Memorization Tips?

[Carson]

Here is my situation: Using Fridrich system... I know 1/3 of f2l algorithms. I have known these for quite a while, and am holding off on learning the rest. I would prefer to finish out the cases intuitively, then go back and learn the "quick" way to do them using algorithms. I know all the OLL algorithms for instances in which the edges are already oriented correctly. I want to learn PLL before finishing up the rest of the OLL algorithms, as I currently can't finish a solve after OLL since the version of the beginner method I am transitioning from doesn't provide a way to solve from that situation. I JUST started working on PLL, so I only know one algo thus far.

Now that I am building up my mental algorithm library, I am getting to a point where I am starting to confuse the various algorithms. I frequently have to stop and think to make sure I am doing the right one. So many of them are similiar that "muscle memory" tries to take over, and when it does, it tends to want to perform my most comfortable algo's, which aren't always the correct ones. I am fearful that learning anymore than I already know will seriously confuse me.

After an extremely long introduction, my question is this: How did everyone learn algorithms? I'm not asking in which order you learned them, but instead... how did you approach them? How do you thoroughly ingrain them into both your memory and muscle memory so that you do not confuse similiar sequences? I know from reading threads here that some of you know multiple algorithms for the same case... this can't be an easy task. I would be interested to hear about everyone's memorization techniques.

Also, for noob cubers like myself... what types of problems have you run into when attempting to memorize? What has and hasn't worked for you?

 

[Inusagi]

Just be patient. It takes a half year to learn them (for me at least). Learn one algorithm on each day. And if you forget any algorithms, go over them again, and you'll never forget them anymore. In the end, you'll remeber all the algorithms in the Friedrich method.

Well, it worked for me

 

[LarsN]

Learning all those algs seems like a huge task and almost impossible at first, but when you get started with it your brain starts to adjust to learning algs. After a month or 2 you will find it a lot easier to learn and remember more algs.

I started learning PLL algs by grouping them in smaller sets. 4 edges only algs, 3 corners only algs, 4 Gperms and so on... Then I learned one group at a time and didn't continue with the next until the first was a 100% in memory.
I didn't spend much time solving cubes while learning PLL and OLL, I just kept repeating the algs I learned. COLL, PLL and OLL took me about a month each to learn (in that order).

 

[Carson]

After a month or 2 you will find it a lot easier to learn and remember more algs.

That's kind of disheartening. I've already been working on this for a few multiples of 2 months I won't admit exactly how many, but lets just say that, if that is the case, I should have known all Fridrich algos quite a while ago.

 

[LarsN]

Well, I wasn't trying to dishearten you. Quite the opposite. The 2 months are set from my personal experience, so it's not very scientific. It also depends on the amount of practise you do. I sat with an alg sheet and practised a lot each day.
I can only tell you how I learned and then you can decide for your self if you could learn the same way or find another way that suits you better.

Don't be discouraged, learning a lot of algs is not the best way to get fast. A lot of people do sub20 without knowing all the OLL algs. Practise is the key.

 

[Todd]

I used to get the PLLs confused that i was learning (i mad a topic about it too), then i :

Stopped trying to remember the notation, alot of them i cant even tell you waht the notation/moves is - id have to look it up.

I spent mroe time watching the pieces move and remembering how it felt to move them etc.. so know every alg i know is just 'muslce memory'

Also, i only know about 22/50 odd oll's so sub 20 is definately possible without full OLL.

 

[Inusagi]

The hardest algorithms to remeber, is OLL. You meet one of 57 Oll cases for each solve. So you shuold learn that after PLL and F2l.

Anyway, you can learn the 11 cases in f2l, when the corner is in the rigth spot. Try to put the corner wrong way in the rigth spot to practise on those cases. When you are sure you that know them well, continue with all the other f2l cases. That will make it easier to remember the cases.

Try to set other cases into "gruops"
-PLL: edge switcher, corner switcher.
-OLL: all the cases with a cross, all cases with just a center, without any edge pieces oriented.

 

[Dcuber]

f2l: basically intuitive... you see the pairs, then u combine them

oll: hardest part! memorize patterns, algs: ur fingers sorta memorize
DON"T MEMORIZE LETTERS!
Pll: find out which goes where, simple

 

[badmephisto]

1. pick one algorithm
2. go over the sequence. try to identify any symmetries the algorithm has, if any.
3. attempt to group the notation in some way, unless it is already done for you, as in cubewhiz.com, and memorize groups of moves rather than moves themselves
4. repeat the algorithm again, again, again, again and again, until you can do the whole thing from memory
5. repeat the algorithm again more times, glancing at the sheet in the event that you forget again
6. after you perform the algorithm 10 times consecutively without error, rest
7. come back few hours later. repeat the algorithm
8. before you go to sleep, repeat the algorithm

that should do it. that's basically how I memorized all of mine, roughly one a day. go faster/slower at your discretion

 

[alltooamorous]

1. pick one algorithm
2. go over the sequence. try to identify any symmetries the algorithm has, if any.
3. attempt to group the notation in some way, unless it is already done for you, as in cubewhiz.com, and memorize groups of moves rather than moves themselves
4. repeat the algorithm again, again, again, again and again, until you can do the whole thing from memory
5. repeat the algorithm again more times, glancing at the sheet in the event that you forget again
6. after you perform the algorithm 10 times consecutively without error, rest
7. come back few hours later. repeat the algorithm
8. before you go to sleep, repeat the algorithm

that should do it. that's basically how I memorized all of mine, roughly one a day. go faster/slower at your discretion

Wow. Well said.

 

[Dcuber]

I say u should finish pll before going to olls
I look at the alg + pattern
then I do it about 10 times
until I get the hang of it
my recoard for half an hr is 7 oll algs

 

[Todd]

Something ive been doing for OLL is to learn 1 OLL and its Inverse at the same time or OLL's that are similar anyway.

 

[Crzyazn]

for the f2l algorithms, intuitive f2l REALLY helped me out. I began experimenting with combinations of moves that would give me the optimal pair/insert. When i looked at the real f2l sheet, about 3/4 of the algorithms were already "memorized" through intuition. the other 1/4 was a bunch of not so straightforward moves