At first studying and becoming competent at interpreting murmurs can seem daunting. However, it all starts with knowing which parts of the stethoscope to use for which types of sounds and also where on the chest to listen for different types of heart sounds. While in practice, you may, and probably should, resort to listening all over the chest with both sides of your stethoscope, a nursing exam may want more specifics. It may ask whether the diaphragm or the bell is better for high pitched noises or where on the chest one might hear the aortic valve best. Don't get overwhelmed by these details! As I went through nursing school, I compiled a number of mnemonic devices and memory tricks to help me memorize the parts of the stethoscope, which sounds the diaphragm and bell are best at detecting, and where on the heart to auscultate specific valves. I want to share these study hacks with you to help you remember this information for an exam and also for your nursing practice.