Koch vs Farnsworth: Which Morse Code Method Is Better?

Neither wins outright, and most learners use both. The Koch method decides which letters you learn and when, and the Farnsworth method decides how they're spaced, so they work best combined.

The Koch method

German psychologist Ludwig Koch published it in 1936. The Long Island CW Club's summary of his report lists the core ideas:

Never use a visual chart. Learn each letter as a sound.
Start with two very different letters, such as K and M.
Send at about 12 WPM from day one, above the 10 WPM point where learners start counting dots.
Add one new letter once you copy at about 90 percent accuracy.

It's hard at first, because the letters come fast. The payoff is that you never build the slow counting habit.

The Farnsworth method

Named for Donald R. "Russ" Farnsworth, W6TTB. Each letter is sent at full speed, say 18 to 20 WPM, but extra space goes between letters and words, so the overall speed might be 5 to 10 WPM. As you improve, the gaps shrink.

It's gentler on beginners, but it doesn't say what order to learn letters in, and some learners lean on the long gaps.

Which suits you

You are...	Try
Starting from zero, aiming for real speed	Koch letters with Farnsworth spacing
Easily discouraged by fast sound	Farnsworth with generous gaps
Rusty and returning	Farnsworth at your old character speed

Using both

Most modern trainers combine them: letters in Koch order, sent at full character speed, with Farnsworth gaps that shrink as your accuracy improves. That's the approach in how to learn Morse code, and you can try it in the practice trainer.