There are 3 general stages or phases that you must undergo inorder to build muscle the right way. The first is muscle stimulation. You must do barbell and dumbbell workouts with freeweights in order to get the best results.   You have to push the muscle being trained past the point that it sees as usual. It is then that the muscel will begin to respond and grow.  You must put it under extreme strress and strain.  This is the best proven way to build strong lean muscles. Freeweights are going to incorporate more muscles then any other kind of equipment.