Best Upper Body Workouts With Barbells To Build Muscle Mass

The Barbell Bench Press is a key exercise for building upper body strength, targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It’s commonly used in fitness programs and is essential for evaluating upper body strength.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your head, shoulders, and butt are on the bench throughout the exercise.
3. Grip the barbell slightly wider than your shoulders and lift it above your chest.
4. Engage your core by tightening your stomach muscles as you lower the barbell to your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Gently touch your chest with the barbell, then push it back up to the starting position while exhaling.

The Barbell Incline Bench Press is a variation of the standard bench press that targets your chest while focusing more on the shoulders and upper chest. It's great for building strength in these areas.

How to do it

1. Lie back on an incline bench (45-60 degrees), keeping your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the floor.
2. Grip the barbell just outside shoulder-width and lift it above your shoulders with your arms extended.
3. Brace your core, lower the barbell to your upper chest by flexing your elbows at a 45-degree angle, then gently touch your chest.
4. Exhale and push the barbell back to the starting position.

The Barbell Curl is a great exercise that targets your biceps by isolating the muscle. Using a barbell helps keep your movements stable so you can focus on building strength without losing balance.

How to do it

1. Stand up straight and grasp a barbell with both hands, shoulder-width apart, palms facing away.
2. Tighten your core by taking a deep breath and flexing your stomach muscles.
3. Bend your elbows to lift the barbell to shoulder height, keeping your elbows close to your sides.
4. Exhale and slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.

The Close-Grip Bench Press targets the triceps more than the standard bench press by keeping your hands closer together. This exercise is ideal for adding triceps strength to your chest workout.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Grab the barbell with hands slightly closer than shoulder-width apart, and lift it over your chest.
3. Lower the barbell toward your chest by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your body.
4. Touch the barbell lightly on your chest, then push it back up to the starting position.

The Barbell Decline Bench Press is a chest exercise that emphasizes the lower chest. It also strengthens your triceps and shoulders while lying on a decline bench.

How to do it

1. Lie down on a decline bench, placing your heels on the ground and squeezing your shoulder blades together.
2. Make sure the bench supports your head, shoulders, and buttocks.
3. Grab the barbell with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width and hold it above your shoulders.
4. Tighten your core and lower the barbell to your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lightly touch the barbell to your chest, then push it back to the starting position.

The Barbell Shoulder Press is a strength exercise that mainly works your shoulder muscles. It helps improve your ability to lift weight overhead with stability and strength.

How to do it

1. Stand with the barbell at shoulder height and grab it with your hands shoulder-width apart.
2. Bend your knees slightly and lower yourself to place the bar on your upper chest.
3. Position your elbows under the bar so your forearms are straight up and palms face forward.
4. Lift the barbell straight up until your arms are fully extended, keeping it aligned with your ears.
5. Lower the barbell back to your chest to repeat the exercise.

The Bent Over Barbell Row is an effective exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and arms. It uses a barbell for stability, helping you focus on building strength, making it a good introduction to more advanced lifting techniques.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and a barbell on the ground near your shins.
2. Bend your hips back and slightly bend your knees to reach for the barbell while bracing your core.
3. Grab the barbell with your palms facing you and lift it to knee height by extending your hips.
4. Pull the barbell towards your belly button by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lower the barbell back to knee height and repeat.

The Floor Press is an upper-body exercise that targets your chest, triceps, and shoulders. You lie on the floor and press a barbell up, which helps build strength while protecting your shoulders.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on the floor with your shoulder blades squeezed together and your knees bent, feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your head, shoulders, and butt are touching the floor, and the barbell is at arm height on a rack.
3. Unrack the barbell and place it above your shoulders.
4. Brace your core by breathing deeply and tightening your abdomen.
5. Bend your elbows at a 45-degree angle and lower the barbell to touch your elbows gently to the floor.
6. Exhale and press the barbell back to the starting position.

The Seated Barbell Shoulder Press is an exercise that strengthens your shoulders while seated for better balance. This helps you focus on lifting the weight without using your legs for support.

How to do it

1. Sit upright on a bench with your feet flat on the ground.
2. Hold the barbell with both hands outside shoulder width above your head.
3. Lower the barbell to your upper chest by bending your elbows.
4. Push the barbell back up to the starting position.

The Push Press is a dynamic exercise that strengthens your shoulders and upper body. It's similar to a Thruster but focuses less on the legs. This exercise helps build power and coordination for overhead movements like the Jerk.

How to do it

1. Set the barbell just below your shoulders and grip it with both hands.
2. Position the barbell on your shoulders and step back with feet shoulder-width apart, slightly turned out.
3. Bend your knees slightly ('dip') and then push upward with your legs and arms to lift the barbell overhead.
4. Ensure the barbell is aligned with your ears before lowering it back to the starting position.

The Reverse Barbell Curl is a bicep exercise that focuses on grip strength and functional strength. By using a barbell with a reverse grip, you can stabilize the movement better, allowing for more effective bicep training.

How to do it

1. Stand upright holding a barbell with both hands, palms facing towards you, at waist height.
2. Engage your core by tightening your stomach muscles.
3. Flex your elbows to raise the barbell to shoulder height, keeping your elbows close to your body.
4. Lower the barbell back to the starting position and repeat.

The Stiff-Legged Barbell Good Morning exercise targets the hamstrings and lower back. It uses a barbell for added resistance and helps maintain a straight back while hinging at the hips.

How to do it

1. Set the barbell at shoulder height and grip it with hands outside shoulder-width.
2. Squeeze your shoulder blades and engage your core.
3. Stand under the bar, placing it on the back of your neck, then step back with feet shoulder-width apart.
4. Keep your heels down and hinge your hips backward, allowing just a slight bend in your knees.
5. Maintain a straight spine, bend forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle, then return to standing.

The Australian Chin Up is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back, biceps, and shoulders. You perform it from a low, inclined position using a bar, making it easier than regular Chin Ups. It's a great way for beginners to build strength towards full Chin Ups.

How to do it

1. Lie underneath a low bar and grab it with an underhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
2. Keep your legs and body straight, starting with your arms fully extended.
3. Pull your chest towards the bar while keeping your elbows close, engaging your core to maintain a straight line.
4. Lower yourself back to the starting position and repeat.

The Front Plate Raise is a great exercise to strengthen the front of your shoulders. By using a weight plate, you can effectively work your anterior deltoids while keeping the movement smooth and controlled.

How to do it

1. Stand upright and hold the sides of a weight plate in front of your waist.
2. Keep your arms slightly bent and raised the plate to just above shoulder height.
3. Lower the plate back to the starting position, maintaining a neutral back throughout.

The Reverse Grip Barbell Bent Over Row is a great exercise for beginners that works your back, biceps, and shoulders. By using a reverse grip, you can better target your biceps and engage different back muscles. Holding a barbell offers stability, allowing you to focus on lifting properly.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Grip the barbell with an underhand grip (palms facing you).
3. Bend your hips back, keeping your knees slightly bent, until the barbell rests just in front of your shins at a 45-degree angle with your torso.
4. Pull the barbell towards your belly button by bending your elbows, keeping your back straight.
5. Lower the barbell back to the starting position in a controlled manner.