Having trouble with trying to decide which memory method to use

General Memory Chat
2

Welcome to the site! :slight_smile:

I think that most people who use a PAO system also use the major system.

There is a difference between the phonetic system that converts digits into sounds and images, and the method of placing those images in locations of a memory palace.

The major system is what you use to turn numbers into images. There are other similar systems like the Dominic system and the Ben system.

Then there are systems to place the images that you’ve created into the loci:

  1. The simplest way is to just place your images, one, two, or three per locus. For me, 10 is always Otis Redding, and 20 is Einstein. There are no actions or extra objects. If there are a 10, then a 20, and then another 10, the locus in the memory palace would contain Otis Redding, Einstein, and then Otis Redding again (left-to-right or top-to-bottom).

  2. Then there is the person-action (P-A) system where each number has a person and an action. 10 might be Annie Oakley firing a rifle, and 20 might be Barack Obama giving a speech. This method places two images per locus. I think that most people who do this use the Dominic system, but it doesn’t matter which phonetic system you use with any of these three options for placing images.

  3. The PAO system adds an object to the P-A system. It places three images per locus – a person, an action, and an object.

You can use any of the mnemonic systems (major system, Dominic system, Ben system) with any of the methods of placing images.

I think that most people use other systems for memorizing names. See the remembering names & faces wiki page for an overview. :slight_smile:

If you want to use your number system for words, then maybe check out the Ben system. It turns 3-digit numbers into consonant-vowel-consonant sounds. I use a modified Ben system with two digit consonant-vowel images. See also this post.

I hope that I’m understanding your question correctly… :slight_smile: