Guide 02
The QWERTY Layout and Finger Placement
About a 6-minute read
Most keyboards in the English-speaking world use the QWERTY layout, named after the first six letters on the top row. Touch typing means every finger is responsible for its own column of keys, so you never have to search for a key with your eyes.
The home row
| Row | Left hand | Right hand |
|---|---|---|
| Top row | Q W E R T | Y U I O P |
| Home row | A S D F G | H J K L ; |
| Bottom row | Z X C V B | N M , . / |
The middle row is the home row. Your fingers rest there between key presses and return there after every reach.
Which finger presses which key
| Finger | Keys |
|---|---|
| Left pinky | Q, A, Z (+ Tab, Caps Lock, left Shift) |
| Left ring | W, S, X |
| Left middle | E, D, C |
| Left index | R, F, V, T, G, B |
| Right index | Y, H, N, U, J, M |
| Right middle | I, K, comma |
| Right ring | O, L, period |
| Right pinky | P, ;, /, ' (+ Enter, Backspace, right Shift) |
| Thumbs | Space bar |
The index fingers are the strongest and most agile, so each one covers two columns: F and G on the left, J and H on the right.
Capital letters: use the opposite Shift
To type a capital letter, hold Shift with the hand that is not typing the letter. For a capital "A" (left hand), hold the right Shift; for a capital "J" (right hand), hold the left Shift. This keeps your hands from twisting and is much faster than using the same hand for both.
Numbers and symbols
The number row works the same way: each finger reaches straight up from its home key. The left index finger takes 4 and 5, the right index finger takes 6 and 7. Symbols such as ! @ # are typed with Shift and the number key, again using the opposite Shift.
A step-by-step practice plan
- Home row only: practice words made only of home row letters, such as "sad", "fall" and "glass".
- Add the top row: words like "write", "quiet" and "pretty".
- Add the bottom row: words like "zebra", "climb" and "move".
- Capitals and punctuation: short sentences with names, commas and periods.
- Full sentences: practice real sentences with spaces and punctuation. The proverbs and everyday sentences in BattleTyping's typing test are perfect for this step.
Summary
Remember three rules: fingers rest on the home row, each finger owns its column, and capitals use the opposite Shift. Turn on the on-screen keyboard and it will show you the next key to press while you learn.