Finger Placement on the Keyboard
With the left-hand index finger, locate the key at the bottom left corner of the keyboard. This will be the Ctrl (Control) key. Then, move the index finger upwards along the left edge and find the third row. The outermost key is the Caps Lock key. Move to the right and count to the fourth key (excluding Caps Lock). The fourth key is F, which has a raised dot. Place the left-hand index finger on the F key.
Next, place the middle finger on the D key, the ring finger on the S key, and the little finger on the A key.
With the right-hand index finger, find the seventh key in the same row with a raised dot (excluding Caps Lock). This is the J key. Place the right-hand index finger on J.
Next, place the middle finger on K, the ring finger on L, and the little finger on the ; key.
The hands should be lifted slightly above the keyboard, and the fingers should be in a slightly curved position. The hands should remain relaxed. The goal is to type the letters corresponding to these keys, getting accustomed to their positions and remembering which finger is responsible for which letter. You can form words, using spaces between them by pressing the space bar with your thumbs.
Additional Keys
- Move the left-hand index finger to the right (keeping the other fingers in place) and press G, then return it to F.
- Move the right-hand index finger to the left and press H, then return it to J.
- Move the right-hand little finger to the right and press ', then return it.
- Move the little finger further right past one key and press \.
- The right-hand little finger can also move two keys to the right to press Enter, which is the line-break key.
Upper Row Practice
Once the middle letter row is mastered, you can move on to the upper row.
- The left-hand little finger types Q (only the little finger moves up, presses the key, then returns to A).
- The ring finger moves up to press W.
- The middle finger presses E.
- The index finger presses R, returns to its home position, then moves up and slightly right to press T.
For the right hand:
- The index finger moves up and types U, then Y.
- The middle finger types I.
- The ring finger types O.
- The little finger types P, then [ and ].
Lower Row Practice
Only after mastering the middle and upper rows and practicing words, should you proceed to the lower row.
- The left-hand little finger moves diagonally down to the right to press Z, as well as \ (if present on the keyboard).
- The ring finger presses X.
- The middle finger presses C.
- The index finger presses V and B.
- The right-hand index finger types N and M.
- The middle finger types , (comma).
- The ring finger types . (period).
- The little finger types / (slash).
Typing Capital Letters
To type an uppercase letter, for example, A:
- The right-hand little finger moves down and right to press Shift and holds it.
- The left-hand little finger presses A.
- Both keys are then released.