TypingThe top row: Q W E R T Y U I O P
The row above the home row holds ten letters, including four of the five vowels. Once you know it you can type most common English words.
Each finger reaches up
Every finger reaches up and slightly to the left from its home key, taps, and comes back. The index fingers look after two keys each.
little finger ring middle index (left hand: keys on the left half; right hand: the right half; thumbs: space bar)
| Top row key | Finger | Reaches up from |
|---|---|---|
| Q | Left little | A |
| W | Left ring | S |
| E | Left middle | D |
| R and T | Left index | F |
| Y and U | Right index | J |
| I | Right middle | K |
| O | Right ring | L |
| P | Right little | ; |
T and Y are the long reaches. For T the left index finger goes up and to the right. For Y the right index finger goes up and to the left. These two keys are where beginners most often look down, so give them extra lines.
Learn it in two halves
Do not try all ten keys at once. Type the first three drill lines, which use only E, R, U and I, until they are easy. Then add T and Y, then the outer keys Q, W, O and P.
ded ded kik kik frf frf juj juj
red ride fire sure desk like fake dear
ftf ftf jyj jyj the they that this
tree your year stay tried style thirty
sws sws lol lol aqa aqa ;p; ;p;
we were word work quit quiet power
write people report prefer equal poetry
the quiet writer typed a short letter here
you were right to keep your word, they said
The last drill line has a comma, which is taught in the next lesson. If you have not learnt it yet, type the line without the comma.
Keep the wrists still
When a finger reaches up, the hand should not travel with it. Let the finger stretch while the wrist stays where it is and the other fingers stay near their home keys. If your palm rests heavily on the table, the fingers cannot reach, so keep the wrists just above the surface or resting very lightly.
Common trouble on this row
- Typing
RforTorUforY. The index finger is not reaching far enough. Practiseftfandjyjslowly. IandOswapped. RememberIbelongs to the middle finger andOto the ring finger. Typekik lolseveral times.Pwith the ring finger. The little finger is weak, so the hand cheats. Slow down and use the little finger. It gets stronger within a week.
When you can type the last two lines with no more than two mistakes, move to the bottom row.
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.