Learn How to Touch-Type with Your Right Hand Using Keyboardy


Typing with your right hand takes practice, just like learning regular touch typing.With time and repetition, your fingers will naturally memorize key positions. The biggest advantage of touch typing is that you wonโ€™t need tolook down at the keyboard to locate keys, allowing you to type faster and more accurately while keeping your focus on your work.

๐Ÿ“ Note: Although this guide uses English and a QWERTY 60% (compact) keyboard layout to demonstrate one hand touch typing, both Keyboardy and the techniques in this guide can be applied to any language and any keyboard layout.

In this guide, you'll learn step by step how to:

  • โœ… Position your hand correctly
  • โœ… Move your fingers efficiently
  • โœ… Use Keyboardyโ€™s Reflecting Functionality to type effortlessly with just your right hand.

Letโ€™s get started! ๐Ÿš€


1๏ธโƒฃ Hand Placement: Positioning Your Right Hand

Proper finger placement is key to typing quickly and efficiently.

  • ๐Ÿ”น Find the J key: Close your eyes and locate the bump on the J key with your right index finger. This is your starting position.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Place your fingers on the home row:
    • Index finger โ†’ J
    • Middle finger โ†’ K
    • Ring finger โ†’ L
    • Pinky finger โ†’ ;
  • ๐Ÿ”น Thumb Placement: Rest your right thumb on the Space Bar.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Return to this position after each keystroke.

2๏ธโƒฃ Moving Your Fingers to Reach Keys

Now that your hand is stationary on the home row (;-L-K-J), your fingers will move up and down to reach other keys, while your hand remains in place.

The keyboard state while the reflector key is not pressed (released)

Finger-to-Key Mapping

  • ๐Ÿ”น Pinky: ; ' P [ ] 0 / Shift Enter Delete
  • ๐Ÿ”น Ring Finger: L O . 9
  • ๐Ÿ”น Middle Finger: K I 8 ,
  • ๐Ÿ”น Index Finger:J U 7 M H Y N
  • ๐Ÿ”น Thumb: Space Bar

๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Your hand should remain stationary, only your fingers should move!


3๏ธโƒฃ Using the Reflector Key to Reach the Left Side of the Keyboard

Whether the reflector key in the map you are using is Space Bar, Tab, or something else, hold it down to access the left-side keys without moving your hand, press and hold the Reflector key. This mirrors the left side of the keyboard onto the right, allowing you to type all keys effortlessly.

The keyboard state while the reflector key is pressed

Finger-to-Key Mapping (With Reflector Pressed)

  • ๐Ÿ”น Pinky: A Q Z Shift Tab
  • ๐Ÿ”น Ring Finger: S W X 2 ` 1
  • ๐Ÿ”น Middle Finger: D E C 3
  • ๐Ÿ”น Index Finger: F R V 4 G T B 5
  • ๐Ÿ”น Thumb: Space Bar

๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Hold the Reflector key whenever you need to type right-side keys, then release it to return to the normal layout.


4๏ธโƒฃ Practicing & Improving

  • โœ… Avoid looking at the keyboard. Train your fingers to find keys using muscle memory.
  • โœ… Practice typing simple words first, then move on to longer sentences.
  • โœ… Use typing exercises to improve speed and accuracy over time. While Keyboardy doesn't have a way for you to train and practice typing one handed, we recommend the following tools:
    • TypingClub: offers gamified lessons that are both fun and highly effective for improving typing skills.
      Tip: Avoid following their one-handed lesson plans, as they teach users to move their hand left and right to reach keys. Instead, follow the regular typing lessons and use the Reflector key to access keys from the opposite side
    • Monkeytype: is a minimalistic and customizable typing test you can use to time your typing and practice.

5๏ธโƒฃ Discover Useful Mappings

Some maps has additional mappings to further keep your hand stationary
  • F7 acts as Backspace that deletes a letter, this way your right hand don't have to travel to delete a letter.
  • F8 acts as Delete that deletes a forward letter.
  • F6 acts as Backspace + Ctrl that deletes a word
  • F9 acts as Delete + Ctrl that deletes a forward word
  • If you are using your right hand as auxiliary, keys can be mapped to Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V so that you can copy & paste with your auxiliary while your left is using the mouse

๐Ÿ‘ Useful Links

๐Ÿš€ Remember: One-handed touch typing takes practice, just like regular typing. Keep goingโ€”youโ€™ve got this! ๐Ÿ’ช