d and t have one downstroke and sound similar (notice the tip of your tongue as you say them). |
| 2 | n | n has two downstrokes. |
| 3 | m | m has three downstrokes, also m looks like a 3 lying on its side. |
| 4 | r | the last letter of four, also 4 and R are almost mirror images of each other. |
| 5 | l | L is the Roman numeral for 50. |
| 6 | j, sh, soft ch, dg, zh, soft g | a script j has a lower loop like 6. These letters also have a ‘whistle-like’ sound, and 6 looks like a whistle. |
| 7 | k, hard c, hard g, q, qu | capital K contains two 7s (on their sides, back to back). |
| 8 | v, f | think of v as in a V8 motor. f sounds similar (notice how your teeth touch your lips for both). |
| 9 | b, p | p is a mirror-image 9. b sounds similar and resembles a 9 rolled around (also notice how your lip movement is the same when pronouncing these letters.) |
| - | vowel sounds, w, h, y | These sounds can be used anywhere without changing a word’s number value. |
As an example, let’s take the (in)famous number 42.
According to the mnemonic table, the digits in the number 42 translate to r and n respectively. Now we need to form a word with r and n. We should fill the gaps between the letters using the ‘neutral’ elements (from the last row of the table: vowel sounds, w, h or y). The word rain comes naturally to me.
42 gets encoded as rain, then.
Decoding from word to number is even more straightforward. ‘Mouse’, for instance, becomes 30 (3 for m and 0 for s; vowel sounds are ignored).
The conversion process may seem a little slow and cumbersome at first, but with just a little bit of practice it becomes second-nature.
There are just a couple more notes to bear in mind:
- The conversions are strictly phonetic, that is, based on how the words sound — not how they’re spelled. If a word has double letters that account for just one sound, you count only one sound (ex: the r sound in cherry counts as only one number). By the same token, mute letters (such as the b in debt) should be ignored.
- When coming up with words, choose those that are easy to visualize. Concrete nouns — such as objects or animals — always work better than abstract nouns, adjectives or verbs.
2. Associate Images in Your Mind
Now for the fun part. We already have an image, now we’ll need a way to glue it in our minds. The way we’re going to do this is by imagining a scene, a scene that combines two images: the encoded number image along with a peg image that will be used to trigger the memory.
As an example, suppose you want to buy a light bulb, and you must remember that it must be a 30-Watt one. The two images to combine would be the image for light bulb and the encoded image for 30. Using our mnemonic table, we find that 30 translates to the letters m and s. Mouse seems a pretty good word for these letters, so we’ll go with it.
Our mission, then, is to create a mental scene combining light bulb and mouse.
The secret for this to work is to make the mental scene memorable: make it crazy, ridiculous, offensive, unusual, animated, nonsensical — in short, make it fun! (For details on how to effectively associate images, check out this article.)
Let’s see: What’s the zaniest way you can combine light bulb with mouse? I don’t know about you, but here’s what I just imagined:
“I’m in my local supermarket, in the electrical accessories aisle. As I catch one light bulb to observe it more closely… Bang! It breaks in my hand, and a giant mouse jumps out of it! The mouse runs away, squeaking frenetically. Everybody in the supermarket stops and stares at me puzzled and in absolute silence…”
Well, imagine that scene vividly in your mind and try not remembering that giant mouse next time you’re in that supermarket aisle… “30-Watt it surely is!”
3. For Large Numbers, Extend the System
“Yes, but everyone can memorize a small number such as 30,” — you say — “what about the big numbers?”
The great thing about the Major system is that you can easily combine it with just about any other memory technique, simple or advanced. That’s what makes the Major System insanely scalable and able to handle gigantic numbers.
For memorizing a small number we created a mental scene combining two images. To memorize a large number, we need to link many of those scenes together, forming a sequence.
There are many ways to do this. Many people like to create a story linking the scenes together, for example.
My favorite method, however, is to use the Memory Palace technique. In short, you use familiar places for storing memories. If you’re not acquainted with it, check it out here).
Let’s try a practical example again: an 8-digit telephone number.
The specifics on how to memorize it are a matter of personal preference, of course. The way I do it is by chunking the number in 4-digit groups, and placing each of those groups in a memory palace location.
I’ll use my in-laws phone number (slightly modified), using their home as my memory palace:
Phone number: 2417-2220
Scene 1: Associate first memory palace feature (front door) with 2417:
Using the Major system: 24 = Nero, 17 = Duck.
“As I arrive at my in-laws’ front door, I see no one but the emperor Nero himself, laughing out loud, as he is about to set the whole apartment on fire! But he has no matches or a torch in his hands: he has a blowtorch — in fact, a rubber duck-shaped blowtorch! And it quacks as it spits fire!”
Scene 2: Associate second memory palace feature (sofa) with 2220:
Using the Major system: 22 = Nun, 20 = Nose.
“As I enter their apartment is the sofa, the first thing I see is a nun chanting and jumping about on the sofa, facing backwards. When I touch her shoulder, she turns around — and it’s actually a witch! She scares the hell out of me — and guess what — she has the biggest nose ever! And yuck — that’s the biggest zit I’ve ever seen” (yes, getting disgusting is also a great way to help your memory!)
This may seem like a lot of work for a phone number, but in fact, this all happens quite fast in our minds. Recovering a number using the process above takes me no more than 4 seconds total — and I haven’t been practicing that much lately. If you practice this regularly, you’ll be able to do it much faster and with less effort.
Bonus: Gain Speed with a Word List
The previous three steps are the basic tools you need to use the Major system. If you want to make it even more powerful and efficient, one way is to use a predefined image list for the numbers you use more often.
If you use a set of predefined images for, say, all numbers from 00 to 99, you’ll greatly improve your speed when forming images, as you won’t need to imagine different words each time you trip on those numbers.
Of course, memorizing more than 100 mnemonics requires a fair amount of time and effort, but once it’s all in your long-term memory, you can use it for life. To be fair, you don’t need to memorize it (in the traditional sense of the word). Let me explain. If you just start using the mnemonics, the images will soon automatically come to you. I don’t know, but there must be something about the phonetics that makes the images manifest themselves rather easily.
Here’s a set of numbers you can use. If you don’t like these words, feel free to substitute others that are more memorable to you:
0. Sow 20. Nose 40. Rose 60. Cheese 80. Fez 00. S.O.S. 1. Hat 21. Net 41. Road 61. Sheet 81. Fat 01. Seed 2. Hen 22. Nun 42. Rain 62. Chain 82. Fan 02. Sun 3. Ham 23. Nemo 43. Room 63. Jam 83. Foam 03. Sam 4. Row 24. Nero 44. Aurora 64. Cherry 84. Fire 04. Zero 5. Hill 25. Nail 45. Rail 65. Jello 85. File 05. Seal 6. Shoe 26. Notch 46. Rash 66. Judge 86. Fish 06. Sash 7. Cow 27. Neck 47. Rock 67. Chalk 87. Fog 07. Sack 8. Ivy 28. Knife 48. Roof 68. Chef 88. Fife 08. Sofa 9. Bee 29. Knob 49. Rope 69. Ship 89. Fib 09. Sepia 10. Toes 30. Mouse 50. Lace 70. Gas 90. Bus 11. Dad 31. Mat 51. Loot 71. Cat 91. Bat 12. Dune 32. Moon 52. Lion 72. Can 92. Pen 13. Dime 33. Mummy 53. Lime 73. Comb 93. Opium 14. Tire 34. Mower 54. Lure 74. Car 94. Bear 15. Doll 35. Mule 55. Lily 75. Coal 95. Bell 16. Tissue 36. Match 56. Leech 76. Cage 96. Bush 17. Duck 37. Mug 57. Log 77. Coke 97. Book 18. Dove 38. Movie 58. Lava 78. Cave 98. Beef 19. Tape 39. Map 59. Lip 79. Cape 99. Pipe
What do you think?
I absolutely love using the Major system. It provides a great brain workout — and a warm feeling of relying just a bit less on technology. Even better than that is the amount of wild private imagery to have fun with! 
What about you? Do you have any experience using the Major memory system or any variation of it? If not, do you have any other ways you use to remember numbers? Share in the comments!
Whoa! A really rocking post, very well written.
Its always been a head ache to remember numbers.
Bookmarked
Hi Luciano: I learned to do something very similar when I took the Silva Method course years ago. Using memories pegs is a great way to remember not only phone numbers, but your grocery list, information for tests, and anything else you need to remember. Very interesting article.
Hi Luciano,
I used a similar system to remember numbers too and the results are great. By anchoring numbers with pictures in the mind, it help us to remember it much more easier.
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
Really awesome post.
In fact, two of my friends sent me this post because it was that great =D
Luciano, Great ideas. You may want to inform folks where you picked them up at. Most people will find this linking very helpful.
I think I remember them from The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas.
Thanks
I always have trouble remembering anything involving numbers (birthdates, years, codes, etc.)- I’ll be trying this out!
WoW! That’s really impressing!
Thanks all for the compliments, glad you enjoyed the article!
@David: The Major memory system is so widely celebrated that I can’t pinpoint a single source from where I got the idea from.
For readers that want to explore other viewpoints and ideas about the Major system can always start with the Major System Wikipedia article and go from there.
Excellent post. Now I just need to practice…
Cool! Have you seen Arthur Benjamin’s presentation at TED?
http://www.ted.com/index.php/t.....magic.html
Very interesting indeed and thanks for the quick reference word list at the end. Saves having to start my own. Quick to pick up I can see.
obviously, you’re a visual learner. I doubt this will work for people who work better just thinking in numbers. Now if you’ll excuse me, its 12:33 am and I’ve got homework to do by tomorrow. gah! (bakka desu!)
I remember the phone number and birthday of friends I haven’t talked to in more than 5 years. Rather I have problem recognizing faces I am not really familiar with. Eg when I was moving to my place, I met my new neighbors, then I met them again few weeks later in a store and had no clue who they were.
I guess everybody is born with a different set of skills.
GAAY! who wants to remember numbers?
including pie to the 22000 digit?!?! the sky is blue. the grass is green and the world is too large to worry about numbers. the only numbers you need to know is 1,100,1000,10000,100000,and 1000000.
enjoy your counting pie while i enjoy counting my millions!
Oh my god i m feeling dizzy after reading this.. i cant stand with numbers…. Though its a nice post…
Hi Luciano,
Like Marelisa I learned to do this in a Silva Method
seminar a few years ago too.
However, because of lacked of practice (and could not
see the need for it yet) I have still not being able
to master it.
Regards
Tony
This is a great site! This method is really wonderful, since I started using it (4 days ago), I am REALLY improving (though, if I plan on memorizing pi to 22,500 decimal places, I’m afraid it’s going to take a while
). The Memory Palace technique is also a helpful post. Since I have started reading on this site, my IQ has jumped a startling 21 points (using an official mensa test)!
I think my favorite post is ‘120 Ways To Boost Your Brain Power’.
(BTW, if there are any of my fellow chess nuts on here, check out http://www.freechess.org,www.chess.com,or http://www.chesscube.com -all free playing sites)
Thanks, Luciano!!!
Thanks everybody for sharing your experiences!
@Thales: That’s a very amusing TED talk! Thanks for sharing the link with us!
The guy is a great demonstration of what our brains are capable of when combining visual methods with some mental math tricks — and a lot of practice, of course! Although some people debate the usefulness of such things, I believe they’re always fun and help keep our brains sharp, don’t you think?
Oh, that also reminds me that I know some mental math tricks myself, so I might write a post on it if readers are interested…
Hi Luciano, awesome stuffs here. These are new for me and I need to practice them step by step. Thanks for sharing.
@ChessIM: In the name of the chess nuts fellowship thank you!
Did you ever try using any memory system to improve your chess?
Chess brotherhood, rejoice!
If anyone’s up for a quick game, you can sometimes find me online at Chess.com. My username over there is lucianop.
For e-mail chess, I use RedHotPawn. Just search for “Luciano Passuello” and you’ll find me there too.
Hi Luciano, are you on gameknot.com or fics.org?
I am mcarrera on both.
btw, are you italian?
@Fier: I did not use a memory system. I still could, and improve my game more! I’ll let you know if I try. I improved by memorizing chess patterns- meaning refinement of tactics and playing games.
To study tactics I used http://www.mychess.com/tactics/tactics1.html & http://chess.emrald.net/.
Maybe we could play a game sometime, Luciano!
Alright, I’m going to look into this more, it’s very interesting
I use a similar system, but for 8, I use “h” for “huit” (French numeral 8 ) and “f” for 5 (for obvious reasons).
The best way to invite me to a quick game of chess is via Twitter.
@Marco: I don’t use the chess sites you mention (too many sites!). Regarding your questions about being italian, although I live and was born in Brazil, I’m also considered Italian, as I have double-citizenship.
Luciano,
You’re a fraud and a thief. How dare you pass off the intellectual property of Harry Lorayne as your own? Vi sono una vergogna per tutti gli italiani americani.
@David and @Steve Savage
Give me a break. I think the evil green eyed monster has come to play.
The Major Memory System is hundreds of years old! No one owns the copyright, and nowhere did Luciano say he invented it.
If you actually read The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas, you’ll see that they both make mention of this fact and admit to basing their systems off of ancient mnemonic techniques that are – again – hundreds of years old.
By the way Luciano does not claim inventing GTD, Mindmaps, Memory Palace, Pegs, the decimal system, etc.
I personally don’t remember anything he has invented besides great articles about produtivity, wonderful book summaries and an outstanding blog.
Actually, I ran across this system about 20 years ago, but I customized it by assigning 5 of the letter groups to different digits than this system uses to make them more memorable for me. I still use it, so I had to scan very quickly through the article to keep the original code from distracting me from the system I use.
Excellent!! I’ll try and apply this from now on. It’s good that people are sharing such great ideas with eveyone. It doesn’t matter who came up with it first. Luciano is a nob.
Keep up the good work dude. I love this site.
This is a really interesting way, but remembering what all the numbers stand for and all is a lot of work I think, but I will give it a try later!
Here we are reminded of a great fallacy that breeds popular contempt for mathematics. The system above is one for memorising ‘numerals’ not ‘numbers’. Numerals are words, morphemes; numbers are concepts, functions – numbers are ratios, music, not unrelated sounds. Few people understand numbers; fewer still understand the difference mentioned here. Yet many people probably have a better understanding of numbers than they think, through music, architecture, logic, etc.
As I understand, numbers are abstract entities, independent of language. Numerals are how we represent the numbers in language. When I cound five frogs in a pound (number), I can represent it as ‘five’, ‘5′, ‘V’ and so on (numerals). Is that correct?
If not, can you point an online reference so I can learn more?
Great explanation of the Major System Luciano.
One thing that I particularly liked about it, that I think perhaps should be made explicit, is that you didn’t chain together images from the Major System. If you’re in the habit of chaining encoding images you eventually end up with multiple visualisations hanging off various images making it difficult to know which visualisation you should be pursuing in any particular case. This “interference” makes long term memorisation more difficult.
Instead, you used the Major System purely as an encoding system, used the Memory Palace (a.k.a Method of Loci, Journey, Roman Room) as a “trigger” system, and of course the old favourite visualisation to link the trigger to the encoding.
It wasn’t up and running at when this post went up but, if anybody is interested in using the Major System but is finding it difficult to put in the effort to personalise and/or train on it I have a personalisable Memory System trainer on my site at
http://www.remarkablemarbles.c.....em-trainer
(Incidentally, my wife is also Italian with dual citizenship. She is now a Britizen (poor thing). Here’s hoping our children grow up with better Italian than mine and congrats on your English – as with my wife’s, it is spot on.)
Getting started using the Major System may seem overwhelming to many, so tools like the Memory System trainer are definitely welcome — thanks for sharing!
Regarding your comment about chaining images, I agree with you — one should be careful not to ‘hard code’ associations into the system.
That’s why I like to keep the Major System as just an additional layer on top of other memory systems — a “translation aid” for dealing with numbers, nothing more.
Some years ago my grandfather gave me a really old book including this system and much more. This system is really great! After learning this system by reading my grandfather’s book my brother actually memorized 5,000 decimal digits of pi ;D
Hi everybody! Thanks for providing that information about the memory table, just crossed my mind about a multiplication grid table where numbers on each cell is replace by a picture.
that could help in multiplying numbers by looking at the big picture from above.
check out this Rudiger Gamm video:
Wow, I have never thought about using pictures in a multiplication table! That sound like a promising idea!
The link to the video didn’t get included in your comment. Would you mind posting it again? Thanks!
This seems like a really long-winded way to go about remembering numbers to me…and i’m not sure it would work for me, being an audio learner as opposed to visual.
How do you handle a decimal in the system.
Sometimes I know where it goes, but others i do not.
I have visualized hay for a decimal.
What do others use?
pharmd_director
Personally, I usually use a black hole as an encoding for a decimal point but, depending on how you view it, you could use anything round, anything tiny, anything pointy etc.
It’s also useful to have an encoding for the minus sign used to signify negative numbers. Also, depending on what you need to memorise, perhaps for standard scientific form e.g. 1.2345x(10^23) or 1.2345E23. I tend to use the image of a military standard for that (and of course you don’t need to encode the decimal point in that case because you know it should always be after the first digit.
In fact, one (of many) of my pet peeves about those who regurgitate the same old information on mnemonics all over the web without understanding how it all fits together, (obviously that doesn’t include Luciano), is that they only ever seem to consider positive integers worth memorising.
Adam (remarkablemarbles.com)
Wow!!! A black hole is great for a decimal.
I used a picture of a hay bale since H A & Y all have no value in the phonetic system.
A friend of mine suggested an eyeball, however this could conflict with my peg for the alphabet letter I.
Any other suggestions for a way to visualize a decimal from other users of the system??
Dave
Another idea you might want to try: instead of making the decimal point an object to peg (like the numbers), you could make it an event in your association chain. Treat it like separator in your story. You could, for example, make a lightning bolt strike every time you need the decimal point. That may integrate better in the ’story’ you’re telling yourself for the number.
I confess that I never tried this idea — it just occurred to me. I also admit that I never used a decimal point in the major system, but that’s not because I don’t see value in it, but because I didn’t need it yet.
Thanks for your great input Adam and David!