High Cable Curls
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the biceps, using a cable machine.
Starting position
End position
How to Do High Cable Curls
- 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.
- 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.
- Slowly bring back the arms to the starting position.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to High Cable Curls
10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.
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1
Cable Hammer Curls - Rope Attachment
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using a cable machine.
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2
Lying High Bench Barbell Curl
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using a barbell.
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3
Reverse Barbell Preacher Curls
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using an E-Z curl bar.
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4
Dumbbell Curls
Dumbbell curls are the quintessential arm exercise for building bicep strength and size. The unilateral nature of dumbbells helps identify and correct muscle imbalances between arms.
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5
Lying Cable Curl
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using a cable machine.
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6
Overhead Cable Curl
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using a cable machine.
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7
Standing One-Arm Cable Curl
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using a cable machine.
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8
Barbell Curls Lying Against An Incline
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using a barbell.
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9
Concentration Curls
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using dumbbells.
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10
Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the biceps, using dumbbells.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do high cable curls work?
High Cable Curls primarily works the biceps.
What equipment do I need for high cable curls?
High Cable Curls uses cable machine.
High Cable Curls: is it suitable for beginners?
High Cable Curls is rated intermediate. Movements that assume you already own the basic pattern and are ready to load it.
What can I do instead of high cable curls?
Cable Hammer Curls - Rope Attachment, Lying High Bench Barbell Curl, Reverse Barbell Preacher Curls train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my high cable curls reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; high cable curls can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
Track Your High Cable Curls with AI
Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.