Major mnemonic system
Author: m | 2025-04-25
Mnemonic major system 1 Mnemonic major system The Major System (also called the phonetic number system, phonetic mnemonic system, or Herigone's mnemonic system) is a mnemonic technique used to aid in memorizing numbers. The system works by converting numbers into consonant sounds, then into words by adding vowels. What is the Mnemonic Major System? Definition. The Mnemonic Major System is a mnemonic technique and device that makes it easier to remember series of numbers. It’s also a phonetic number system, converting
Introduction to the Phonetic Mnemonic System / Mnemonic Major
Lab value memory tricks certainly can help you remember the normal levels and ranges for all kinds of substances.But do you know what works even better?Well-formed mnemonics.So if you’re having trouble using the standard advice to memorize your lab values tables, stick around.I’m going to share with you an alternative way to remember each and every one of them. Quickly.Sure, you can call what I’m going to share with you easy tricks to remember lab values.But by adding a few simple twists, you’ll quickly become a memory master for this information and everything else you need to remember as a top-notch medical professional.Ready?Let’s dive in!How to Remember Lab Values: 8 Mnemonics for Easy MemorizationAs we go through these reference ranges for blood tests, I’m going to introduce you to a simple number system. It’s sometimes called the number-shape system and will enable you to rapidly remember values for both your exams and working in the profession later on.Here’s how it works:For each digit from 0-9, you associate a shape by combining mnemonic imagery with chunking. I’ll show you how this works in action with lab values mnemonic examples, and here’s a suggested set of image:0 = donut1 = candle2 = swan3 = moustache4 = sail boat5 = seahorse6 = hook7 = boomerang8 = snowman9 = golf clubYou don’t have to use this number mnemonic system for the lab values. Some people find it a bit simplistic.That’s why I have also given you some examples using the Major System and a 00-99 PAO. These more advanced number-memory mnemonic strategies have helped many medical professionals going back to at least the Renaissance for numbers related to medical terminologyFor example, the mnemonist Robert Fludd was a doctor who used them. But he also used the number-shape method you’ve just learned in combination. So Mnemonic major system 1 Mnemonic major system The Major System (also called the phonetic number system, phonetic mnemonic system, or Herigone's mnemonic system) is a mnemonic technique used to aid in memorizing numbers. The system works by converting numbers into consonant sounds, then into words by adding vowels. The Major mnemonic system makes numbers easier to memorize by encoding them as words. Each digit corresponds to one or more consonant sounds, and you can fill in vowels as you wish.In August 2022 I tried creating a few images using DALL-E 2. The results were disappointing and sometimes disturbing.To illustrate the use of the Major system, I gave the example of memorizing a list of the US presidents by creating mental images associating each president with the number of their term as president. For example, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd POTUS. You can encode 32 as “moon”, so you might imagine FDR looking up at the moon.At the time, Grover Cleveland was the only US President to serve two non-consecutive terms, being both the 22nd and 24th president. I asked DALL-E to create an image of Grover the Muppet holding an onion (22) and a wiener dog (24). This was too much for DALL-E at the time. The image below was as close as I could get.When I asked Grok 3 for a similar image it did a much better job. To be fair, it initially put a different dog breed in Grover’s hand, but I asked it to change the dog to a dachshund and it performed admirably.Related postsMnemonic for moments of inertiaHow to memorize the periodic tableUsing WordNet to create a PAO mnemonic systemComments
Lab value memory tricks certainly can help you remember the normal levels and ranges for all kinds of substances.But do you know what works even better?Well-formed mnemonics.So if you’re having trouble using the standard advice to memorize your lab values tables, stick around.I’m going to share with you an alternative way to remember each and every one of them. Quickly.Sure, you can call what I’m going to share with you easy tricks to remember lab values.But by adding a few simple twists, you’ll quickly become a memory master for this information and everything else you need to remember as a top-notch medical professional.Ready?Let’s dive in!How to Remember Lab Values: 8 Mnemonics for Easy MemorizationAs we go through these reference ranges for blood tests, I’m going to introduce you to a simple number system. It’s sometimes called the number-shape system and will enable you to rapidly remember values for both your exams and working in the profession later on.Here’s how it works:For each digit from 0-9, you associate a shape by combining mnemonic imagery with chunking. I’ll show you how this works in action with lab values mnemonic examples, and here’s a suggested set of image:0 = donut1 = candle2 = swan3 = moustache4 = sail boat5 = seahorse6 = hook7 = boomerang8 = snowman9 = golf clubYou don’t have to use this number mnemonic system for the lab values. Some people find it a bit simplistic.That’s why I have also given you some examples using the Major System and a 00-99 PAO. These more advanced number-memory mnemonic strategies have helped many medical professionals going back to at least the Renaissance for numbers related to medical terminologyFor example, the mnemonist Robert Fludd was a doctor who used them. But he also used the number-shape method you’ve just learned in combination. So
2025-04-01The Major mnemonic system makes numbers easier to memorize by encoding them as words. Each digit corresponds to one or more consonant sounds, and you can fill in vowels as you wish.In August 2022 I tried creating a few images using DALL-E 2. The results were disappointing and sometimes disturbing.To illustrate the use of the Major system, I gave the example of memorizing a list of the US presidents by creating mental images associating each president with the number of their term as president. For example, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd POTUS. You can encode 32 as “moon”, so you might imagine FDR looking up at the moon.At the time, Grover Cleveland was the only US President to serve two non-consecutive terms, being both the 22nd and 24th president. I asked DALL-E to create an image of Grover the Muppet holding an onion (22) and a wiener dog (24). This was too much for DALL-E at the time. The image below was as close as I could get.When I asked Grok 3 for a similar image it did a much better job. To be fair, it initially put a different dog breed in Grover’s hand, but I asked it to change the dog to a dachshund and it performed admirably.Related postsMnemonic for moments of inertiaHow to memorize the periodic tableUsing WordNet to create a PAO mnemonic system
2025-03-27The mnemonic major system is quite ancient. In its most pure form, each number is a letter and letters form words that can be easily remembered.Ancient alphabets and new championsWhen we consider the Hebrew alphabet, each letter is a number, and Kabbalah is using this to achieve miraculous deeds. In Hindu there is a similar tradition called the Katapayadi system, which was used to encode geometrical and astronomical data in poetical verses. In western tradition the major mnemonic system was introduced by Puritan reformers in the 16th century as a more pure way to remember things.Dominic O’Brien used this methodology with memory palaces to develop his own Dominic technique and win 8 world memory championships. I do not claim to be a master of this method, but I do use it when faced with overwhelming odds.DictionariesAt the core of the Major System are dictionaries. We encode one dictionary (such as numbers) using another, easier dictionary (like letters). This technique can be applied with different dictionaries to achieve a similar effect. When learning something complex and difficult to remember, a dictionary can be helpful.The first time I used this method was when learning chemistry. Initially, I used simple imagery for several elements and became adept at combining them. However, when I needed to remember a complex chemical process in the semiconductor industry, I lacked sufficient images. To tackle this, I developed a dictionary for the entire periodic table, including symbols for parentheses and the numbers 0-9, which allowed me to remember any chemical composition. Later, I used a similar method to remember combinations of letters and numbers, such as passwords and abstract information. As long as you maintain a 1:1 correspondence between the difficult material and something easily memorable, you can effectively retain the information.FAQHow do you memorize THAT? From time to time I am faced with memorization tasks that the best way to memorize them is by using a dictionary. For example, a couple of months ago a student asked me how to organize shirts by color. I used a very simple dictionary green=grass, yellow=sun, black=ground etc and he remembered 20 colored shirts in no time. If a task seems very complex, but also very repetitive, major system will help.Do we need spaced repetitions? When performing research on spaced repetitions, scientists always generate information that cannot be easily remembered. To trick the system, magicians occasionally learn major system for phonetic sequences and show supernatural skills. There is some preservation of effort: first, you need to invest a lot of effort learning a dictionary, but hen you save a lot of effort using it.How do we explain this to a child? Some variations of major system [like using the first letter
2025-04-12Second to last flat is E, the piece is in E-flat major.F major (or D minor) is the exception to this rule since this key signature only has one flat (B-flat).If the piece is in a minor key, determine what the major key of the piece would be and go down a minor third to identify the major key’s relative minor. For example, the relative minor of G major is E minor, since this is a minor third below G. The majority of instruments play in either treble or bass clef (or both, if you play an instrument like the piano or harp). The position of the notes is different depending on which clef you’re reading. Learn the location of every note on both clefs and practice until you recognize the notes just by looking at them.[15]In treble clef, the 5 lines of the staff spell out EGBDF from bottom to top. Use the mnemonic device, “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.”In treble clef, the space notes spell out FACE from bottom to top.In bass clef, the line notes spell out GBDFA from bottom to top. Use the mnemonic device, “Good Birds Don’t Fly Away.”In bass clef, the space notes spell out ACEG from bottom to top. Use the mnemonic device, “All Cows Eat Grass.”[16]Advertisement Add New Question Question How do you practice sight reading? Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music
2025-04-24Have a range or 3.5-5.Remember that I mentioned you can association 3 with a moustache? That’s because 3 kind of looks like a moustache when tipped on its side.If you have a banana to remind you of potassium, give him a moustache to remind you of 3.But what about the .5?The black spot at the tip of the banana can help you remember that. And you can add a seahorse to the mnemonic for the top of the range, which is 5.Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)Hungry yet?Let’s go deeper with the foods because BUN brings hamburgers to mind for the Blood Urea Nitrogen value, which has a range of 5-10.I mentioned the Major System and 00-99 PAO System above. Here’s where that can make memorization even faster. You have your seahorse interacting with hamburger buns, which he is smelling with his massive nose.“Nose,” in my PAO System is 20 because 2=n and 0 =s. Or you could use a swan and a donut for 20 using the simple system already discussed. Personally, I like to pop in the PAO System when two digits are involved because it’s faster and more fun.CreatinineMost of us know the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It’s the story of “creation” which makes it a fantastic mnemonic for “creatinine.”But instead of having God pull out a rib, he pulls out a fishing hook instead – your symbol that looks like the number six. This will help you easily remember that the value starts at 0.6.Some people suggest that you focus on the “nine” in Creatinine because that’s approximately halfway between 0.6 and 1.2. That’s a great idea too, and you can do both by having Adam react with a golf club, which basically resembles and upside-down 9.GlucoseGlucose has the sound of “glue”
2025-04-20Memorizing Names and Faces page.To practice, create a free account on Memory League and choose the Memory League Names Game.Step 7: Learn How to Memorize NumbersFor the next step, read the section on number memorization in the ebook. Then watch the video on the Introduction to Memorizing Numbers post.You can then choose a number system (the Major System is good), and create images for all the numbers from 00 to 99.Here’s a printable Major System worksheet to help you create your number images.Step 8: Finish the Ebook and Join the CommunityThe last step in our free online memory course is to finish reading the ebook which contains frequently asked questions and links to more information.If you haven’t already joined the Art of Memory Forum, sign up an introduce yourself. Let us know what you want to memorize and we’ll help you come up with techniques on how to approach the subject. There are tens of thousands of posts that you can search through to find discussions on various types of mnemonic techniques. See you there!Read NextHere are some more free resources on memory improvement:Getting Started GuideMemory Training Apps and GamesAdvanced Memory Palace TipsMemory Palace AlternativesNatural Ways to Improve MemoryDoes Photographic Memory or Eidetic Memory Exist?
2025-04-02