A peg system is a technique for memorizing lists. It works by pre-memorizing a list of words that are easy to associate with the numbers they represent (1 to 10, 1-100, 1-1000, etc). Those objects form the "pegs" of the system. Then in the future, to rapidly memorize a list of arbitrary objects, each one is associated with the appropriate peg. Generally, a peglist only has to be memorized one time, and can then be used over and over every time a list of items needs to be memorized.

The peglists are generated from words that are easy to associate with the numbers (or letters). Peg lists created from letters of the alphabet or from rhymes are very simple to learn, but are limited in the number of pegs they can produce. The Major System

Mnemonic major system

The Major System is a mnemonic technique used to aid in memorizing numbers....

 is often used to create pegs. While it is more complicated to learn than simple rhymes or alphabetic pegs, it is limitless in the number of pegs it can produce. Furthermore, a recent modification to the Major System

Mnemonic major system

The Major System is a mnemonic technique used to aid in memorizing numbers....

 introduces the concept of dimensions, which increases the size of the list by a factor of ten with the addition of each new dimension.

Some authors classify lists of items in a room, or list of rooms in the house as well as their contents, as peg lists but prefer to treat these as part of the method of loci

Method of loci

The method of loci , also called the memory palace, is a mnemonic device introduced in ancient Roman rhetorical treatises . It relies on memorized spatial relationships to establish, order and recollect memorial content...

. However, in every respect, the concepts underlying the two systems are identical: in each, a new piece of information gets pegged to something that is already known.

A rhyming example

• 1-gun Visualize the first item being fired from a gun
• 2-zoo Visualize an association between the second thing and a zoo
• 3-tree Visualize the third item growing from a tree
• 4-door Visualize the 4th item associated with a door
• 5-hive Visualize the fifth item associated with a hive or with bees
• 6-bricks Visualize the sixth item associated with bricks
• 7-heaven Visualize the seventh item associated with heaven
• 8-plate Visualize the 8th item on a plate as if it is food
• 9-wine Visualize a glass containing the 9th item
• 10-hen Visualize the 10th item associated with a chicken.

For example to remember the following grocery list of 10 items:

• Apple: Picture an apple being fired from a gun
• Butter: picture a gorilla stomping up and down on a stick of butter
• Razor Blades: Picture a tree with razor blades for leaves
• Soap: Picture a door made from soap
• Bread: Picture bees flying from a loaf of bread as if it is a hive
• Milk: Picture a brick house with milk jugs where the bricks should be
• Cat food: Picture an open can of cat food with angel wings and a halo
• Bacon: Picture bacon on a plate
• Batteries: Picture a wine glass filled with batteries
• Orange juice: Picture a hen being squeezed, and orange juice coming out

Rhyme may also help with memorising a peglist. Here is another example that includes an element of rhyme:

• one ate a bun
• two in shoes
• Three for free
• four on the floor
• five is alive
• six on sticks
• seven in heaven
• eight comes late
• nine down a mine
• ten in a pen

Shape example

Based on the shape of the digits.

• 1-candle
• 2-swan
• 3-camel
• 4-chair
• 5-hook
• 6-cherry
• 7-cliff
• 8-hourglass
• 9-balloon
• 10-baseball and bat

See also

• Method of loci
  Method of loci
  The method of loci , also called the memory palace, is a mnemonic device introduced in ancient Roman rhetorical treatises . It relies on memorized spatial relationships to establish, order and recollect memorial content...
  
  
• Mnemonic link system
  Mnemonic link system
  A mnemonic link system, sometimes also known as a chain method, is a method of remembering lists, based on creating an association between the elements of that list...
  
  
• Mnemonic major system
  Mnemonic major system
  The Major System is a mnemonic technique used to aid in memorizing numbers....
  
  
• Mnemonic dominic system
  Mnemonic dominic system
  The mnemonic dominic system is a mnemonic system used to remember sequences of digits similar to the mnemonic major system. It was invented and used in competition by several-time memory world champion Dominic O'Brien.-Differences from the major system:...
  
  
• Mnemonic goroawase system
  Mnemonic goroawase system
  Japanese wordplay relies on the nuances of the Japanese language and Japanese script for humorous effect.Japanese double entendres have a rich history in Japanese entertainment, because of the way that Japanese words can be read to have several different meanings and pronunciations...
  
  
• Haraguchi's mnemonic system
• Linkword
  Linkword
  Linkword is a mnemonic system promoted by Michael Gruneberg since at least the early 1980s for learning languages based on the similarity of the sounds of words. The process involves creating an easily visualized scene that will link the words together...
  
  
• Memory sport
  Memory sport
  Memory sport, sometimes referred to as competitive memory or the mind sport of memory, is a competition in which participants attempt to memorize the most information that they can then present back, under certain guidelines...
  
  

External links

Making pegs from rhymes:

• Human Memory
• Memory Improvement and Learning Information

Making pegs from shapes:

• Human Memory
• Memory Improvement and Learning Information

Alphabet Pegs:

• Human Memory

Major system peg list

• Peglist Tutorial
• Very personalized Peg list. Up to 100
• Peg list up to 1000 pegs