K_Keybound
Beginners · 7 min read

Best typing exercises for beginners

The best beginner exercises are simple, repeatable and focused on one thing at a time. Work through the list below in order, spending a few days on each before moving on. Keep sessions to 10–20 minutes.

1. Finger placement by touch

Put your hands in your lap, then place them on the keyboard without looking, finding the bumps on F and J. Check, then repeat ten times. This builds the most important reflex in touch typing. The home row keys guide shows where every finger goes.

2. Home row letter runs

Type asdf jkl; slowly and evenly, saying each letter in your head. Then try reversed (fdsa ;lkj) and alternating hands (a j s k d l f ;). Aim for zero errors, not speed.

3. Home row words

Words like add, ask, dad, fall, lass, flask and salad use only home row keys. They're the first point where typing starts to feel like writing. The Home row lesson generates these for you.

4. One new key at a time

Add a single key from the top row — say E with the left middle finger. Practise reaching up and returning to D: ded ded, then words like fed, led, sea. Add the next key only when this one feels easy.

5. Short words

Three- and four-letter everyday words use the whole keyboard without long stretches. The Short words lesson keeps a gentle pace.

6. Single-key reactions

Pressing one random letter quickly trains you to find any key without looking. Orchard Edge does this as a game: fruit carries a letter, and you press it to slice. Stages move from the home row out to the whole keyboard.

7. Common words

A small set of words makes up a large share of everyday writing. Typing them until they're automatic gives a big boost. Try the Common words lesson.

8. Simple sentences

Finally, add capitals, commas and full stops. Use the opposite hand's little finger for Shift — left Shift for right-hand letters and right Shift for left-hand letters. The Sentences & punctuation lesson covers this.

A weekly plan

  1. Monday: exercises 1–3.
  2. Tuesday: exercises 2–4.
  3. Wednesday: exercise 5 and a relaxed game round.
  4. Thursday: exercises 4–6.
  5. Friday: exercise 7 and a 30-second typing test.
  6. Weekend: optional — a game such as Bloomkeeper.

Tips that apply to every exercise

  • Look at the screen, not your hands. See how to stop looking at the keyboard.
  • Use the correct finger even when another feels easier.
  • Keep an even rhythm rather than bursts and pauses.
  • Stop before you get tired or frustrated.

If you want a guided version of this order, the Start Here page lays out the beginner lessons and a no-pressure game mode. For a sense of how long each stage takes, read how long it takes to learn touch typing.

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