How to Memorize the Major System (Step-by-Step)
If you’ve ever tried to memorize long numbers - phone numbers, dates, passwords, statistics - you’ll know how frustrating it can be.
Numbers are abstract. They have no natural meaning. And that’s exactly why we forget them so easily.
But what if every number instantly became a vivid picture in your mind?
What if 3-7-4-2 wasn’t just digits, but a clear story, like a mug pouring rain?
That’s the power of the Major System. A simple yet brilliant method used by us memory athletes to turn numbers into images, and images into memories that last.
Let’s go step-by-step.
What Is the Major System?
The Major System is a phonetic code that converts digits (0-9) into consonant sounds.
By attaching letters to numbers, you can form words, which are far easier for the brain to remember than digits.
Here’s the basic idea:
Numbers → Sounds
Sounds → Words
Words → Pictures
Pictures → Memories
So instead of trying to recall random digits, you recall vivid stories.
For example, the number 17 could become “dog.”
71 could become “cat.”
Because your brain can visualize a dog or a cat, but it struggles with “1-7” or “7-1.”
The Major System Code (0–9)
Here’s how each number translates into sounds.
Notice that it’s not about letters, but phonetic sounds. For example, “C” can sound like “S” or “K” depending on the word.
0 → S or Z sound
Think of the word zero - it begins with a “Z.” Easy link.
1 → T or D sound
The number 1 looks like a tall stick, like the upright stroke of a “T.” Or think of the word tail - one straight line with a little curl at the top.
2 → N sound
Turn the number 2 on its side, it looks a bit like the letter “N.”
3 → M sound
Three has three points, just like the letter “M.”
4 → R sound
The word four ends with an “R.” Simple.
5 → L sound
In Roman numerals, 50 is “L.” Remove the zero - 5 becomes L (Visually that is).
6 → J, SH, or CH sound
The bottom of the number 6 looks like an elephant’s trunk. Imagine shaving that trunk with juice in China - “sh,” “j,” and “ch” all link to 6.
7 → K or G (hard) sound
The shape of 7 looks like the edge of a cliff - “K” for cliff, “G” for go. Imagine driving your car (a “K” sound) right to the edge and “go-ing” over it.
8 → F or V sound
Turn the 8 sideways and it looks like a pair of glasses or eyes - a face with an “F.” Or imagine drawing a “V” under those eyes to make a smiling face.
9 → P or B sound
Flip the number 9 upside-down and it looks like a “P.” Turn it the other way and it’s a “B.” You can even link it to peanut butter - PB for 9.
How to Remember the Code
The easiest way to memorize the Major System is through mini-stories like the ones above.
Don’t just read the list — visualize it.
Here’s a quick drill:
Picture the number.
Say its sound out loud.
Make a simple mental image.
Example:
6 → “Sh” → You’re shaving an elephant’s trunk.
4 → “R” → Four ends with R, so imagine writing the letter R on a road.
9 → “P” → Picture a giant “P” balloon popping in the air.
Repeat these until you can recall every sound automatically.
Step 1: Create Words from Numbers
Once you know the code, you can start turning numbers into words.
Here’s how:
Split your number into pairs or triplets.
Translate each digit into its sound.
Add vowels (A, E, I, O, U) anywhere to make a word.
Vowels don’t represent numbers, they’re just fillers to make the word pronounceable.
Example:
17 = T/D + K/G = “dog.”
71 = K/G + T/D = “cat.”
92 = P/B + N = “pen.”
34 = M + R = “mirror.”
58 = L + F/V = “leaf.”
Now those numbers are real images you can see and remember.
Step 2: Turn Words Into Pictures
The power of the Major System comes from visualization.
Once you’ve turned numbers into words, bring them to life.
Example:
If you want to remember 58 = leaf, don’t just see a leaf.
Make it dramatic - the leaf is glowing, shaking, growing to the size of a car.
It starts flying around the room. You can hear it rustling.
Now 58 has become unforgettable.
Step 3: Link the Pictures Together
To memorize long numbers, connect your images into a story.
Example:
You need to memorize 1742.
Break it down:
17 = dog
42 = rain
Now make a story:
A dog tips over a mug, and instead of water, rain pours out. The dog barks at the storm as everyone runs for cover.
That’s a vivid mental movie. Far easier to recall than four random digits.
When you later recall the story, it triggers both words: dog → rain → 1742.
Step 4: Practise Encoding and Decoding
To master this, you need to train in both directions:
Encoding: Turn numbers into words and pictures.
Decoding: Turn pictures back into numbers.
Drill example:
See “leaf” → think “L-F” → 5-8.
Hear “knife” → think “N-F” → 2-8.
Read “rope” → think “R-P” → 4-9.
Start small (2-digit numbers), then work up to 4-digit and 6-digit chunks.
With practice, it becomes automatic. You’ll hear a number and instantly visualize a scene.
Why the Major System Works So Well
Your brain doesn’t like abstract data, it loves meaning.
When you convert numbers into stories, you’re tapping into how human memory naturally evolved.
Here’s why it sticks:
Dual encoding - you store the information both visually and linguistically.
Association - each digit is linked to sound, word, and image.
Emotion and movement - stories create stronger neural connections than repetition.
Chunking - instead of ten digits, you’re remembering five easy images.
This process moves numbers from short-term memory into long-term recall - the same principle used in elite memory championships.
Step 5: Create Your Personal 00–99 List
For serious memorization - phone numbers, cards, dates, build a full 00–99 list.
That means one image for every two-digit number.
You can make your own or borrow from established lists.
Here’s a quick sample to get you started:
00 = sauce
01 = seed
02 = sun
03 = sumo
04 = surf
05 = seal
06 = sushi
07 = sock
08 = sofa
09 = soap
10 = toes
11 = dad
12 = tuna
13 = tomato
14 = tire
15 = tail
16 = dish
17 = dog
18 = dove
19 = tape
20 = nose
Keep going until 99. Once you have this, you can memorize anything numerical with speed.
Step 6: Apply It in Real Life
Let’s see how the Major System helps in everyday scenarios.
Remembering PINs or passwords
Convert 4291 into “rain-pot.” Picture rain pouring into a pot overflowing with water.
Remembering phone numbers
If a number ends with 3754, that’s “mug-roller.” Imagine rolling a giant mug down a hill.
Learning historical dates
1492 (Columbus sails) could be “tire-pan.”
Picture a ship sailing on a giant frying pan that floats across the ocean.
These strange, exaggerated scenes are what make memory stick.
Step 7: Practise Daily for Speed and Strength
Like any skill, the Major System becomes effortless with repetition.
Here’s a quick daily routine:
Pick three random two-digit numbers.
Translate each into a word and picture.
Link them into a short story.
Recall the numbers in reverse.
Check your accuracy.
For example:
42-19-63 = rain-tape-jam.
Imagine a roll of tape melting in the rain as you spread jam over it.
Ridiculous? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
Do this for five minutes daily. Within weeks, your recall will accelerate dramatically.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Skipping the visual step. If you only form words, you’ll forget. The image is what locks it in.
Using boring pictures. Exaggerate! Make them colourful, loud, emotional, funny.
Forgetting to review. Repetition through recall (not rereading) is key.
Not personalising the code. Use your own connections and humour; what’s funny or emotional to you will always stick better.
Bonus: Add Movement and Senses
To supercharge your recall, make every image move and involve your senses.
Instead of a still “dog,” imagine it barking, running, splashing water, wagging its tail.
Hear the sound. Smell the wet fur. Feel the energy.
Movement and emotion make your mental movies unforgettable.
That’s how you go from remembering for a day to remembering for years.
A Quick Recap
0 = S/Z
1 = T/D
2 = N
3 = M
4 = R
5 = L
6 = SH/CH/J
7 = K/G
8 = F/V
9 = P/B
Turn numbers into sounds, sounds into words, and words into pictures.
Connect those pictures into vivid, exaggerated stories.
That’s the Major System. One of the simplest and most powerful memory tools ever created.
Final Thoughts
Most people struggle with numbers because they try to remember them logically.
But memory doesn’t work logically, it works visually, emotionally, and experientially.
When you use the Major System, you’re giving your brain what it needs: meaning and imagination.
Practise a few minutes a day, and soon you’ll be able to recall phone numbers, dates, or 50-digit sequences with ease.
The beauty of this system is that it doesn’t just improve your memory for numbers - it trains your creativity, focus, and confidence too.
So next time someone gives you a number, don’t panic.
See it, hear it, feel it, and turn it into a story that sticks for life.
Ready to take your memory and learning to the next level?
👉 Book a Strategic Memory Consultation with me.
