To quickly understand how to model using the modeling tools, you can follow these steps:

• Open Houdini.
• On the Modeler shelf, launch the Set Keymap tool and select the Modeler keymap in the dialog window. The default Modeler hotkeys are now active.
• In the viewport, open the Primitives radial menu with the hotkey Alt+Q and select one of the primitives.
• Open the Select radial menu with the hotkey ` (backtick) and choose the desired component mode.
• Select components.
• Activate the Mesh shelf and apply any tool. Hovering over a tool will display its description. Another way to launch tools is by using the context menu, which opens with the Q hotkey. You can also launch tools with hotkeys. The standard set of hotkeys can be viewed by opening the Hotkeys window on the Modeler shelf.