Touch Typing Lessons

You're about to learn touch typing, the skill of typing without looking at your keyboard. It works through muscle memory. With practice, your fingers learn exactly where each key is, and eventually they move there automatically. Once that clicks, you'll type faster, with less effort, and your mind will be free to focus on what you're actually writing.

As you begin, focus on accuracy over speed. Get the movements right first. Speed follows naturally.

Lesson 1: The Home Row

The key principle of touch typing is to always return your fingers to the home row when you are not typing. The home row will be the reference point from which you will learn the positions of all the other keys. Most keyboards have small bumps on the F and J keys to help you find the home row without looking at the keys.

The keyboard keys are color-coded to show which finger should type each key. Throughout these lessons, you'll see these colored keyboards to guide your finger placement.

These lessons teach the US QWERTY layout. Note that physical keyboards display capital letters on the keys, but they type lowercase by default. You'll learn capitals in Lesson 4: Capital Letters.

The Right Hand

Position your right hand so that your index finger is placed on J, your middle finger is on K, your ring finger is on L and your pinky is on ; (the semicolon key). Let your right thumb rest comfortably on the space bar at the bottom of the keyboard.

Your hand should be raised above the keyboard with your fingers curving down to the keys. This will make it easier for you to move your fingers without moving your hands. Take a moment to properly position your right hand before continuing.

The first few exercises are going to feel like keyboard meditation. Yes, 'jj kk' over and over. We know. But your fingers need to learn where these keys live. Words come with the vowels, and there's one coming soon.

1.1 Right Index and Middle: j k

We'll start with two home row keys for the right hand: j k

Keep your right hand positioned on the home keys, as shown above. Use your right index finger to type j and your right middle finger for k. Type the space with your thumb.

Typing Exercise 1.1

jj jj jj jj kk kk kk kk jkj jkj jkj kjk kjk kjk jjk kjj jkk kkj jk jk jk kj kj kj jk kj kj jk j k j k k j k j j k k j j k j k

1.2 Right Ring and Pinky: l ;

Now let's learn the other two keys for the right hand: l ;

Again, keep your right hand on the home keys. Use your right ring finger for l and right pinky for ;.

Typing Exercise 1.2

ll ll ll ll ;; ;; ;; ;; l;l l;l l;l ;l; ;l; ;l; ll; ll; ;;l ;;l l;; ;ll l; l; l; ;l ;l ;l l ; l ; ; l ; l l ; ; l l ; l ;

1.3 Right Hand Home Row: j k l ;

Great, let's put all four right hand keys together: index j, middle k, ring l, pinky ;.

Typing Exercise 1.3

jj kk ll ;; jkl; ;lkj j;kl lk;j jlj j;j k;k ljl ;j; ;k; jkj jkj kjk kjk l;l l;l ;l; ;l; jk jl j; kj kl k; lj lk l; ;j ;k ;l j k l ; j k l ;

The Left Hand

Position your left hand so that your index finger is on F, your middle on D, your ring finger is on S and your pinky is on A. Your thumb can rest on the space bar.

Check that your left hand is raised and your fingers are curved and pointed down at the keys.

1.4 Left Index and Middle: f d

With your left hand placed on the home keys as shown above, use your left index finger to type f. Use your left middle finger to type d.

Typing Exercise 1.4

ff ff ff ff dd dd dd dd fdf fdf fdf dfd dfd dfd ffd dff fdd ddf fd fd fd df df df fd df df fd f d f d d f d f f d d f f d f d

1.5 Left Ring and Pinky: s a

Now we'll learn the other two keys for the left hand. Use your ring finger to type s and pinky to type a.

Meet 'a'. Your first vowel. Da da-da da!

Typing Exercise 1.5

ss ss ss ss aa aa aa aa sas sas sas asa asa asa ssa ssa aas aas saa asa sa sa sa as as as s a s a a s a s s a a s s a s a a dad a fad dad adds sass

1.6 Left Hand Home Row: f d s a

Excellent! Let's practice typing all four left hand keys together: index f, middle d, ring s, pinky a.

Typing Exercise 1.6

ff dd ss aa fdsa asdf fads sdaf fsf faf dad sfs afa ada fdf fdf dfd dfd sas sas asa asa fd fs fa df ds da sf sd sa af ad as f d s a f d s a a dad a fad dad adds sass da da da dads add fads

Both Hands

1.7 Both Hands Home Row: a s d f j k l ;

Now let's practice with both hands together, combining all the keys we've learned so far: a s d f j k l ;

Typing Exercise 1.7

jj kk ll ;; ff dd ss aa jkl; ;lkj j;kl lk;j fdsa asdf fads sdaf jkj jkj kjk kjk l;l l;l ;l; ;l; fdf fdf dfd dfd sas sas asa asa jaj jfj kak kdk lal ldl ;a; ;d; fjf fsf djd d;d sjs s;s aja a;a j k l ; f d s a j k l ; f d s a la la la; a lad asks; all ask dad; a salad falls alas; lads add sass

Take a quick break if you need one. You've got the home position. Now your fingers learn to leave it.

H and G

Time to stretch. Your index fingers are about to learn they can reach further than they thought. It's like yoga, but for typing.

The keys we have covered so far can all be typed without moving your fingers from the home position. Now it's time to learn how to move your fingers sideways to reach the h and g keys. Practice extending your right index finger to the left to type h. Then try reaching to the right with your left index finger for the g key. Afterwards, return your fingers to the home keys.

1.8 Index Finger Stretch: h g

To type h, slide your right index finger one key to the left from home position. For g, slide your left index finger one key to the right from home position. Return your fingers to f and j after each keystroke.

Typing Exercise 1.8

hh hh hh hh gg gg gg gg hgh hgh ghg ghg hhg hgg ggh ghh hg hg hg gh gh gh hg gh gh hg hg gh hg gh h g h g g h g h h g g h h g h g a glad dad gag; a flash; gals dash half a hall; flags flash; a glad saga

1.9 Index Fingers with Home Row: j f h g

Let's practice typing the index finger keys together: f g h j.

Typing Exercise 1.9

hh hh hh hh gg gg gg gg hjh hjh jhj jhj gfg gfg fgf fgf hgh hgh hgh ghg ghg ghg hhg ghh hgg ggh hg hg hg gh gh gh hg gh gh hg h g h g g h g h h g g h h g h g a lad asks; a glass hall; a lass has a sash; dad has half a salad; ha ha ha; a glad dad has a gag; flags flash; la la la; all gals dash; a glad saga

All Together

1.10 All Home Row Keys: a s d f g h j k l ;

Congratulations! You've learned the home row. Use the bumps on f and j as reference.

Typing Exercise 1.10

jj kk ll ;; ff dd ss aa hh gg jkl; ;lkj j;kl lk;j fdsa asdf fads sdaf jkj jkj kjk kjk l;l l;l ;l; ;l; fdf fdf dfd dfd sas sas asa asa hgh hgh ghg ghg jgj jdj kgk ksk lgl lsl ;g; ;s; fgf fsf djd dad sjs sfs aja afa hjh hfh gjg gfg j k l ; f d s a h g j k l ; f d s a h g a lad asks dad; a dad has gags; ha ha ha; a flash; fads add sass; la la la; a dad has a salad; a salad falls; half a salad; half a glass; a glad dad salad saga

Feel free to repeat any of the exercises in this lesson. When you can consistently hit 95% accuracy or above, a whole sea of new letters awaits.

Next Lesson: The Top Row