About the tilde: On my keyboard, it's to the left of the key for the number 1. The tilde key is also the key for the reverse accent ( ` ). To type the reverse accent I just press the key; to type a tilde ( ~ ) I have to hit the shift key along with the tilde key.

For the vertical-line symbol ( | ) (what is the proper name for that symbol?), I have to hit the shift key and the backslash key ( \ ). The backslash key is above the return key.

But then, I have an Apple keyboard!