Barbell Curl: what to pair it with
Planning a session around Barbell Curl? Here is what fits next to it in three common training splits, chosen by the same pairing rules the Evenset app uses, plus alternatives that train the same muscle.
- Main muscle
- Biceps
- Movement
- Pull
- Body region
- Upper body
- Equipment
- Barbell
Push / Pull: balance it with the opposite movement
Barbell Curl is a pull. In a push/pull pairing, Evenset puts pushes for the same body region next to it, so pulling work is balanced by pressing work.
Upper / Lower: other muscles on the same day
On an upper/lower split, Evenset suggests exercises for the same half of the body (upper body) that train a different main muscle, so the day does not lean on a single muscle.
Full Body: reach the other body regions
In a full-body session, Evenset pairs Barbell Curl with exercises for the other body regions, so one workout covers more than the upper body.
- Back Squat
- Conventional Deadlift
- Hip Thrust
- Standing Calf Raise
- Plank
- Hip Adduction Machine
Alternatives to Barbell Curl
These train the same main muscle (biceps) with the same kind of movement. Handy when the equipment is taken, or when you train somewhere with a different setup.
- Dumbbell Curl
- Hammer Curl
- Preacher Curl
- Incline Dumbbell Curl
- Concentration Curl
- Cable Curl
Example: a full-body session with Barbell Curl
One squat or lunge, one upper-body push, one hinge, one upper-body pull and one core exercise. The big lower-body lifts and presses come first and core comes last, which is a common convention; reorder it to suit you.
The lists follow fixed pairing rules, not popularity or sponsorship. They are a starting point for choosing exercises, not a training plan or medical advice.
Build it in Evenset
Evenset is a free workout builder and gym log. Pick a split, add Barbell Curl, and it suggests what fits next. No account needed.
Start a workout