Shoulders · Barbell · Compound · Beginner
Upright Barbell Row


PrimarySecondary
- Main muscles
- Shoulders
- Also working
- Traps
How to do it
- Grasp a barbell with an overhand grip that is slightly less than shoulder width. The bar should be resting on the top of your thighs with your arms extended and a slight bend in your elbows. Your back should also be straight. This will be your starting position.
- Now exhale and use the sides of your shoulders to lift the bar, raising your elbows up and to the side. Keep the bar close to your body as you raise it. Continue to lift the bar until it nearly touches your chin. Tip: Your elbows should drive the motion, and should always be higher than your forearms. Remember to keep your torso stationary and pause for a second at the top of the movement.
- Lower the bar back down slowly to the starting position. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
Swaps on other equipment
Each has the shoulders as its main muscle and is also a pull, on a different piece of equipment.
Other shoulder exercises
- Standing Two-Arm Overhead Throw · Medicine Ball
- Straight Raises on Incline Bench · Barbell
- Two-Arm Kettlebell Clean · Kettlebell
- Two-Arm Kettlebell Jerk · Kettlebell
- Two-Arm Kettlebell Military Press · Kettlebell
- Upward Stretch · Bodyweight
Steps and photos from the public-domain Free Exercise DB, not individually reviewed. How this site is put together · Report a mistake