Home Row Keys: Finger Placement Explained

The home row is the middle row of letter keys on your keyboard - the row that starts with A, S, D, F. In touch typing, your fingers rest on the home row and return to it after every keystroke.

The eight home row keys

On a standard QWERTY keyboard, the home row keys are:

• Left hand: A (pinky), S (ring), D (middle), F (index)
• Right hand: J (index), K (middle), L (ring), ; (pinky)

Your thumbs rest lightly on the space bar. The G and H keys are also on the home row, but they don't have a resting finger - your index fingers reach sideways to type them.

Why do F and J have bumps?

The small raised bars on F and J let you find the home row without looking. Run your index fingers over the keys until you feel the bumps, then let your other fingers fall naturally onto the neighboring keys. Many keyboards also have a bump on the 5 key of the numeric keypad for the same reason.

Why the home row matters

Every key on the keyboard is assigned to the finger closest to it from the home row. Because your hands always start from the same place, your fingers can learn exact distances to every key. That's what makes it possible to type without looking.

Correct hand position

1. Curve your fingers gently, as if holding a small ball.
2. Rest your fingertips lightly on the keys - don't press down.
3. Keep your wrists straight and slightly raised, not resting on the desk.
4. Keep your elbows close to your body, bent at about 90 degrees.

Read more in our guide to typing posture and ergonomics.

Home row on other layouts

Alternative keyboard layouts put different letters on the home row. On Dvorak, the home row is A O E U I D H T N S; on Colemak it's A R S T D H N E I O. Both place the most common English letters under your fingers. Try our Dvorak or Colemak practice pages if you're switching.

Practice the home row

The home row unit introduces the keys two at a time, starting with just F and J. It takes about 20 minutes to complete and builds the foundation for everything else.