In this paper, a modified harmony search (MHS) algorithm was presented for solving 0-1 knapsack problems. MHS employs position update strategy for generating new solution vectors that enhances accuracy and convergence rate of harmony search (HS) algorithm. Besides, the harmony memory consideration rate (HMCR) is dynamically adapted to the changing of objective function value in the current harmony memory, and the key parameters PAR and BW dynamically adjusted with the number of generation. Based on the experiment of solving ten classic 0-1 knapsack problems, the MHS has demonstrated stronger convergence and stability than original harmony search (HS) algorithm and its two improved algorithms (IHS and NGHS).