The Major System is several centuries old. There is lots of information online about its history and variation. But the important take away is that it has endured the test of time because IT WORKS WELL!
The idea is to give the digits 1-9 and 0 each a consonantal sound. These can then be flanked by vowels of one’s choosing to make familiar words.
There are minor variations in the system but the one I use for this method goes like this(you’ll have to take a little time to memorize the list, technique for this is here):
Major System
1=t, d, th
2=n
3=m
4=r
5=l
6=j,soft g, sh or ch
7=k,hard c, hard g
8=f, v, ph
9=p or b
0=s, z, soft c
helpfully the sounds w,y,h and x will be wildcards which like the vowels can be inserted wherever they are needed to make words.
How to use it?
Let’s take the number 123. In the Major System it has the consonantal sounds (t,d,th)-n-m, let’s use the “d”for 1 and we have d-n-m. One word that pops out at me is “denim”. So I could use this in an image that would help me remember 123. I can use two words if I’d like “odd name” “dune ham”. these all can be used to remember the value 123. If the number was 231 we would have n-m-t,d,th or “nomad”, “in mud”, “inmate”, “one mitt”; any of which could be used in an image or story to remember the number. 321 could be, “minute”, “Monday”, “month”, “mound”, “Moon hood” etc. It may strike one as odd at first but as you use it in the real world of remembering it gets easier to come up with concrete words and realize the memory miracle this system provides.
Concrete Words
In the above examples we have a few words that are easier to picture in the mind than others. A “mound” is easier to imagine than a “minute” or “month”. “Denim” is easier to remember than “odd name” but if I could imagine eating a ham while sitting on a sand dune than a “dune ham” would have a vivid grittiness that would stick in the imagination, and probably my teeth, longer than “denim”. Memorizers from ancient times till now have concurred that the crazier, more exaggerated, more visceral the image the more easily it will be retained.
Again, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT CONFUSING YOUR MIND…your brain naturally sorts out which is the memory aid and which is the data to be remembered. It can read the book even if you happen to be using a very colorful bookmark.
Here is a mnemonic for learning the Major System