TypingThe bottom row: Z X C V B N M
The bottom row completes the alphabet. It also holds the comma and the full stop, so after this lesson you can type real sentences.
Each finger reaches down
Every finger reaches down and slightly to the right from its home key. As on the top row, the index fingers have two keys each.
little finger ring middle index (left hand: keys on the left half; right hand: the right half; thumbs: space bar)
| Bottom row key | Finger | Reaches down from |
|---|---|---|
| Z | Left little | A |
| X | Left ring | S |
| C | Left middle | D |
| V and B | Left index | F |
| N and M | Right index | J |
| , (comma) | Right middle | K |
| . (full stop) | Right ring | L |
| / (slash) | Right little | ; |
B is the hardest key on the keyboard for most learners. It sits far from F, down and to the right, and the left index finger must stretch for it. Some people type B with the right index finger. Choose the left, as taught here, and stay with it.
Curl the fingers
To reach down, curl the finger under a little, as if scratching the table gently towards you. Do not pull the whole hand down. The fingers that are not typing stay on the home row.
Drill
fvf fvf jmj jmj fbf fbf jnj jnj
van man ban name move been numb
dcd dcd k,k k,k sxs sxs l.l l.l
can mix box calm exam voice cabin
aza aza ;/; ;/; zoo zip size zero lazy
come back, bring a box, and mix cement.
seven brave men climbed vast mountains.
a quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The last line is the famous sentence that uses every letter of the English alphabet. Type it slowly a few times and you have touched all twenty six letters with the correct fingers.
Space after punctuation
Type one space after a comma and one space after a full stop. Do not put a space before them. Two spaces after a full stop is an old typewriter habit and is not needed on a computer.
Common trouble on this row
Ctyped with the index finger. It belongs to the middle finger. The index finger is needed forVandB.NandMmixed up.Nis the nearer reach, straight down and left fromJ.Mis directly belowJ.XandZfeel impossible. The ring and little fingers are weak. Curl them more, and allow the hand to tilt very slightly, but come back to the home row at once.
You now know every letter. The next lesson adds capital letters.
This is an independent practice site. It is not connected with any examination body, keyboard maker or software company. A typing speed measured here is for your own practice. It is not a certificate, and an examination may measure speed in its own way.