High Cable Curls

How to do the High Cable Curls

1. Stand between a couple of high pulleys and grab a handle in each arm. Position your upper arms in a way that they are parallel to the floor with the palms of your hands facing you. This will be your starting position.
2. Curl the handles towards you until they are next to your ears. Make sure that as you do so you flex your biceps and exhale. The upper arms should remain stationary and only the forearms should move. Hold for a second in the contracted position as you squeeze the biceps.
3. Slowly bring back the arms to the starting position.
4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	biceps
Equipment	cable machine
Difficulty	intermediate
Type	compound

No cable machine? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Alternate Hammer Curl Dumbbell Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl Dumbbell Concentration Curls Dumbbell Cross Body Hammer Curl Dumbbell Dumbbell Alternate Bicep Curl Dumbbell Dumbbell Bicep Curl Dumbbell

Easier than the High Cable Curls

Same movement pattern, lower entry difficulty — work up from here.

Alternate Hammer Curl beginner · Dumbbell Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl beginner · Dumbbell Barbell Curl beginner · Barbell

Superset the High Cable Curls with

Opposing triceps work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Kneeling Cable Triceps Extension triceps Standing Low-Pulley One-Arm Triceps Extension triceps Cable Incline Triceps Extension triceps Cable Lying Triceps Extension triceps

Common questions

What muscles does the High Cable Curls work?

The High Cable Curls primarily works the biceps. Drag Curl, Alternate Hammer Curl, and Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl train the same muscle, across 8 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the High Cable Curls?

A Cable Machine. Without a cable machine, Alternate Hammer Curl, Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl, and Concentration Curls train the same muscle, and 1 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the High Cable Curls suitable for beginners?

It is rated intermediate. Start with Alternate Hammer Curl, Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl, and Barbell Curl and work up.

Where should the High Cable Curls go in a workout?

Early — the High Cable Curls is compound, working 1 muscle group, so run it first or second while you are fresh, then superset Kneeling Cable Triceps Extension and Standing Low-Pulley One-Arm Triceps Extension later.

Similar exercises

Drag Curl Barbell Alternate Hammer Curl Dumbbell Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl Dumbbell Barbell Curl Barbell Barbell Curls Lying Against An Incline Barbell Cable Hammer Curls - Rope Attachment Cable Machine