How To Memorise The Major System

One of the most asked questions I get as a memory coach is about people wanting to memorise The Major System.

The Major System is a phonetic model designed to better assist with number memorisation.

Below is the Major System.

0 = S, Z, C (Soft C like “Ceiling)

1 = T, D

2 = N

3 = M

4 = R

5 = L

6 = SH, J, CH

7 = K, G, CK, C (Hard C like “Cat”)

8 = F, V

9 = P, B

To memorise numbers, you will first need create a word by grouping two digits together.

For example, 19 can equal, “DiP”, “DoPe”, “DuPe”, “TaP”. 71 = “CaT”, “CuT”, “KiTe”, “KiD”. 47 = “RoCK”, “RooK”, “RoGue”, “RoCKy”

The next step is to connect pairs of digits together with their “peg words” and create an imaginative story.

For example, let’s memorise the below number.

1977820364

We first break it up into pairs

19 77 82 03 64

Now we can create corresponding words for the numbers using the Major System

19 = Tap, 77= Kick, 82 = Fan, 03 = Sumo, 64 = Chair

Here’s a story using the above words

You are thirsty for a drink of water and head to the TAP for a drink. The tap is not working so you lift your leg up and KICK it. As soon as you do that water starts gushing everywhere and the only way to stop it is to hold a FAN in front of it to stop the gushing. The fan starts making a crazy noise and explodes and pieces fly off behind you and hit your friend who’s a massive SUMO wrestler. He is not happy. He grabs the CHAIR next to him and starts chasing you with it.

How to memorise the actual Major System code.

You will notice some are straight forward to create a story, whereas others require a little more imagination.

0 = S, Z, C

0 starts with “Zero”, has a “Single” hole, stuck on top of the “Ceiling”

1 = T, D

One can look like a very straight “Tail” that curls right at the very end. Which animal is the tail from you ask? Let’s say it’s a “Dog”.

2 = N

If you turn 2 sideways it looks very similar to an N.

3 = M

If you turn 3 sideways it looks like an M.

4 = R

Four ends in an “R”.

5 = L

Five rhymes with “Hive”. Imagine hitting the beehive with a “Ladder”.

6 = SH, J, CH

Six looks like an elephant’s trunk. Imagine “SHaving” the elephant’s trunk with “Juice” in “CHina”.

7 = K, G, CK, C (Hard C like “Cat”)

Seven looks like an edge of a “Cliff”. Imagine a “Green” light at the edge of the cliff telling you to drive your “Car” through.

8 = F, V

Turn 8, 45 degrees and it looks like eyes on a “Face”. You draw a “V” underneath the eyes to make it look like a mouth.

9 = P, B

Turn the 9 around and it looks like a P. Turn it upside down and reverse and it looks like a “b”. You can use your imagination for the capital letter B.

Read and visualise the above stories as best as you can, then test yourself and see if you can remember which letter represent which number.

Comment down below on how many you ended up remembering!