String Tension Lab Calculator

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

D'Addario ECG24 (11-15-22-30-40-50) in C standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

11-50 Jazz Light, XL Chromes Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 96.9 lb43.9 kg431 N in total and 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 16.1%). String 1 (C4) deviates most: −23% from the set average.

Total tension
96.9 lb43.9 kg431 N
Average per string
16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 16.1%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1C4.01112.4 lb5.61 kg55 N2G3.01513.2 lb6.00 kg59 N3Eb3.02219.0 lb8.60 kg84 N4Bb2.03018.0 lb8.18 kg80 N5F2.04018.6 lb8.43 kg83 N6C2.05015.7 lb7.12 kg70 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1C4261.6 .011PL011plain 25.5" 12.4 lb5.61 kg55 N−23%
2G3196.0 .015PL015plain 25.8" 13.2 lb6.00 kg59 N−18%
3Eb3155.6 .022CG022flatwound 26.1" 19.0 lb8.60 kg84 N+17%
4Bb2116.5 .030CG030flatwound 26.4" 18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N+12%
5F287.3 .040CG040flatwound 26.7" 18.6 lb8.43 kg83 N+15%
6C265.4 .050CG050flatwound 27" 15.7 lb7.12 kg70 N−3%
Total96.9 lb43.9 kg431 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in C standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5615.5 lb7.02 kg69 N 92.9 lb42.1 kg413 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5615.5 lb7.05 kg69 N 93.2 lb42.3 kg415 Nlooseuneven
ECG24 (this page) 11-15-22-30-40-5016.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.9 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5416.3 lb7.39 kg72 N 97.7 lb44.3 kg435 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5416.3 lb7.41 kg73 N 98.0 lb44.4 kg436 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6017.8 lb8.08 kg79 N 106.9 lb48.5 kg475 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 9.6%, average 16.3 lb7.39 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL145
  2. D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-50 deviation 16.2%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 17.1%, average 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148

More for the ECG24

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: Eb standard, D standard, Drop C

C standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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