R and U: index fingers up

R sits above F and U sits above J, and both belong to the index fingers. Because these fingers start on the bumps, the upward reach for R and U is the easiest one to feel: the finger goes up, presses, and the bump is right there when it comes back. If any reach in this course is going to become automatic quickly, it is this pair.

The trap is that the index finger is also responsible for G and H, so it now has three keys to look after: its home key, one reach inward, and one reach up. The way to keep them straight is to make every reach start from the bump. Never go from G to R directly; go from G back to F, then up to R. That sounds slower, and for a day or two it is, but it means each key has exactly one path leading to it, and one path is what a habit needs.

With R and U you gain words like rule, sure, fire, real and here, and short function words such as our, her and are that appear in nearly every sentence. From now on the phrase drills read almost like ordinary English, and your job is to keep the same calm rhythm on a familiar word as on a strange one.

rule sure ride fire real here dear hear used sugar