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 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 Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 137.0 lb62.1 kg609 N in total and 22.8 lb10.36 kg102 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 16.1%). String 1 (Eb4) deviates most: −23% from the set average.

Total tension
137.0 lb62.1 kg609 N
Average per string
22.8 lb10.36 kg102 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 16.1%

Tension per string

0102030lb0510kg050100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01117.5 lb7.93 kg78 N2Bb3.01518.7 lb8.49 kg83 N3Gb3.02226.8 lb12.16 kg119 N4Db3.03025.5 lb11.57 kg114 N5Ab2.04026.3 lb11.93 kg117 N6Eb2.05022.2 lb10.07 kg99 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
1Eb4311.1 .011PL011plain 25.5" 17.5 lb7.93 kg78 N−23%
2Bb3233.1 .015PL015plain 25.8" 18.7 lb8.49 kg83 N−18%
3Gb3185.0 .022CG022flatwound 26.1" 26.8 lb12.16 kg119 N+17%
4Db3138.6 .030CG030flatwound 26.4" 25.5 lb11.57 kg114 N+12%
5Ab2103.8 .040CG040flatwound 26.7" 26.3 lb11.93 kg117 N+15%
6Eb277.8 .050CG050flatwound 27" 22.2 lb10.07 kg99 N−3%
Total137.0 lb62.1 kg609 N

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

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL116 11-14-18-30-42-5220.1 lb9.14 kg90 N 120.8 lb54.8 kg538 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5621.9 lb9.93 kg97 N 131.4 lb59.6 kg584 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5622.0 lb9.97 kg98 N 131.8 lb59.8 kg586 Ntightuneven
ECG24 (this page) 11-15-22-30-40-5022.8 lb10.36 kg102 N 137.0 lb62.1 kg609 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5423.0 lb10.45 kg102 N 138.2 lb62.7 kg615 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5423.1 lb10.48 kg103 N 138.6 lb62.9 kg616 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb 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 EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 8.9%, average 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N, even
  2. D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.0%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSE1046, EXL110, EPS510
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.7%, average 18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115

More for the ECG24

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

Eb standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5"

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