best free program to learn touch typing?

[skuko]

as the title says, i would finally like to learn to touch type, tried it a couple of times, but it's a pain in the ass.

can you recommend something user friendly and free?

(i know where the keys are, the 10 finger typing is the issue...i use like 2-3 fingers on each hand (my first and only typeracer practice so far was 36 wpm - with my way of typing).

[davkol]

I learned it like this (i.e. just did it).

You can try KTouch, Amphetype or any other of the countless apps out there for practicing, but the single most important thing is that you make it a part of your workflow and persevere. I no matter how much time I spent doing typing tests focused on the home row, the actual learning happened, when I tried to touch type the first e-mail.

[Grim Fandango]

My girlfriend used one called rapid typing tutor, and it worked.

Though it is not so important which one you pick. You just need something to get your familiar with the basic layout (probably any would do).

Once you have built up the muscle memory to touch type about 20 WPM (I realize this is frustratingly slow) just switch cold turkey and do not look back. Sure, the first weeks things will take extra time. But it won't be long before you will type equally fast or faster than you did before. And you always have the benefit of being able to look at what you are typing, which also saves time.

The only hard thing about it is to stick with it. It is not hard to get to that "workable" 20 WPM level so that you can actually use it from day to day.

[ynrozturk]

www.typingweb.com

[BlackWidowMan777]

http://www.typingstudy.com/en-us_english-1/

also Klavaro:

http://klavaro.sourceforge.net/en/

[Veridis]

I am currently using http://www.keybr.com/#game to practice using the right shift key and symbols.

If you are currently peeking a lot, blank/rearranged keys and just doing normal typing will help. That's how I learned touch typing when I was 18, almost a decade ago.

Agree that it will be frustrating, but after 2-4 weeks you should be back to your normal speed.