Morse code is composed of two core sound elements, which are the basis of every letter in the system. DIT, a short sound; DAH, a long sound. Silence, sometimes referred to as a third element, is also fundamental, and just as important to the process as the actual dits and dahs.
You can think of these three elements—short (dit), long (dah), and space/silence—as being equivalent to a binary language. But you only need two sounds to learn the entire Morse code system. It’s actually quite simple once you get the hang of it.
So what are the simplest letters in the alphabet? You’re probably thinking about E or T. And those are the easiest letters to remember. Why? Because they each have one single DIT or DAH, respectively. They have the simplest possible representation within the system.
Once you understand how E and T are represented, the rest is pretty much building upon that base. Letters like A, N, and S use combinations of dits and dahs. And yes, SOS uses the same pattern of three short, three long, and then three short again.
Learning by sound, not sight
The thing is, people who want to learn Morse code usually do so by sight, not sound. I know that learning them by sight is a common approach. However, I believe that using the auditory terms of dit/dah rather than dot/dash will build real decoding speed over time. Yes, there are exceptions to this rule (like certain radio protocols) but when you’re simply trying to decode Morse code, the method used to convert that into a readable form plays a big role in your ability to increase the speed at which you decode it. And if you’re not sure what the audio representation of the letter sounds like, then converting it into dot-and-dash mid-reception will be very difficult, indeed.
Where Morse code letters are still used
Learning Morse code has become somewhat of a niche pursuit today, with amateur radio operators still using it as their primary means of signaling. It does occasionally show up in emergency situations too. It remains an essential protocol in international radio communication, especially between countries where English is not the native tongue.
And more recently, Morse code has found its way into assistive technology, particularly to help those with hearing, speech, cognitive disabilities, mobility issues, or difficulty typing. It’s relatively simple to learn and use, which makes sense, considering its age.
A practical learning tip
Here’s a tip from the community: encode letters found on surrounding objects while outdoors. For instance, try writing them down in the dirt, or onto pavement. This technique reportedly DRASTICALLY improves your learning experience.