Finger Placement

Basic finger responsibilities

In touch typing, the keyboard is divided into columns, and each finger looks after one or two of them. A finger moves up or down its column from the home row, then returns. The map below shows the usual assignments for the letter keys on a standard QWERTY keyboard.

• Index fingers do the most work. Each covers two columns: the left index finger handles R T F G V B, and the right index finger handles Y U H J N M.
• Middle and ring fingers each cover a single column, such as E D C for the left middle finger.
• Little fingers cover the outer columns and usually the keys beyond them, including Shift, Enter, Tab and Backspace.
• Thumbs press the space bar.

For capital letters, hold Shift with the little finger of the opposite hand to the letter. For example, a capital T (left hand) uses the right Shift.

Keyboards are not all the same

This lesson uses the common QWERTY arrangement. Some keyboards differ: French keyboards often use AZERTY, German keyboards often use QWERTZ, and UK and US keyboards place some symbols, such as @ and ", in different positions. Laptops may have smaller or rearranged keys. The principle stays the same on any layout: rest on the home row, give every finger its own column and return home after each reach.

Keyboard positioning

• Centre the keyboard so that the B key is roughly in line with the middle of your body.
• Keep the keyboard close enough that your elbows stay by your sides.
• Keep the keyboard flat or only slightly tilted, so your wrists stay straight.
• Place the mouse close by at the same height, to avoid repeated long reaches.

Reducing unnecessary hand movement

Good typists look almost still. Their hands stay anchored over the home row while individual fingers make small movements. To develop this:

• Move only the finger that needs to press a key. The rest of the hand stays in place.
• For bottom-row keys, curl the finger down and slightly inwards rather than moving your whole hand.
• For top-row keys, extend the finger up and slightly outwards, then pull it back.
• Keep a light touch. Pressing harder than needed makes the hand bounce and lose its position.

Practice patterns

These drills focus on reaches from the home row. Type slowly enough that every finger moves within its own column.

Tips for developing muscle memory

• Repeat correctly, not quickly. Your hands learn whatever you repeat, so slow and correct is better than fast and inconsistent.
• Practise little and often. Several short sessions in a week build memory more effectively than one long session.
• Say letters in your head. Naming the key as you press it links the movement to the letter.
• Resist looking down. Each time you feel for a key instead of looking, the memory gets stronger.

Troubleshooting

Next, Lesson 4 shows you how to turn these movements into accurate typing. You can also try the number typing test to practise reaching the number row.