Learn Colemak

Short answer: Colemak is an alternative keyboard layout released in 2006 by Shai Coleman, designed to be easier to switch to than Dvorak: only 17 keys change position compared with QWERTY, and the common shortcuts for undo, cut, copy and paste — Z, X, C and V — stay exactly where they are. Its gains, like Dvorak’s, are debated; its real selling points are comfort and a gentler transition. Klavaro includes Colemak (US) as a built-in layout, so you can start its Basic Course on Colemak straight away.

Why Colemak exists

By the early 2000s the pattern was familiar: QWERTY, an 1870s typewriter-era layout, was the universal default, and Dvorak, patented in 1936, was the established alternative that almost nobody adopted — partly because switching meant relearning nearly every key. Colemak was designed to answer the adoption problem directly. Instead of asking “what is the theoretically best arrangement?”, it asked “what arrangement improves on QWERTY while asking the least relearning in return?”

The result keeps the majority of QWERTY positions untouched. The changes it does make are concentrated where QWERTY is weakest: frequent letters are pulled towards the home row, awkward same-finger combinations are reduced, and hand alternation is improved. Because so much stays familiar, your existing knowledge of where symbols, numbers and less common letters live mostly survives the switch.

The easier-switch argument: 17 keys and your shortcuts survive

The number to remember is 17. Only 17 keys change position between QWERTY and Colemak. In practice that means the first days feel odd rather than alien: many words still type much as they did, and the letters that moved are a learnable set rather than a whole new map. Compare that with Dvorak, where most of the alphabet relocates and even confident touch typists start again from near zero.

Just as practical, the editing shortcuts stay put. Z, X, C and V keep their QWERTY positions, so undo, cut, copy and paste — the key combinations your hands use hundreds of times a day, often without conscious thought — work exactly as before. Anyone who has tried an alternative layout and been driven mad by broken shortcuts will understand why Coleman treated this as a design requirement, not an afterthought.

What Colemak does not promise

Honesty matters here, because alternative layouts attract inflated claims. Colemak’s possible speed and efficiency gains are debated, in the same way Dvorak’s are: there is no conclusive scientific proof that it is universally faster than QWERTY for everyone. People who switch and practise diligently often report greater comfort and sometimes better speed, but dedicated practice on any layout improves speed. Choose Colemak because the design appeals to you and the transition is manageable — not because a chart promised you a specific percentage.

Our full comparison of QWERTY vs Dvorak vs Colemak puts the three layouts side by side, including learning curve and who each one suits.

Colemak or Dvorak: who should pick which?

Colemak suits switchers who want most of the ergonomic argument with the least disruption: people who rely on keyboard shortcuts all day, who share machines or workflows with QWERTY users, or who have tried Dvorak before and bounced off its steep start. Dvorak suits purists who prefer its cleaner break — all vowels on the home row, a design built from scratch — and who can accept a longer, slower relearn. If you are undecided, read our guide to learning Dvorak as well, then pick the one whose first month you can actually picture yourself completing. The best choice is the one you will still be practising in week six.

A realistic timeline

Most switchers report that basic competence on a new layout takes weeks and that matching their full previous speed takes months — Colemak included. Its advantage shows up in the shape of that curve, not its disappearance: because only 17 keys moved, the early frustration is usually milder and everyday typing becomes usable sooner than on Dvorak. Still expect a clumsy period, especially for the moved letters, and expect your QWERTY to feel strange when you go back to it during the transition.

Setting up Colemak (US) in Klavaro

• Step 1 — Select Colemak (US). Klavaro ships Colemak (US) among its built-in layouts. The layout is chosen inside Klavaro, independently of your operating system layout, so you can learn in the tutor first and decide about switching your whole system later.
• Step 2 — Start the Basic Course at the beginning. The course introduces key positions in order; on a new layout that order is your friend, even if you are an experienced QWERTY typist.
• Step 3 — Drill the moved keys. Once the course has covered the basics, Adaptability sessions target the specific keys you personally fumble — for Colemak switchers, predictably, the 17 that moved.
• Step 4 — Build rhythm. Add Velocity and Fluidness work once accuracy is clean, and watch progress over weeks, not days.

Klavaro is free and available from our download page for Windows, Linux and Mac, so testing whether Colemak suits you costs an install and a few honest weeks.

Who Colemak suits best

Programmers and writers who live by shortcuts, self-taught typists who want a structured fresh start without total disorientation, and anyone curious about alternative layouts but wary of Dvorak’s all-or-nothing leap — Colemak was designed for you. If, on the other hand, you are perfectly comfortable on QWERTY and type at a good speed with sound technique, the honest advice is that switching is optional: an interesting project, not a necessity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many keys change between QWERTY and Colemak?

Only 17 keys change position. Colemak, released in 2006 by Shai Coleman, was deliberately designed as an easier transition from QWERTY: most keys stay where they are, and the common shortcuts Z, X, C and V for undo, cut, copy and paste do not move at all.

Is Colemak faster than QWERTY or Dvorak?

It is not proven to be. Like Dvorak’s, Colemak’s efficiency gains are debated and there is no conclusive scientific proof that it is universally faster. Its clearest advantages are comfort-oriented design and a much gentler learning curve than Dvorak. Speed after switching depends mainly on how consistently you practise.

How do I practise Colemak in Klavaro?

Select the built-in Colemak (US) layout inside Klavaro — the layout is chosen in the program independently of your operating system — then work through the Basic Course from the first lesson. Follow with Adaptability to drill the keys that moved, and Velocity and Fluidness to build speed and rhythm.

Is Colemak easier to learn than Dvorak?

For most switchers, yes. Dvorak rearranges most of the alphabet, while Colemak moves only 17 keys and preserves familiar shortcuts. Most switchers still report weeks to basic competence and months to recover full previous speed on any new layout, but Colemak’s early stage is usually less disorienting.