The vibration of the methanol molecule is composed of 12 normal modes. Four modes are stretching the molecule along the three C-H bonds, and along the O-H bond. The other 8 modes describe angular deformations. The stretching mode ν₉(A'') is antisymmetric with respect to the σ_h reflection plane. The stretching modes ν₁(A'), ν₂(A'), ν₃(A') are symmetric with respect to the σ_h reflection plane. The deformation modes ν₁₀(A''), ν₁₁(A''), ν₁₂(A'') are antisymmetric with respect to the σ_h reflection plane. The deformation modes ν₄(A'), ν₅(A'), ν₆(A'), ν₇(A') ν₈(A') are symmetric with respect to the σ_h reflection plane.

Methanol is in the C_S point group with one symmetry element: σ_h reflection plane (cyan).