How To Build More Muscular Arms
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Building Muscular Arms
Building muscular arms is a necessity for anybody who's into bodybuilding. Even if you're a guy who isn't a competitive bodybuilder, it's likely that you would like to have bigger arms. Muscular arms exude a look of power and strength, and there are plenty of ladies who love them. The arms are easy to show off as well, as they are on display anytime you wear a tank top or short sleeved shirt. Nothing will build your ego like having huge arms.
It will take work to build muscular arms. You need to train the biceps, triceps, and forearms with high intensity to get these muscles to grow. Set up your weight training routine so that all of the arm muscles get worked enough without overdoing it. Stick with it, and you will build those big guns.
It will take work to build muscular arms. You need to train the biceps, triceps, and forearms with high intensity to get these muscles to grow. Set up your weight training routine so that all of the arm muscles get worked enough without overdoing it. Stick with it, and you will build those big guns.
Training The Biceps
Biceps training is essential when you want to know how to build more muscular arms. They probably get more attention than any other muscle on the body and are enjoyable to train, so it's easy to see why they are a favorite for many weight training enthusiasts. Intense biceps workouts will aid you greatly in building bigger arms.
Your biceps workouts will be made up of various forms of curls. Barbell or dumbbell curls are the best exercises to start out with. Barbell curls are pretty basic - you curl the weight until it's in front of your neck. Dumbbell curls should be started off with the dumbbells held to the sides of your body. As you curl the weights you should turn you forearms and wrists so that your hands are in the same position as they would be at the top of a barbell curl.
Another excellent biceps exercise that should be part of your routine is the hammer curl. They are done with dumbbells, but instead of twisting your wrists as you curl the weights, you keep them in the same position throughout the entire movement. This exercise will target the brachialis muscle in the upper arms. Building this muscle will help build thickness in the arms.
Preacher curls are favorite among biceps exercises. Curling on a preacher bench will allow you to get a nice stretch in the biceps muscles. Getting a stretch in the muscles is one of the best ways to build more muscular arms, as it will help lengthen them - which will help you build more size. Preacher curls are best done with a curl bar or dumbbells.
Incline dumbbell curls should also be part of your routine. When you sit on an incline bench and perform dumbbell curls, you will get be able to get more of a stretch in your biceps than you would while doing normal dumbbell curls since the arms are actually hanging behind the body.
Concentration curls are an excellent exercise to do at the end of your biceps workouts. You do them by either bending over with a dumbbell in one hand or while seated with the upper arm braced against your thigh, then curling. This is a great exercise to get a strong contraction in the biceps at the top of each rep.
Cable curls also make for a great finisher to a biceps workout. Using cables while curling will keep the resistance constant throughout a rep.
If you want to know how to build more muscular arms, you need to use proper form and train with high intensity. It can be easy to cheat while performing curls. If you tend to cheat too much, you should lower the amount of weight you use. This being said, you can actually use cheating to your advantage. When you get to the point on a set of biceps curls where you can't possibly perform another rep with good form, you can use a little body English to get a few extra reps. This can be done on just about any curling exercise.
It's a good idea to regularly make changes to your biceps workouts. Doing this will keep the muscles confused (which will help keep them growing) and keep your workouts from becoming stale. You can change the exercises you do to do this. You can also switch the rep range you use. Try setting up your routine so you have a light, medium, and heavy biceps workout setup.
The best placement for your biceps workouts in your weight training routine is either after your upper back workouts or with the triceps as part of an arm workout. You won't want to place your biceps workouts right before your back workouts in your routine since sore biceps will negatively affect your upper back routine.
Your biceps workouts will be made up of various forms of curls. Barbell or dumbbell curls are the best exercises to start out with. Barbell curls are pretty basic - you curl the weight until it's in front of your neck. Dumbbell curls should be started off with the dumbbells held to the sides of your body. As you curl the weights you should turn you forearms and wrists so that your hands are in the same position as they would be at the top of a barbell curl.
Another excellent biceps exercise that should be part of your routine is the hammer curl. They are done with dumbbells, but instead of twisting your wrists as you curl the weights, you keep them in the same position throughout the entire movement. This exercise will target the brachialis muscle in the upper arms. Building this muscle will help build thickness in the arms.
Preacher curls are favorite among biceps exercises. Curling on a preacher bench will allow you to get a nice stretch in the biceps muscles. Getting a stretch in the muscles is one of the best ways to build more muscular arms, as it will help lengthen them - which will help you build more size. Preacher curls are best done with a curl bar or dumbbells.
Incline dumbbell curls should also be part of your routine. When you sit on an incline bench and perform dumbbell curls, you will get be able to get more of a stretch in your biceps than you would while doing normal dumbbell curls since the arms are actually hanging behind the body.
Concentration curls are an excellent exercise to do at the end of your biceps workouts. You do them by either bending over with a dumbbell in one hand or while seated with the upper arm braced against your thigh, then curling. This is a great exercise to get a strong contraction in the biceps at the top of each rep.
Cable curls also make for a great finisher to a biceps workout. Using cables while curling will keep the resistance constant throughout a rep.
If you want to know how to build more muscular arms, you need to use proper form and train with high intensity. It can be easy to cheat while performing curls. If you tend to cheat too much, you should lower the amount of weight you use. This being said, you can actually use cheating to your advantage. When you get to the point on a set of biceps curls where you can't possibly perform another rep with good form, you can use a little body English to get a few extra reps. This can be done on just about any curling exercise.
It's a good idea to regularly make changes to your biceps workouts. Doing this will keep the muscles confused (which will help keep them growing) and keep your workouts from becoming stale. You can change the exercises you do to do this. You can also switch the rep range you use. Try setting up your routine so you have a light, medium, and heavy biceps workout setup.
The best placement for your biceps workouts in your weight training routine is either after your upper back workouts or with the triceps as part of an arm workout. You won't want to place your biceps workouts right before your back workouts in your routine since sore biceps will negatively affect your upper back routine.
Biceps Workout Equipment
Training The Triceps
When it comes to arm training, the biceps usually get most of the attention. However, the triceps are actually a larger muscle group so they need at least as much training as the biceps if you want to know how to build more muscular arms. Get started on triceps training now to increase your upper arm size.
Two excellent exercises to start off your triceps workouts are close-grip and reverse-grip bench presses. Both of these bench press exercises will focus the resistance on the triceps more than the pecs. While doing either of these exercises you will want to start off using light weights and learn how to properly perform them. You also may not want to lower the barbell all of the way to your chest when you do them.
Triceps extensions are among the best exercises to do when you want to know how to build muscular arms. They are basically done by holding weight in the hands overhead, bending at the elbows to lower the weight, then lifting it using the triceps muscles. There are many forms of triceps extensions as you can do them while standing, seated, or lying with barbells, curl bars, dumbbells, and cables. Two of the best forms of this exercise are lying triceps extensions and seated dumbbell triceps extensions.
Lying triceps extensions are done by lying face up on a bench with weight held over you. You then lower the weight to right above your forehead before using the triceps to get it back to the starting position. Since you lower the weight to your head, lying triceps extensions are also known as skull crushers. To get more range of motion you can hang your head over the end of the bench.
Seated dumbbell triceps extensions should be done while sitting on a bench with back support that only goes up to your upper back area. You then take a heavy dumbbell and hold it overhead with both hands (one hand on each side of one end of the dumbbell) and lower it to behind your neck by bending at the elbows before lifting it back to the starting position.
Dips are another excellent triceps exercise. You can do them on a dip bar or between 2 benches. To add resistance, you can put on a belt you can add weights to for dip bar dips, and put weights on your upper thighs for dips between benches.
Cable pushdowns done with a straight bar or curl bar are also great for working the triceps. This exercise will have you gripping the bar and using the triceps muscles to push down against the resistance. You can also use rope handles to do triceps pushdowns. This makes for a great finisher to a triceps workout.
Learning proper triceps exercise form and training hard should be done when you are learning how to build more muscular arms. To use proper form, you need to be just using the triceps to lift the weights. A little cheating is allowable to get an extra rep or two at the end of a set. You can also have a spotter assist you for some extra reps to boost your training intensity.
To keep your triceps workouts from going stale, you should make changes to your workouts regularly. Since there are so many triceps exercises and different ways you can do them, this shouldn't be a problem. You can also change the rep ranges you use by following a light weight-high rep, medium weight-medium rep, and heavy weight-low reps triceps workout routine.
Where you place your triceps workout in your lifting routine is very important. They should be trained after the chest and shoulders during the same workout or with the biceps as part of an arm workout. To build more muscular arms, you shouldn't train the triceps the day before your chest and/or shoulder workouts.
Two excellent exercises to start off your triceps workouts are close-grip and reverse-grip bench presses. Both of these bench press exercises will focus the resistance on the triceps more than the pecs. While doing either of these exercises you will want to start off using light weights and learn how to properly perform them. You also may not want to lower the barbell all of the way to your chest when you do them.
Triceps extensions are among the best exercises to do when you want to know how to build muscular arms. They are basically done by holding weight in the hands overhead, bending at the elbows to lower the weight, then lifting it using the triceps muscles. There are many forms of triceps extensions as you can do them while standing, seated, or lying with barbells, curl bars, dumbbells, and cables. Two of the best forms of this exercise are lying triceps extensions and seated dumbbell triceps extensions.
Lying triceps extensions are done by lying face up on a bench with weight held over you. You then lower the weight to right above your forehead before using the triceps to get it back to the starting position. Since you lower the weight to your head, lying triceps extensions are also known as skull crushers. To get more range of motion you can hang your head over the end of the bench.
Seated dumbbell triceps extensions should be done while sitting on a bench with back support that only goes up to your upper back area. You then take a heavy dumbbell and hold it overhead with both hands (one hand on each side of one end of the dumbbell) and lower it to behind your neck by bending at the elbows before lifting it back to the starting position.
Dips are another excellent triceps exercise. You can do them on a dip bar or between 2 benches. To add resistance, you can put on a belt you can add weights to for dip bar dips, and put weights on your upper thighs for dips between benches.
Cable pushdowns done with a straight bar or curl bar are also great for working the triceps. This exercise will have you gripping the bar and using the triceps muscles to push down against the resistance. You can also use rope handles to do triceps pushdowns. This makes for a great finisher to a triceps workout.
Learning proper triceps exercise form and training hard should be done when you are learning how to build more muscular arms. To use proper form, you need to be just using the triceps to lift the weights. A little cheating is allowable to get an extra rep or two at the end of a set. You can also have a spotter assist you for some extra reps to boost your training intensity.
To keep your triceps workouts from going stale, you should make changes to your workouts regularly. Since there are so many triceps exercises and different ways you can do them, this shouldn't be a problem. You can also change the rep ranges you use by following a light weight-high rep, medium weight-medium rep, and heavy weight-low reps triceps workout routine.
Where you place your triceps workout in your lifting routine is very important. They should be trained after the chest and shoulders during the same workout or with the biceps as part of an arm workout. To build more muscular arms, you shouldn't train the triceps the day before your chest and/or shoulder workouts.
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Training The Forearms
You certainly shouldn't neglect the forearms when you want to know how to build muscular arms. The forearms will get seen more often than the upper arms, and having thick, muscular ones make you look strong. Building powerful forearms will also enhance your grip strength.
Many exercises that have you holding heavy weight are going to work your forearms in some way. Just gripping the bar during a heavy deadlift is going to tax your hands and forearms. Other exercises such as barbell rows and pull-ups are great for helping to build the forearms and strengthen your grip.
The wrist curl is a great exercise for working the forearms directly. To do them you sit with the backs of your forearms laying on your thighs and a barbell or dumbbells in your hands and curl the weight up with just your wrists. At the bottom of every rep you should curl the wrists down as far as possible, and even let the weight get down to just being on your fingers rather the gripped in the middle of your hands.
Reverse wrist curls are also great for building the forearms. They are done the reverse way that regular wrist curls are, with the backs of the forearms facing up. You should do both types of wrist curls when you want to learn how to build muscular arms.
You will find that many gyms have a piece of equipment that is basically a bar or piece of wood that you can grip with a rope that you can add weight to attached to it. To build your forearms, you add some weight to this piece of equipment and turn the grip using your forearm muscles to wrap the rope around it. Once you get the weight all of the way up, you reverse the movement and slowly unwrap the rope.
It's best to use a higher rep range when you are training the forearms. You don't need to do very many sets and exercises to get results.
Many exercises that have you holding heavy weight are going to work your forearms in some way. Just gripping the bar during a heavy deadlift is going to tax your hands and forearms. Other exercises such as barbell rows and pull-ups are great for helping to build the forearms and strengthen your grip.
The wrist curl is a great exercise for working the forearms directly. To do them you sit with the backs of your forearms laying on your thighs and a barbell or dumbbells in your hands and curl the weight up with just your wrists. At the bottom of every rep you should curl the wrists down as far as possible, and even let the weight get down to just being on your fingers rather the gripped in the middle of your hands.
Reverse wrist curls are also great for building the forearms. They are done the reverse way that regular wrist curls are, with the backs of the forearms facing up. You should do both types of wrist curls when you want to learn how to build muscular arms.
You will find that many gyms have a piece of equipment that is basically a bar or piece of wood that you can grip with a rope that you can add weight to attached to it. To build your forearms, you add some weight to this piece of equipment and turn the grip using your forearm muscles to wrap the rope around it. Once you get the weight all of the way up, you reverse the movement and slowly unwrap the rope.
It's best to use a higher rep range when you are training the forearms. You don't need to do very many sets and exercises to get results.
Preacher Curl Benches
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Training The Arm Muscles Together
If you train the arm muscles during the same workout, you can do a set of a biceps exercise followed by a triceps exercise. Since they are close to each other, you won't lose your pump by doing this. Pumped biceps muscles will also give you some cushioning when you do a triceps exercise.
Sample Arm Workout
When you want to know how to build more muscular arms, you need to have a workout plan. Here's an excellent sample arm workout you can try:
Biceps
2 sets of barbell or dumbbell curls
2 sets of hammer curls
2 sets of incline dumbbell curls or preacher curls
1 set of concentration curls or cable curls
Triceps
2 sets of reverse or close-grip bench presses
2 sets of lying triceps extensions
2 sets of dips or straight bar pushdowns
1 set of rope pushdowns
Forearms
2 sets of wrist curls
2 sets of reverse wrist curls
1 set of wrist curls ups
If you train the arm muscles together you can try doing a biceps exercise followed by a triceps exercise. The last set of each workout should be a drop set or high rep set so your finish off with a pump. If your work hard and don't overdo it, you will finally know how to build muscular arms.
Biceps
2 sets of barbell or dumbbell curls
2 sets of hammer curls
2 sets of incline dumbbell curls or preacher curls
1 set of concentration curls or cable curls
Triceps
2 sets of reverse or close-grip bench presses
2 sets of lying triceps extensions
2 sets of dips or straight bar pushdowns
1 set of rope pushdowns
Forearms
2 sets of wrist curls
2 sets of reverse wrist curls
1 set of wrist curls ups
If you train the arm muscles together you can try doing a biceps exercise followed by a triceps exercise. The last set of each workout should be a drop set or high rep set so your finish off with a pump. If your work hard and don't overdo it, you will finally know how to build muscular arms.
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Things To Remember
-Stretch the arm muscles before, during and after your workouts
-Switch the exercises you do and the rep ranges you use often
-Use proper exercise form
-Use high intensity techniques
-Don't do too many sets and exercises
-Get plenty of rest between arm workouts
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