Tones and mnemonics

Associate each accent with an action or picture to help you memorise its tone, pitch, and volume.

1st Tone

The 1st tone is a flat, straight horizontal line. If you exaggerate this you can associate the 1st tone with anything like a long piece of string and it's application, like tying something up with string.

A long piece of string can be associated with the 1st tone.

1st tone = string

2nd Tone

The 2nd tone is an angled rising line.

If you exaggerate this you can associate the 2nd with anything that is rising like a balloon filled with helium or anything that goes up.

The 2nd tone is an angled rising line.

A hot air balloon or a helium balloon can be associated with the 2nd tone.

2nd tone = balloon

3rd Tone

3rd tone = smile or horseshoe.

The 3rd tone is the bottom half of a circle or a 'U' letter. You can associate this with things that look like this, such as a smile or a horseshoe.

A smile or horseshoe can be associated with the 3rd tone.

3rd tone = smile or horseshoe.

4th Tone

4th tone = tripping over, falling down a hole or sliding down.

The 4th tone is an angled downward line. If you exaggerate this you can associate the 4th tone with anything that is falling or lowering, like tripping over or sliding down.

The 4th tone is an angled downward line. If you exaggerate this you can associate the 4th tone with anything this is falling or lowering, like tripping over or sliding down.

Tripping over, going down a slide or falling down a hole can be associated with the 4th tone.

4th tone = tripping over, falling down a hole or sliding down.