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" scale

11-50 Jazz Light, XL Chromes Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 87.6 lb39.7 kg390 N in total and 14.6 lb6.62 kg65 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 14.4%). String 3 (Eb3) deviates most: +19% from the set average.

Total tension
87.6 lb39.7 kg390 N
Average per string
14.6 lb6.62 kg65 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.4%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1C4.01111.9 lb5.39 kg53 N2G3.01512.4 lb5.63 kg55 N3Eb3.02217.4 lb7.89 kg77 N4Bb2.03016.2 lb7.34 kg72 N5F2.04016.3 lb7.39 kg73 N6C2.05013.5 lb6.10 kg60 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
1C4261.6 .011PL011plain 11.9 lb5.39 kg53 N−19%
2G3196.0 .015PL015plain 12.4 lb5.63 kg55 N−15%
3Eb3155.6 .022CG022flatwound 17.4 lb7.89 kg77 N+19%
4Bb2116.5 .030CG030flatwound 16.2 lb7.34 kg72 N+11%
5F287.3 .040CG040flatwound 16.3 lb7.39 kg73 N+12%
6C265.4 .050CG050flatwound 13.5 lb6.10 kg60 N−8%
Total87.6 lb39.7 kg390 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in C standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5012.3 lb5.58 kg55 N 73.8 lb33.5 kg328 Nloosevery even
ECG24 (this page) 11-15-22-30-40-5014.6 lb6.62 kg65 N 87.6 lb39.7 kg390 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5414.8 lb6.69 kg66 N 88.5 lb40.2 kg394 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5414.8 lb6.71 kg66 N 88.8 lb40.3 kg395 Nlooseeven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6016.1 lb7.30 kg72 N 96.5 lb43.8 kg429 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6016.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.8 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 25"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 12.0%, average 18.4 lb8.32 kg82 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 13.3%, average 16.1 lb7.30 kg72 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 14.7%, average 14.8 lb6.71 kg66 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the ECG24

Other tunings on 25": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

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