How to use the rhyming peg mnemonic system to improve your ability to recall lists of items. The Rhyming Peg Mnemonic System is a technique that uses rhymes to help remember lists of items. It involves creating a set of rhyming words or phrases that correspond to the numbers 1 to 10. Then, you visualize each item on your list associated with one of the rhyming words or phrases. By creating these vivid and memorable associations, you can more easily recall the items on your list by mentally going through the rhyming pegs. This technique can be especially useful when you need to remember items in a specific order. There are other ways to create pegs besides rhymes. You can use the shapes of the numbers, words for each letter of the alphabet, or link sounds with numbers to make words out of them. You can also visualize fence posts or markers along a path. To improve recall, imagine the imagery as vividly as possible. Link items to the next peg in a story or sequence. Create a story or narrative to help remember the items on each peg. Make the actors and actions in the story as memorable as possible.

1. Rhyming Peg System
https://www.learnedmemory.com/

2. The Rhyming Peg Mnemonic System
Creating memorable associations of items &
numbers
Is a technique for remembering lists
That matches each item with a word that rhymes with
a number
Which improve your recall of the items

3. Typical words used for 1 to 10.
1. Gun, Bun, Sun, Nun
2. Shoe, Zoo
3. Tree, Bee, Key
4. Door, Gore, Sore
5. Hive, Knives
6. Sticks, Chicks, Fix
7. Heaven
8. Gate, Weight, Bait, Plate
9. Wine, Brine
10. Pen, Hen
Creating the Rhyming Pegs

4. Using the Rhyming Peg Mnemonic System
1) Create a set of rhyming
words or phrases that
correspond to the numbers 1
to 10. For example, 'one' could
be associated with 'sun', 'two'
with 'shoe'.
2) Visualize each item on your
list associated with one of the
rhyming words or phrases.
For a list of groceries, you
could imagine a sun shining
on a loaf of bread for 'one',
and a shoe stepping on a
carton of milk for 'two'.
3) Practice the list recalling the
images mentally to strengthen
recall (testing effect) and using
spaced repetition.
By creating these vivid and memorable associations, you can more easily recall the items on your list by
mentally going through the rhyming pegs.
This technique can be especially useful when you need to remember items in a specific order.

5. Example: Memorizing the Eight Terrain Features
There are eight terrain features that are important to be able to recognize on a topographical map.
The first five are the major features, and
the last three are the minor features.
The five major terrain features are: Hill,
Ridge, Valley, Saddle, and Depression.
The three minor terrain features are: Draw,
Spur, and Cliff.
1. Begin riding, over a hill of buns
2. Behind a ridge of shoes
3. Into a valley of trees
4. On saddles covered in gore
5. Into a hive in a deep depression (pun intended)
6. Drawing a map with sticks
7. Spurring the horses towards heaven
8. Through a gate & over a cliff (the end)

6. Beyond Rhymes
Other Ways to Create Pegs
● Shapes of the numbers (shape system)
● Use a word for each letter of the alphabet
● Link sounds with numbers to make words
out of them (the major system).
● Visualizing fence posts/markers along a
path
Tips for Improving Recall
● 1. Imagine the imagery as vividly as
possible.
● 2. Link items to the next peg in a story or
sequence.
● 3. Create a story or narrative to help
remember the items on each peg.
● 4. Make the actors and actions in the story
as memorable as possible (funny, obscene,
bizarre).

7. Army, H. D. O. (2020, October 11). TC 3-25.26 Map Reading and Land Navigation.
https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=103749
Army Study Guide. "Identify Terrain Features On A Map".
https://www.armystudyguide.com/content/Prep_For_Basic_Training/prep_for_basic_common_tasks/identify-terrain-
features.shtml
Mnemonic major system. (2024, January 11). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_major_system
Mnemonic peg system. (2024, January 3). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_peg_system
Foer, J. (2011, April 7). Moonwalking with Einstein. Penguin UK. https://joshuafoer.com/moonwalking-with-einstein/
Memory, A. O. (2023, February 24). How to Use the Number Shape System. Art of Memory.
https://artofmemory.com/blog/number-shape-system/
Spaced repetition. (2024, February 9). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition
Testing effect. (2024, February 13). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testing_effect
Visit https://www.learnedmemory.com/ for more memory and study tips.
Sources