Mastering Left Hand Typing

By now, you have learned the mechanics of the bottom row and how to integrate complex punctuation. In this unit, we will pull everything together by focusing on the left-hand side of the keyboard.

To master the left hand, we must review the keys for which it is responsible across all three rows. As a reminder, your fingers should always return to the "home row" (A, S, D, F) after every strike.

Here is a map of the keys your left hand handles:

• The Anchors: Your fingers sit on A, S, D, and F.
• The Stretch: Your index finger is responsible for two columns. It reaches for R, F, and V, but also stretches inward to hit T, G, and B.
• The Return: No matter how far you reach — whether up to Q or down to Z — your finger must immediately glide back to its home row anchor.

When typing words that use the left hand, you will often move vertically within a "column." For example, your middle finger is the only finger that should ever touch the E, D, and C keys.

By keeping your fingers assigned to these specific columns, you eliminate guesswork. You don't need to look at the keyboard because your middle finger "knows" that E is up and C is down. This vertical discipline allows you to build high-speed muscle memory.

In the previous course, we discussed the Opposite Hand Rule. This rule is vital when focusing on left-hand practice. If you need to capitalize a letter on the left side of the keyboard, your right pinky must hold down the Right Shift key.

Using the opposite hand provides balance and keeps your left hand in a relaxed, natural position to strike the letter. This coordination between hands is the secret to typing capital letters without slowing down.

Many common English words are typed entirely (or almost entirely) with the left hand. Practicing these words is a great way to test your ability to hop between the top, home, and bottom rows quickly.

Let’s look at a few examples:

• "stewardess": This is one of the longest words typed entirely with the left hand. It requires your fingers to jump between all three rows.
• "bread": Uses the top row (R, E), home row (A, D), and bottom row (B).
• "tax": A quick move from the top (T) to the home (A) to the bottom (X).

Let's go for the ultimate left hand practice!