String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · Chromes Flatwound · 11-15-22-30-40-50

D'Addario ECG24 (11-15-22-30-40-50) in Eb standard on a 24.75" scale

11-50 Jazz Light, XL Chromes Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 121.5 lb55.1 kg540 N in total and 20.2 lb9.18 kg90 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 14.4%). String 3 (Gb3) deviates most: +19% from the set average.

Total tension
121.5 lb55.1 kg540 N
Average per string
20.2 lb9.18 kg90 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.4%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01116.5 lb7.47 kg73 N2Bb3.01517.2 lb7.81 kg77 N3Gb3.02224.1 lb10.93 kg107 N4Db3.03022.4 lb10.17 kg100 N5Ab2.04022.6 lb10.25 kg101 N6Eb2.05018.6 lb8.46 kg83 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N). Loose and tight are measured against it.Line thickness follows the string gauge; textured lines are wound strings. Hover, tap or tab to a string for details.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Tensionvs avg
1Eb4311.1 .011PL011plain 16.5 lb7.47 kg73 N−19%
2Bb3233.1 .015PL015plain 17.2 lb7.81 kg77 N−15%
3Gb3185.0 .022CG022flatwound 24.1 lb10.93 kg107 N+19%
4Db3138.6 .030CG030flatwound 22.4 lb10.17 kg100 N+11%
5Ab2103.8 .040CG040flatwound 22.6 lb10.25 kg101 N+12%
6Eb277.8 .050CG050flatwound 18.6 lb8.46 kg83 N−8%
Total121.5 lb55.1 kg540 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5619.4 lb8.78 kg86 N 116.2 lb52.7 kg517 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5619.4 lb8.81 kg86 N 116.5 lb52.9 kg518 Ntightuneven
ECG24 (this page) 11-15-22-30-40-5020.2 lb9.18 kg90 N 121.5 lb55.1 kg540 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5420.5 lb9.28 kg91 N 122.7 lb55.7 kg546 Ntighteven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5420.5 lb9.30 kg91 N 123.0 lb55.8 kg547 Ntighteven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6022.3 lb10.11 kg99 N 133.8 lb60.7 kg595 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 24.75"

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 2.6%, average 17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 7.2%, average 16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1149
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 9.0%, average 17.1 lb7.75 kg76 N, moderately uneven

More for the ECG24

Other tunings on 24.75": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard on other scales: 25", 25.5", 26.5", 25.5"–27" multiscale

About these numbers

Tension is calculated, not measured: T = μ · (2 · L · f)², where μ is the string's mass per unit length (unit weight), L the vibrating length (scale) and f the pitch (A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament). kg means kilogram-force: 1 kg ≈ 9.81 N ≈ 2.205 lb.

How a set feels also depends on the guitar's setup: action height, break angle over the nut and saddle, string length behind the nut and bridge, and your playing style. Plain strings feel stiffer than wound strings at the same tension. Use these figures to compare sets, not as an absolute measure of feel.

Sources