The home row is ASDF for the left hand and JKL; for the right, with both thumbs resting on the space bar. The F and J keys carry small raised bumps so that you can find the position by feel. Every other key on the keyboard is learned as a short reach from home, and your fingers return to home after each one.
How to find the home row without looking
- Drop both hands onto the keyboard and slide your index fingers around until you feel two small raised bars. They are on F and J.
- Let the other fingers fall into place: left hand on A, S, D, F, right hand on J, K, L and the semicolon.
- Rest both thumbs lightly on the space bar. Only one of them presses it, usually the one on your writing hand.
- Keep your wrists straight and slightly raised, and your fingers curved as if holding a small ball.
Which finger presses which key
Each finger owns a small block of keys. Learning the ownership, rather than the individual keys, is what makes the rest of the keyboard easy: once you know that the right index finger owns J, it also owns U, H, Y, N and M. This is the map the 30-day course teaches, four keys at a time.
| Finger | Home key | Keys it presses |
|---|---|---|
| Left little finger | A | `, 1, Q, A, Z, Tab, Caps Lock, Shift |
| Left ring finger | S | 2, W, S, X |
| Left middle finger | D | 3, E, D, C |
| Left index finger | F | 4, 5, R, T, F, G, V, B |
| Right index finger | J | 6, 7, Y, U, H, J, N, M |
| Right middle finger | K | 8, I, K, , |
| Right ring finger | L | 9, O, L, . |
| Right little finger | ; | 0, -, =, P, [, ], \, ;, ', /, Enter, Backspace, Shift |
| Thumbs | Space | Space |
Your first exercises
- Anchor drill: f j f j f j, slowly, feeling for the bumps each time rather than aiming.
- Neighbour drill: d k d k, then s l s l, then a semicolon. Return to the home row between each.
- Real words: dad, fall, lads, flask, salad. Words matter because they are what your hands will actually type.
- Spaces: type short pairs of words so the thumb joins in early. Beginners often forget the thumb entirely.
Common home row mistakes
- Resting the wrists on the desk. It anchors the hand and makes the reaches to the top and bottom rows awkward.
- Not returning home. The reach is only half the movement; coming back is what keeps the map reliable.
- Using one hand for the space bar every time. Not wrong, but let the thumb of the free hand do it when the other hand is busy.
- Looking down to reposition. The bumps exist precisely so that you never have to.
Questions people ask
What are the home row keys?
A, S, D and F for the left hand, and J, K, L and the semicolon for the right, with the thumbs on the space bar. They are the middle row of letters on a QWERTY keyboard.
Why do F and J have bumps?
So that touch typists can place both hands correctly without looking. Your index fingers find the bumps, and the rest of your fingers land in the right place automatically.
Which finger types the space bar?
A thumb, usually the one on your dominant hand. Both thumbs rest above the space bar so either can take it.
How long should I practise the home row before moving on?
Until you can type home row words without looking and without hunting, which is usually one or two short sessions. Staying on it much longer is a common way to get bored and stop.