Reaching the top row
Course 2 adds the top row of letters: Q W E R T Y U I O P. Each key is a short reach up and slightly to the left from a home row key, made by the same finger that rests below it. The rule to remember is simple: reach up, press, and come back home.
| Key | Finger | Reaches from |
|---|---|---|
| Q | Left pinky | A |
| W | Left ring | S |
| E | Left middle | D |
| R, T | Left index | F |
| Y, U | Right index | J |
| I | Right middle | K |
| O | Right ring | L |
| P | Right pinky | ; |
The index fingers each cover two keys here. T and Y are the center reaches and tend to feel awkward at first.
How Course 2 is organized
Keys are introduced in pairs, starting with the easiest reaches: E I (middle fingers), R U (index fingers), T Y (index fingers reaching toward the center), W O (ring fingers) and Q P (pinkies). Each level mixes the new keys with the home row, so you soon type words like quite, power, type, write and easy.
To pass Course 2 you need 95% accuracy at 15 WPM.
Common mistakes on the top row
- Moving the whole hand. Only the reaching finger should move. If your hand lifts off the home row, the next key lands in the wrong place.
- Mixing up T and Y. Both sit near the middle of the keyboard. T belongs to the left index, Y to the right. Typing Y with the left hand is one of the most common habits to unlearn.
- Forgetting to return. After pressing E, the middle finger should drop back to D. Staying up on the top row causes errors on the next letter.
- Reaching straight up. The rows are staggered, so the top row keys sit slightly to the left of the home keys below them. Reach up and a little left.
- Weak pinky reaches. Q and P are far for the pinky. Keep the other fingers anchored and let the pinky extend.
Tips for this level
- Practice the reach slowly with the key drill before worrying about speed. Your finger should find the key without searching.
- Common letter pairs like er, re, ou, it and th will start to appear. Let them become a single motion rather than two separate keys.
- If one reach keeps failing, go back to that level's drill. The Review step also brings missed keys back.
- Keep checking the touch typing finger chart if you're not sure which finger owns a key.
What's next
With the home and top rows done, you can type most of the English alphabet. Next is Course 3: Bottom Row, which adds Z X C V B N M and the comma, period and slash keys. If you want a break from drills, the Monster Typing Game is a good way to practice real words.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the keys spell QWERTY?
The top row gives the QWERTY layout its name. It comes from 19th-century typewriters and has stayed the standard on English keyboards ever since.
My left index finger feels overloaded. Is that normal?
Yes. Each index finger covers six letter keys on the three letter rows, more than any other finger. It gets easier with practice.
Should I use the right hand for T if it's faster?
No. It may feel faster at first, but it breaks the pattern your hands rely on for every other word. Stick to the left index.