Home Row Keys: The Secret Base of Typing
The home row is the middle row of letter keys. It is where your fingers rest when they are not typing anything, like a rocket waiting on the launchpad.
Where do my fingers go?
- Left hand: pinky on A, ring finger on S, middle finger on D, pointer finger on F.
- Right hand: pointer finger on J, middle finger on K, ring finger on L, pinky on ; (semicolon).
- Thumbs: rest lightly on the space bar.
Why do F and J have bumps?
Run your fingers over F and J. Feel the tiny bumps? They let your pointer fingers find home without looking. Every keyboard has them.
What about G and H?
G and H are on the home row too, but no finger lives there. Your pointer fingers stretch over one key to reach them, then hop right back home.
Home row words to try
You can type real words using only the home row: ask, dad, sad, glass, flash, salad, half, shall. Try them in Home Row Words.
Practice the home row
- Lesson 1: F and J
- Lesson 2: D and K
- Lesson 3: S and L
- Lesson 4: A and ;
- Lesson 5: G and H
- Home Row Review
FAQ
What are the 8 home row keys?
A, S, D, F for the left hand and J, K, L, ; for the right hand. G and H are also on the home row but are reached by stretching the pointer fingers.
Why is it called the home row?
Because your fingers always return there, like coming home, after reaching for other keys.