so ive been wanting to learn CW for a while now, i passed my general last year and everyone keeps telling me i should try it but i honestly dont even know where to start. i downloaded a couple apps but i cant tell if im doing it right or just memorizing shapes if that makes sense. like i can look at a chart and go oh thats an E or whatever but when i try to actually listen i just fall apart completely.

is there like a method that actually works or is it just grind until it clicks? i tried one of those youtube videos where they just play the whole alphabet over and over and it kind of just blurs together after a few minutes. someone at my club mentioned the Koch method but i dont really understand how thats different from just learning letters in order. any advice would be appreciated, or even just knowing how long it took you would help

yeah the alphabet chart thing doesnt really work for most people, or at least it didnt for me. the Koch method is basically where you start with just two characters at full speed, like 20wpm, and only add a new one when you can copy the current set at like 90% accuracy. the key part is the full speed thing - you want your brain to hear the whole sound as a word not count the dits and dahs. if you slow it down you end up learning crutches that youll have to unlearn later.

lcwo.net is free and does Koch automatically, thats what i used. also look into Farnsworth timing which is different from straight slowdown - it keeps the character speed up but adds space between letters so you have time to think. honestly the first couple weeks feel like nothing is working and then one day something just clicks and you can copy a few letters without thinking. stick with it longer than feels reasonable before giving up on a method

just gonna say the Just Learn Morse Code software is pretty good if youre on windows, but honestly what made the biggest difference for me was just tuning to a slow speed net and trying to copy. like actual QSOs on the air. the ARRL has those code practice transmissions on W1AW too, they go through different speeds and they publish what they sent so you can check yourself. way more motivating than an app for me personally. took me maybe 3 or 4 months before i felt like i could actually have a basic contact without totally panicking