Arms · Barbell · Isolation · Beginner
Barbell Curl


PrimarySecondary
- Main muscles
- Biceps
- Also working
- Forearms
How to do it
- Stand up with your torso upright while holding a barbell at a shoulder-width grip. The palm of your hands should be facing forward and the elbows should be close to the torso. This will be your starting position.
- While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the weights forward while contracting the biceps as you breathe out. Tip: Only the forearms should move.
- Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the bar is at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a second and squeeze the biceps hard.
- Slowly begin to bring the bar back to starting position as your breathe in.
Swaps on other equipment
Each has the biceps as its main muscle and is also a pull, on a different piece of equipment.
Other bicep exercises
- Alternate Hammer Curl · Dumbbell
- Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl · Dumbbell
- Barbell Curls Lying Against An Incline · Barbell
- Brachialis-SMR · Foam Roller
- Cable Hammer Curls - Rope Attachment · Cable
- Cable Preacher Curl · Cable
Steps and photos from the public-domain Free Exercise DB, not individually reviewed. How this site is put together · Report a mistake