TypingThe home row: A S D F and J K L ;
Touch typing means typing without looking at the keys. It starts with one idea: every finger has a resting place, and after each key it goes back there. That resting place is the home row, the middle row of letters.
Where the fingers rest
Put the four fingers of your left hand on A S D F and the four fingers of your right hand on J K L ;. Both thumbs rest lightly on the space bar.
little finger ring middle index (left hand: keys on the left half; right hand: the right half; thumbs: space bar)
| Finger | Left hand | Right hand |
|---|---|---|
| Little finger | A | ; |
| Ring finger | S | L |
| Middle finger | D | K |
| Index finger | F | J |
| Thumb | Space bar | Space bar |
Feel the F and J keys with your index fingers. Almost every keyboard has a small raised line or dot on these two keys. That bump is how your hands find home without your eyes: touch the two bumps and the other fingers fall into place.
How to press a key
- Keep the fingers curved, as if holding a small ball. Do not lay them flat.
- Press the key with a short, light tap and let it come back up.
- Only the finger that types should move. The others stay on their keys.
- Press the space bar with a thumb, whichever feels natural. Most people use the right thumb.
- Keep your eyes on the screen. If you are lost, feel for the bumps on
FandJinstead of looking down.
Go slowly. In this lesson, typing the right key matters and speed does not. A slow correct finger becomes fast by itself. A fast wrong finger stays wrong.
Drill
Type each line, with a space between the groups. Say the letter in your head as you press it. Repeat a line until you can type it without a mistake, then move to the next.
fff jjj fff jjj fj fj jf jf
ddd kkk ddd kkk dk dk kd kd
sss lll sss lll sl sl ls ls
aaa ;;; aaa ;;; a; a; ;a ;a
asdf jkl; asdf jkl; fdsa ;lkj
as ask all fall lad lads sad
a lad; a salad; all fall; ask dad
dad adds a salad; a lass asks all
What to expect
The first ten minutes feel slower than typing with two fingers. That is normal, and it passes within a few days of short practice. The little fingers are the weakest, so A and ; will feel awkward at first. Do not replace them with a stronger finger. Each finger must learn its own keys now, because the same fingers will reach up and down to the other rows in later lessons.
Before you move on
You are ready for the next lesson when you can type the last two lines of the drill, without looking down, with no more than one mistake. Use the practice tool below: it marks every word right or wrong and shows which key comes next.
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.