Introducing some helpful mnemonic techniques: major system (1 of 4)

in #life7 years ago

Hi guys, I want to share some helpful mnemonic techniques with you. In this first tutorial I want to introduce the major system. In everyday life I use this technique especially at university to learn abstract content, but also acquire some general knowledge. This method alone is helpful but in combination with some other methods it is the most effective way to learn. (next tutorials - method of loci and mind palace, lucid dreaming)

major system:

The major system is used to memorize different numbers.

why should I use the major system?

The human brain is limited in memorizing abstract content like numbers. Without a mnemonic method most people are capable of recognizing 6 to 8 numbers in about 5 minutes. With such a method you are capable of memorizing a multiple of that.

how does it work?

The major system does have a table of syntax rules you have to learn by heart.

Imagine you like to know how tall the taj mahal in India is.

(The Taj Mahal is 73 meters high)

example:
  1. Extract your number:
    73 meters -> 73 -> 7 3
  2. Lookup these numbers in your table:
    7: k, hard c, hard g, hard ch, q, qu | 3: m
  3. Fun part: Build a word from the given letters.
    Kim // vowel sounds are unassigned, in our example the i.
  4. Imagine some cool scenario.
    Any Kim (e.g. Kim Kardashian or the other ugly, fat guy) is walking by the Taj Mahal and is looking up the peak and thinks how tall this building probably is...
  5. Remember the number
    Kim -> K (7) I (nothing) M (3) -> 73 -> 73 meters
notice

This method is only for memorizing numbers, it is effective but not as effective as combining multiple of these methods to one ultimate mnemonic technique. In the next tutorial I introduce the method of loci an upgrade to the major system.