A computer-implemented method of building a database of pulse sequences for parallel-transmission magnetic resonance imaging, includes a) for each of a plurality of subjects, determining an optimal sequence for the subject; b) for each subject, computing the values of the or of a different cost or merit function obtained by playing the optimal sequences for all the subjects; c) aggregating the subjects into a plurality of clusters using a clustering algorithm taking the values, or functions thereof, as metrics; d) for each cluster, determining an averaged optimal sequence for the cluster; e) receiving, as input, a set of features characterizing an imaging subject, comprising at least a morphological feature of the subject; f) associating the subject to one pulse sequence of the database based on the set of features using the computer-implemented classifier algorithm; and g) performing magnetic resonance imaging using the pulse sequence. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for carrying out steps e)-g) of such a method is also provided.