Learning correct touch typing technique

JohnDoe

I've decided I want to learn how to type 'correctly'. I can type reasonably fast, and moderately accurately, but I mostly just use 4 fingers and move my hand around a lot.

Whats the best way to train myself to use all fingers in the correct manner? Any good software or websites?

EggyToast

I learned in a class, and the method was essentially just odd-letter combinations that forced my hands to move all over the keyboard. So, you're taught "use your index finger to type f g b t r v, then use your other index figure to type u y j h m n. Then use your middle finger to type i k , 9 and your other middle finger to type d c e 3." And so on.

And yeah, can't look at your hands while doing it.

Still, if you're already at 90 words a minute or something, might not be entirely worth it. I have good friends who just use two fingers and type almost as fast as I do.

Riale

Something that helped me tangentially is playing a game that required A: movement and B: a lot of key binds, like a complex FPS or an MMO with a lot of abilities.

In these games it's often important to both move and press buttons to activate abilities. You can train yourself to type properly by changing your movement to esdf, and binding your abilities to the surrounding keys.

With this setup, your left hand is on homerow and it becomes most comfortable to use your other fingers to press the keys in a natural typing manner. This has a plus of not being as boring as practicing in a typing program. If you can master using all of your fingers on your left hand, your right will quickly follow.

Also, I've found that using my whole hand tends to leave me less cramped when typing for long periods of time, when compared to when I used to hunt and peck, or use only 3-4 fingers on each hand. It's definitely worth investing the time to learn it if you do any serious amount of typing.

Kragaar

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing was pretty good when I used it years and years and years ago. It's even available on Steam.

schuss

Another thing is to see if you can get a tray that covers the keyboard from sight, so you HAVE to touch type. I remember doing that way back in typing class in high school, and it breaks you of any hunt/peck habits.