Target Muscle

    Biceps

    Equipment

    Dumbbell

    Difficulty

    Intermediate

    Category

    Strength

    Dumbbell Seated Bicep Curl to Shoulder Press

    The dumbbell seated bicep curl to shoulder press is a compound exercise that targets the bicep and shoulders. It combines a bicep curl with a shoulder press, making it effective for building upper arm and shoulder strength.

    Also Works

    Shoulders

    How to Perform

    1. 1

      Sit on a bench with your back straight and feet flat on the ground.

    2. 2

      Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing forward and arms fully extended.

    3. 3

      Keeping your elbows close to your sides, curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders.

    4. 4

      Once your forearms are vertical, rotate your wrists so that your palms are facing forward.

    5. 5

      Press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are fully extended.

    6. 6

      Lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position by reversing the movement.

    7. 7

      Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Pro Tips

    • Curl the dumbbells with a supinated grip, rotate your palms forward at the top, and press in one smooth sequence.
    • Keep your elbows pinned to your sides during the curl portion; don't let them drift forward.
    • Lower the weight in reverse order: bring the dumbbells to your shoulders, rotate palms inward, then lower with control.

    Common Mistakes

    • Using momentum from the curl to cheat the press, swinging the weights up instead of performing each phase cleanly.
    • Skipping the wrist rotation between the curl and press phases, which reduces shoulder activation.
    • Arching the back during the overhead press portion instead of bracing the core and pressing strictly.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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