Lesson 4: Number Row
Stretch to the number row with the same finger you use for the letter below each number.
Numbers sit above the letters
The number row is the furthest row from your home position, so it takes the longest reach. The good news is that each number lines up with a letter you already know. Use the finger that normally covers the letter below it and stretch straight up.
Finger map for the numbers
- Left pinky (red): 1
- Left ring finger (orange): 2
- Left middle finger (green): 3
- Left index finger (blue): 4 and 5
- Right index finger (blue): 6 and 7
- Right middle finger (green): 8
- Right ring finger (orange): 9
- Right pinky (red): 0
Notice how it echoes the top row: the left middle finger reaches to E and to 3, and the right ring finger reaches to O and to 9. Think of the number row as the top row, one level higher.
How to practice
- Start from the home row. Reach up and press a number, then return home.
- Type the drill above slowly. Numbers are easy to mix up, so accuracy matters more than speed.
- Learn the numbers in groups: first 1 2 3, then 4 5 6, then 7 8 9 0.
- Write a short list by touch, such as a phone number or a date, to turn drills into something real.
- Practice with short strings first, like 2024, 1357, and 9081, then work up to longer ones.
When to use the number row and when not to
If you type many numbers all day, such as in a spreadsheet, a numeric keypad can be faster. The keypad is a separate skill with its own keyboard layout. For general writing, the number row is the right tool. The number typing practice page gives extra drills, and the 10-key typing test trains the keypad.
Common mistakes
- Using the index finger for every number. This slows you down and breaks the pattern. Stick to the finger map.
- Losing the home row. After a long reach, the hand drifts. Check that your index fingers feel the bumps on F and J.
- Swapping neighbors. 5 and 6 sit side by side but belong to different hands. Slow down on the middle of the row.
- Typing 0 with the wrong finger. The right pinky owns it, even though it is a long stretch.
Check your progress
Try typing your own birth year, a street address, and a few digits of a phone number from memory. If you can do this without looking, you have the basics. Speed will follow with more practice.
What's next
Next you will learn to make capital letters with the Shift keys. Continue with Lesson 5: Shift and Capital Letters.
Ready to measure your progress? Try the typing test, browse the Learn to Type lessons, or play a few typing games.