Typewriting Basics: Bottom-Row Keys

Helpful hints:

· Memorize the keys in the bottom row, along with which finger hits which key(s).

· Remember, your fingers are still resting on the home row - they will just reach back to hit the bottom row keys.

· After hitting a key in the bottom row, always bring your finger back to its home-row key.

· To hit each key, keep your hands in place on the keyboard - only slightly stretching the striking finger backwards.

· Be sure to keep your striking finger slightly curved as you reach back. · Practice as much as you can.

Striking finger for each key:

LEFT HAND:

Z……Fourth finger (pinkie)

X……Third finger

C……Second finger

V……Forefinger

B………Forefinger

RIGHT HAND:

N………Forefinger

M………Forefinger

,<………Second finger

.>………Third finger

?/………Fourth finger (pinkie)

It's important that you try to memorize the keys in the bottom row, and which finger hits each key(s), before beginning because your fingers will be covering them. Lifting your hands up to look will significantly slow down the learning process.

Practicing bottom-row keys:

Important note: After hitting each group of keys, move your finger back to its home key before striking the keys again.

Practice Exercise 1:

1. zzz /// zzz /// zz // z /

2. /// zzz /// zzz // zz / z

3. zz/ zz/ zz/ zz/ z/ z/ z/

4. //z //z //z //z /z /z /z

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " z " and " / " characters outlined in steps 1-4.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

ADDING IN HOME KEYS: 5. z/sz z/sz szs s/zs zzs/ zzs ssz ss/z

6. p;p/ p;p ;p; ;p;/ pp; pp; ;;p ;;p/

7. zps;/ zp/s; pz;s/ pz;s szp sz/p ;pz ;pz/

8. s;zp/ s;zp ;spz ;sp/z spz; s/pz; ;zps/ ;zps

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " z " and " / " characters outlined in steps 5-8.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

Practice Exercise 2:

9. xxx … xxx … xx .. x .

10. … xxx … xxx .. xx . x

11. xx. xx. xx. xx. x. x. x.

12. ..x ..x ..x ..x .x .x .x

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " x " and " . " characters with the home keys outlined in steps 9-12.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

ADDING IN HOME KEYS:

13. xdx xdx dxd dxd xxd xxd ddx ddx

14. .l. .l. l.l l.l ..l ..l ll. ll.

15. x.dl x.dl .xld .xld dx. dx. l.x l.x

16. dlx. dlx. ld.x ld.x d.xl d.xl lx.d lx.d

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " x " and " . " characters outlined in steps 13-16.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

Practice Exercise 3:

17. ccc ,,, ccc ,,, cc ,, c ,

18. ,,, ccc ,,, ccc ,, cc , c

19. cc, cc, cc, cc, c, c, c,

20. ,,c ,,c ,,c ,,c ,c ,c ,c

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " c " and " , " characters outlined in steps 17-20.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

ADDING IN HOME KEYS: 21. cfc cfc fcf fcd ccf ccf ffc ffc

22. ,k, ,k, k,k k,k ,,k ,,k kk,, kk,

23. c,fk c,fk ,ckf ,ckf fc, fc, k,c k,c

24. fkc, fkc, kf,c kf,c f,ck f,ck kc,f kc,f

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " c " and " , " characters with the home keys outlined in steps 21-24.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

Practice Exercise 4:

25. vvv mmm vvv mmm vv mm v m

26. mmm vvv mmm vvv mm vv m v

27. vvm vvm vvm vvm vm vm vm

28. mmv mmv mmv mmv mv mv mv

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " v " " m " characters outlined in steps 25-28.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

ADDING IN HOME KEYS:

29. vfv vfv fvf fvf &n, bsp; vvf vvf, ffv ffv

30.

mjm mjm jmj jmj mmj mmj jjmm jjm

31. vmfj vmfj mvjf mvjf fvm fvm jmv jmv

32. fjvm fjvm jfmv jfmv fmvj fmvj jvmf jvmf

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " v " " m " characters with the home keys outlined in steps 29-32.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again.

Practice Exercise 5:

33. bbb nnn bbb nnn bb nn b n

34. nnn bbb nnn bbb nn bb n b

35. bbn bbn bbn bbn bn bn bn

36. nnb nnb nnb nnb nb nb nb

Use the Text Area below to practice the above " b " " n " characters outlined in steps 33-36.

Practice this 5 times. When you finish it, click the Start Over button and try again

ADDING IN HOME KEYS:

37.

bfb bfb fbf fbf bbf bbf ffb ffb

38. njn njn jnj jnj nnj nnj jjnn jjn