Skip to content
ascend.
Exercise guide

Machine Bicep Curl

How to do the Machine Bicep Curl with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationMachineBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Biceps

Secondary

,

Equipment

Machine

Step by step

How to do the Machine Bicep Curl

  1. 1

    Adjust the seat to the appropriate height and make your weight selection. Place your upper arms against the pads and grasp the handles. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    Perform the movement by flexing the elbow, pulling your lower arm towards your upper arm.

  3. 3

    Pause at the top of the movement, and then slowly return the weight to the starting position.

  4. 4

    Avoid returning the weight all the way to the stops until the set is complete to keep tension on the muscles being worked.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Machine Bicep Curl set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your biceps volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More biceps exercises

FAQ

Machine Bicep Curl: common questions

What muscles does the Machine Bicep Curl work?

The Machine Bicep Curl primarily works the Biceps.

Is the Machine Bicep Curl suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Machine Bicep Curl is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Machine Bicep Curl?

To do the Machine Bicep Curl you'll need a weight machine.

Is the Machine Bicep Curl a compound or isolation exercise?

The Machine Bicep Curl is an isolation exercise, it targets the biceps through a single joint, which makes it useful for focused, targeted work.

How do I do the Machine Bicep Curl with correct form?

Adjust the seat to the appropriate height and make your weight selection. Place your upper arms against the pads and grasp the handles. This will be your starting position. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

Try the climb

Log your Machine Bicep Curl sets, free.

Waitlist members get TestFlight + Play Store internal-track invites and a founder badge on their profile.

Free to join · No card · Founder badge kept
Ascend Club

The app is free. Club adds the coach, leagues and analytics.

Core tracking stays free forever, the climb, streaks, logging and your league tiers. Club is for when you want the full coach, worldwide competition and the depth, at about the price of one coffee a month.

See Club plans

14-day free trial · no card to start

 FreeClub
Tracking, the climb and streaks
Per-set logging, PR detection, wearables
Muscle-league tiers
The AI coachnudgesFull conversation
Worldwide leagues and challenges,
PR projections and deep analytics,
Unlimited crews,
Themes, export and higher AI limits,