How to Position Your Fingers on the Keyboard
In their basic position, your fingers rest on the middle row of the keyboard - also called the "home row". The home row is the base from which all other keys can be reached.
Now place your finger on the home row:
1. Put your left hand fingers on keys A S D F (see picture).
2. Put your right hand fingers on keys J K L ;
3. Let the thumbs rest lightly on the space bar
4. Keep your wrists straight and fingers lightly curled
When at rest the typist's fingers are positioned, lightly, on the A-S-D-F keys for the left hand, and the J-K-L-; keys for the right hand.
Each finger control different keys as follows:
- The left index finger will control the F and G keys, the right index finger will control the J and H keys.
- The left middle finger will control the D key, the right middle finger will control the K key.
- The left ring finger will control the S key, the right ring finger will control the L key.
- The left little finger will control the A key, the right little finger will control the ; key.
- The spacebar is controlled by the thumb.
| LEFT HAND | RIGHT HAND | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LF | RF | MF | IF | IF | IF | IF | MF | RF | LF |
| A | S | D | F | G | H | J | K | L | ; |
Tip! Can you feel small bumps on the F and J keys? They are there to help you find the home row keys without looking at your hands.
Using the raised bumps on the F and J keys as a guide, see if you can put your fingers on the home row keys correctly, without looking at the keyboard. You shouldn't look at the keyboard.
Pressing Keys
Each key is pressed by the finger on the home row that is closest. After reaching a key away from the home row, the finger needs to return to its home row key.
Example: How to Type Letter U
1. Make sure that your fingers are on their home row keys.
2. Move your right index finger from J upwards to U. Your hand may move slightly to make it easier to reach U.
3. Press U with a quick and light touch keeping your hand relaxed.
4. Move the index finger back to its home key J.
The Space Bar
Most people use their right thumb for the Space bar. Left-handed people may find it easier to use their left thumb. Whichever thumb you decide to use, stick with it. Never use both thumbs.
Learning Tips
Keep Your Eyes on the Monitor
You will learn the key positions faster if you don't peek at the keybarod when training. If you can't remember where a key is located, check the keybard picture on the screen to find it.
Keep Wrists Up
Keep your wrists up and straight when typing. Resting your wrists on the wrists rest or the desk will create an uncomfortable angle making it more difficult to move your fingers. This causes errors and slows you down. Holding your wrists too high has the same effect increasing the tension in the shoulders.
Focus on Accuracy
We believe that good accuracy is the building block of fluent typing. This is why you'll have an accuracy target throughout the course. Your speed will develop over time as you continue to train and start using your typing skills on a daily basis.