Tips on learning morse:

1. Learning code is like learning a new language. It may take several years of self-brainwashing to reach full fluency. Don’t give up.
   
   
2. Learning code is also about organisation and self discipline. In today’s modern world finding time to practice cw, even just once daily, will need you to organise yourself, especially if you are a parent, if you study or have a demanding job. Try drawing up a practice schedule.
   
   
3. In years gone by, the primary operating mode was cw. This gave hams the opportunity to unawaringly develop their cw skills. Many old timers may have 40 years of cw operation behind them so don’t give up after just a few months – keep at it.
   
   
4. Accept that it will be a long climb to full morse fluency. During your journey you will have good and bad days. Some people reach learning plateaus and their receiving speed won’t seem to improve. This is normal and when it happens - keep going. Sooner or later you will break through this invisible barrier. Others will not notice these plateaus. Instead, they will experience a steep, never ending up-hill struggle – again, just keep going!
   
   
5. It’s not all bad news… Make it fun and look on it as a challenge. Compare it to learning a foreign language, which you will be able to use on the air. If you like DX – think of all the more opportunities you will have to catch the rare ones.
   
   
6. Receive individual letters at the  speed you wish to attain. The space between the letters can be long at first and then gradually decreased as you improve. This is known as the Farnsworth method.
   
   
7. Practice, practice, practice – regularly, at least once every day, if possible twice. Short sessions, of about 20 minutes, so your mind stays concentrated and doesn’t start to wander. Two sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening - with a short break in each session, should provide a good rhythm of learning. As you improve, increase the session time.
   
   
8. Always try and practice at speeds a little higher than you can copy fully. Ex: If you're ok at 15wpm try copying at 17wpm - this way you will always be pushing yourself to improve.
   
   
9. Don’t practice if you’re tired. This means planning your day sensibly so your mind will be relaxed enough to take advantage of each practice session.
   
   
10. If you have a busy life-style, plan ahead and make a cw practice timetable. Keep to all the scheduled practice sessions. Make it a habit – like brushing your teeth, a ritual almost.
    
    
11. Don’t be taken in by expensive ‘miracle cw products’. I’m amazed at the number of people that buy that ‘step thing’ they sell on television, to work out on – haven’t these people got steps at home? How about a box or a brick? If you are reading this on the web you already have a computer - add some shareware and a tape-recorder and you have a complete cw tutoring machine.
    
    
12. There are no shortcuts to learning cw. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that there is a miraculous method to obtain sudden morse competence. Believe me there isn’t – ask any good cw op. However, there are good and bad methods of learning.
    
    
13. When starting, never learn from a table showing each character’s dot/dash equivalent. Use one showing the dits/dahs sounds - as soon as they are all memorised throw this table away. Never visualise these dits and dahs in your mind, instead remember only each character’s sound. Remember morse is sound!
    
    
14. When receiving, try not to count the number of dits and dahs forming the character. Instead learn to recognise it by its sound pattern.
    
    
15. Don't put time goals on your learning - People progress at different rates.
    
    
16. Never use mnemonics to memorise code characters. This will severely hamper your learning. Your mind will be: hearing sound – converting from mnemonic to character – writing character. Instead of: hearing sound – writing character.
    
    
17. A common myth is that all the best cw-men served as cw operators in the army, navy or air-force,  It's certanly a fact that the military does provide the discipline needed to get you through the tough learning stages - then gives you ample opportunity to practice and improve your skill. This will undoubtedly breed top-gun cw operators.  However, most cw hams are normal people, living normal lives, but with a passionate drive for the code. Don't think that just because you didn't learn cw in the services, you'll never get as good as the guys you hear on air - it all depends on how determined you are.
    
    
18. If you miss a character while copying, ignore it and keep going. Any attempt to 'think back' will result in you missing more characters.
    
    
19. If just listening, try 'finger writing' as you copy the code. This will create a type of ‘muscle memory’ in your hand. With practice you will hear the code character and your hand will instinctively write the letter.
    
    
20. Since most on-air QSOs are in English, brushing up on your English language skills will also improve your cw skills. Especially at a more advanced level, when you start head-copying. Don't wait till then - start improving your English now!
    
    
21. Instead of spending hours surfing the Internet, how about spending some of this time to copy some code?
    
    
22. Remember - morse is a language. A simple language with only: 26 letters, 10 numbers and a handful of punctuation and procedure signs. It's easy to learn!
    
    
23. Listen, listen ,listen - Wherever you have the opportunity, listen to code. In the car, on the train, in the shack...
    
    
24. Concentrate on  receiving morse. Sending morse is easy - a no-brainer! A reasonable reception speed should be reached before attempting to send. When you do start to send morse, use a good quality hand-key - not a toy. Don't use a paddle yet.
    
    
25. Talk with real cw men. Hams that you know are good and operate regularly. Obtain advice and encouragement to improve your learning and get you through the bad days.
    
    
26. If you like to 'roll your own' gear, how about constructing some homebrew cw gear - a simple tone oscillator, an electronic keyer or even a small QRP rig. These are all excellent projects to keep your morale up during the not so good cw-learning plateaus. However, don't let them take over from the task at hand - to learn morse!
    
    
27. When copying code use longhand, don't block print. It's faster to write in longhand - important as your speed increases. If you must block print, consider changing the way you print some of  the characters - Example: instead of 'E' write a 'backwards-3', it's a lot faster!
    
    
28. The most enjoyable way of practising is to get on air as soon as possible. This will also familiarise you with operating practices and procedures.
    
    
29. To avoid initial nerves, arrange skeds with a morse-fluent ham friend for your first on air QSOs.
    
    
30. You can get advice and exchange ideas on cw by joining the cw mailing list.
    
    
31. When you get to an advanced level - throw away your pencil and copy in your head. It's very hard, but possible.

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