Alternating Banded Biceps Curl
In SetGrip: Banded Biceps Curl (Alternating)
- Primary muscleBiceps
- EquipmentResistance Band
- DifficultyBeginner
- TypeIsolation · Pull
- Secondary muscles
- Forearms
- Body part
- Upper Arms
- Position
- Standing
- Laterality
- Alternating sides
- Category
- Strength
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Because a band gets heavier as it stretches, the hardest part of this curl lands near the top, right where your biceps are fully shortened. Working one arm at a time keeps the anchored band stable underfoot and gives each side a brief rest, so it suits higher-rep sets at home or while traveling.
How to do the Alternating Banded Biceps Curl
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the band with an underhand grip, palms facing up.
- Keep your elbows close to your sides and slowly curl one arm up towards your shoulder, squeezing your biceps at the top.
- Lower the arm back down to the starting position and repeat with the other arm.
- Continue alternating arms for the desired number of repetitions.
Tip: Lower for three seconds and stop just short of locking out the elbow to keep the muscle under tension.
Muscles worked
Primary
Biceps · Arms
The biceps bend the elbow and turn the palm up, so they work hardest when the palms face up; hammer and reverse grips shift more of the work to the forearm muscles.
Secondary
- Forearms — The brachioradialis and forearm flexors take over on hammer and reverse curls and assist on every other variation.
Common mistakes
- Elbows drifting forward — as the elbows come up the front delt starts to lift the weight; pin the elbows to your sides and let only the forearm move.
- Swinging from the hips — a small rock backward on each rep means the weight is too heavy; drop it and curl from a dead stop.
- Cutting the bottom short — stopping with the elbow bent shortens the range where the biceps are stretched; lower until the arm is nearly straight.
- Wrists curling at the top — flexing the wrist toward you brings the forearm flexors in; keep the wrist neutral or slightly extended.
Where it fits in a workout
Curls go at the end of a pull session or arm day, after the rows and pulldowns that also load the biceps. Superset them with a triceps pushdown or extension.
How many sets, how heavy and how hard: see what the ACSM position stands support.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without resistance band
When to talk to someone
- Chest discomfort, feeling faint or lightheaded, or trouble breathing during or after exercise can be signs of a heart attack. In the US, call 911 right away; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
- Heart, metabolic or kidney disease, or symptoms like these when you are active: talk to your doctor before you start or step up training.
- Pregnant: ask your obstetric care provider which exercise suits you.
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More exercises
Sources
- ACSM position stand on exercise quantity and quality (Garber et al., 2011)
- ACSM preparticipation health screening (Riebe et al., 2015)
- ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804 on exercise in pregnancy (2020)
- CDC: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery (2024)
Sources checked on October 17, 2026. Full citations are in the exercise library.
Animation and exercise data: ExerciseDB, licensed to SetGrip. General information, not medical or coaching advice.