- P · Left little finger
- R · Left ring finger
- M · Left middle finger
- I · Left index finger
- T · Thumbs
- I · Right index finger
- M · Right middle finger
- R · Right ring finger
- P · Right little finger
- Bold outline: home keys with the raised bumps — rest your index fingers here.
How to use this finger chart
Rest your fingers on the home row: on this keyboard the left hand covers A O E U and the right hand covers D H T N. The two keys with a bold outline have small raised bumps, so your index fingers can find them without looking. From the home row, each finger reaches up one row or down one row and comes straight back.
Look at the chart, not at your hands. When you are unsure which finger owns a key, glance at the colour or the finger letter on the chart, then press the key with that finger. Within a week or two you will need the chart less and less.
Which finger presses which letter on a US Dvorak keyboard
These are the letters each finger types on this layout, read from the chart above.
- Left little finger: A
- Left ring finger: O and Q
- Left middle finger: E and J
- Left index finger: P, Y, U, I, K and X
- Right index finger: F, G, D, H, B and M
- Right middle finger: C, T and W
- Right ring finger: R, N and V
- Right little finger: L, S and Z
Printing tips for parents and teachers
Use your browser’s Print command (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P), choose landscape and "fit to page". Turn on background graphics if the colours do not appear. In black and white, the finger letters (P little, R ring, M middle, I index, T thumb) carry the same information as the colours.
The chart is free to print, copy and hand out in class or at home. A link back to this page is appreciated, so other parents and teachers can find the right chart for their keyboard.
Practise with the same layout on screen
CosmicKeys shows the same US Dvorak layout on screen while you type, colour-coded by finger, with an animated marker that travels from the home key to the next key. After each lesson it reports errors and timing per key and per finger, so you can see which keys still need the chart. The typing test and the demo are free and need no account.
Next steps
FAQ
Which finger types which key on a US Dvorak keyboard?
Each finger owns one column of keys reached from the home row (A O E U I D H T N). The index fingers cover two columns each, the little fingers cover the outer keys, and the thumbs press the space bar. The chart on this page colours every key by its finger.
Can I print this keyboard chart for my class?
Yes. The chart is free to print, copy and share at home or in school. It prints in colour or in black and white, because every key also carries a finger letter.
How long should a beginner keep using a finger chart?
Most learners glance at it often in the first week and only occasionally after two or three weeks. Keep it nearby until you can type the home, top and bottom rows without looking at the keyboard.