Home row keys
The eight keys under your resting fingers: A S D F for the left hand and J K L ; for the right. Every other key on the keyboard is a reach from one of them.
The home position, finger by finger
- Left hand: pinky on A, ring finger on S, middle finger on D, index finger on F.
- Right hand: index finger on J, middle finger on K, ring finger on L, pinky on the semicolon (;).
- Thumbs: resting over the space bar. Most people use whichever thumb is dominant.
- G and H belong to the index fingers, which each cover two columns.
Feel along the row and you will find a small ridge on F and on J. Those bumps are there so you can find home in the dark. Put your index fingers on them and the rest fall into place.
Why a fixed starting point matters
Touch typing works because every key is always reached by the same movement from the same place. "E" is always "left middle finger, up and slightly left". That consistency is what turns into muscle memory. But it only works if the starting point is fixed. Start one key to the side and every learned movement lands on the wrong key.
Your fingers meant: a sad lad asks dad; all fall
The screen shows: a sad lad asks dad; all fall
Anchored on F and J, every movement lands where you meant it.
This is also why lessons insist on returning to the home row after every reach. A finger left parked on the top row changes the starting point for the next letter.
Home row practice: a 3-minute routine
- Rest your fingers on the home row. Feel the bumps. Close your eyes for a second.
- Type
asdf jkl;five times slowly, saying each letter in your head. - Type
fjfj dkdk slsl a;a;, keeping each hand still except for the working finger. - Type home-row words:
salad, flask, glad, dash, all. - Finish with Lesson 6: home row words.
Want the full picture of which finger owns every key, not just the home row? See the keyboard finger placement chart.
FAQ
What are the home row keys?
On a US QWERTY keyboard the home row keys are A, S, D and F for the left hand and J, K, L and semicolon for the right hand. G and H sit between them and are reached by the index fingers.
Why do F and J have bumps?
The small raised ridges on F and J let you find the home position by touch, without looking. Resting your index fingers on the bumps puts every other finger on its correct home key.
Which finger goes on which home row key?
Left pinky on A, left ring on S, left middle on D, left index on F; right index on J, right middle on K, right ring on L, right pinky on semicolon. Thumbs rest on the space bar.
Should my fingers press down on the home row?
No. They rest lightly, just touching the keys. Pressing down causes accidental keystrokes and tires your hands.
Ready to put it into practice?
Start home row practice