Great shoulder exercises you can do using a barbell.Great shoulder exercises you can do using a barbell.

Top 3 Shoulder Barbell Exercises

Barbell Shoulder Exercises

Below is a great shoulder workout using only a barbell.

This workout features 3 exercises where you will do 3 sets of 10-12 reps with 1 minutes rest in between sets.

1. Seated Military press

Grab the barbell with a full, overhand grip that’s shoulder width or a little wider. Stand and hold the bar at collarbone level, with your back in its natural alignment and your knees slightly bent.

Press the bar overhead until your arms are straight but not locked. Slowly return to the starting position.

2. Upright Row

Grab the barbell with a false, overhand grip that’s shoulder width or a little wider. Stand and let the bar hand at arm’s length in front of your thighs.

Pull the bar up to your chest, or until your upper arms are parallel to the floor. Pause, then slowly return to the starting position.

3. Front Raise with Barbell

Grab an EZ-curl bar with a full, overhand, shoulder-width grip, and stand with the barbell hanging in front of your thighs. Set your feet shoulder-width apart with your knees slightly bent, and lean forward very slightly at the hips. Pull in your abs and tighten all your upper body muscles, and slightly bend your elbows.

Raise the bar in front of you until your arms are parallel to the floor. Pause, then return to the starting position. 

Military Press

Barbell Shoulder Exercises

Start: Grab a barbell with a full, overhand grip that's shoulder width or a little wider. Stand and hold the bar at collarbone level, with your back in its natural alignment and your knees slightly bent.

Finish: Press the bar overhead until your arms are straight but not locked. Slowly return to the starting position.

Behind-the-Neck Press

Barbell Shoulder Exercises

Start: Grip the bar as you would for a military press, but hold it behind your head, just above the base of your neck.

Finish: Press the bar up, pause, then slowly lower it to the starting position without letting it drift backward.

Swiss-Ball Seated Military Press

Barbell Shoulder Exercises

Start: Grab a barbell with a full, overhand grip that's shoulder width or a little wider. Stand and hold the bar at collarbone level, with your back in its natural alignment and your knees slightly bent.

Finish: Press the bar overhead until your arms are straight but not locked. Slowly return to the starting position.

Simply perform the military-press movement while sitting on a ball, taking extra care not to let your back arch too much.

Seated Behind-the-Neck Press

Barbell Shoulder Exercises

Start: Grip the bar as you would for a military press, but hold it behind your head, just above the base of your neck.

Finish: Press the bar up, pause, then slowly lower it to the starting position without letting it drift backward.

Do the same movement while sitting, without a back support.