Lesson 2: Top Row Keys

Reaching up from the home row

The top row holds some of the most common letters in English, including E, T, O, and I. Your fingers reach up to them from the home row, press, and then come straight back. The goal is a short, quiet movement, not a jump.

Finger map for the top row

• Left pinky (red): Q
• Left ring finger (orange): W
• Left middle finger (green): E
• Left index finger (blue): R and T
• Right index finger (blue): Y and U
• Right middle finger (green): I
• Right ring finger (orange): O
• Right pinky (red): P

Each finger moves straight up from the key it rests on. The left middle finger rests on D and reaches to E. The right ring finger rests on L and reaches to O. Think of each column as a short elevator.

How to practice

1. Set your hands on the home row first. Feel the bumps on F and J.
2. Type the drill above at a slow, even pace. Keep the beat of your keystrokes steady.
3. After each top-row key, send the finger back to its home key before you move on.
4. Practice the index finger reaches separately. Your index fingers cover two columns each (R T and Y U), so they travel the most.
5. If a word feels clumsy, type it five times in a row, then put it back in context.

Words to try

These words use mostly home and top row letters: type, write, power, quiet, pretty, your, tower, outer, floor, report. Notice that many of them have both hands working in turn. This is the pattern that makes typing smooth.

Common mistakes

• Dragging the whole hand up. Only the finger should move. If your wrist lifts, shorten the reach.
• Forgetting to come home. If a finger stays up after a top-row key, the next key will be a miss. Return every time.
• Confusing Q and A or W and S. The weak ring and pinky fingers get tired and drift. Go slowly on these keys.
• Using the index finger for everything. It is tempting to grab E or I with the nearest index finger. Resist it. Use the middle finger.

Check your progress

When the top row feels natural, your eyes should rarely leave the screen. If you still hunt for the letters, repeat the lesson before moving on. You can also work on common words with the common words typing practice page, which uses letters from all rows.

What's next

With the home and top rows under your fingers, you are ready to reach down. Continue with Lesson 3: Bottom Row Keys, or go back to Lesson 1 if you want to refresh your starting position.

Ready to measure your progress? Try the typing test, browse the Learn to Type lessons, or play a few typing games.

Frequently asked questions