Lesson 1: HOMEKEYS

Goals: To control the home keys (A S D F J K L ;), the space bar, and the enter key.

A. THE HOME KEYS

The A S D F J K L ; keys are known as the home keys.
1. Place the fingers of your left hand on the home keys as follows: first finger on F;
second finger on D, third finger on S; fourth finger on A.
2. Place the fingers of your right hand on the home keys as follows: first finger on J;
second finger on K; third finger on L; and fourth finger on ;.
3. Curve your fingers.
4. Using the correct fingers, type each letter as you say it to yourself: a s d f j k l ;.
5. Remove your fingers from the keyboard and replace them on the home keys.
6. Press each home key again as you say each letter: a s d f j k l ;.

B. THE SPACE BAR

The space bar, located beneath the letter keys, is used to space between word and
after marks of punctuation.
1. With fingers held motionless on the home keys, poise your right thumb about a
half inch above the space bar.
2. Type the letters a s d f , then press the space bar once. Bounce your thumb off.
3. Type the letters j k l ; , then press the space bar once.
4. Type the letters a s d f , press the space bar once, then type the letters j k l ;. .

C. THE ENTER KEY

The enter key moves the insertion point to the beginning of a new line. Reach to
the enter key with the fourth finger of your right hand. Keep your J finger at home.
Lightly press the enter key.
Practice using the enter key until you can do so with confidence and without
looking at your hands.
Type each
Type line
each once,
line pressing
once, pressing thethe
space bar
space where
bar you
where seesee
you a space and
a space pressing
and thethe
pressing enter
enter
key twice at the end of a line .
key twice at the end of a line.

Asdf jkl; asdf jkl;

Asdf jkl; asdf jkl;

Fff fff jjj jjj fff jjj ff jj ff jj f j

Fff fff jjj jjj fff jjj ff jj ff jj f j

Ddd ddd kkk kkk ddd kkk dd kk dd kk d k

Ddd ddd kkk kkk ddd kkk dd kk dd kk d k

Sss sss lll lll sss lll ss ll ss ll s l

Sss sss lll lll sss lll ss ll ss ll s l

Aaa aaa ;;; ;;; aaa ;;; aa ;; aa ;; a ;

Aaa aaa ;;; ;;; aaa ;;; aa ;; aa ;; a ;

Aaa ddd ddd add aaa lll lll all add all

Aaa sss kkk ask dd aaa ddd dad ask dad

Lll aaa ddd lad fff aaa ddd fad lad fad

Aaa ddd ;;; ad; aaa sss ;;; ad; as; ad;

F fa fad fads; a as ask asks; d da dad;

L la las lass; f fa fal fall; s sa sad;

A ad add adds; l la lad ladsl a ad ads;

Dad ask; ask a lad; dad ask a lad; as a

A fall; a lass; ask a lass; a lad asks;

Take two 1-minute timings. Try to complete the line each time.

Ask a sad lad; a fall fad; add a salad;