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D'Addario · Phosphor Bronze · 13-17-26-35-45-56

D'Addario EJ17 (13-17-26-35-45-56) in Open D on a 25" scale

13-56 Medium, Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Open D (D4 A3 F#3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 158.5 lb71.9 kg705 N in total and 26.4 lb11.98 kg117 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.8%). String 4 (D3) deviates most: +31% from the set average.

Total tension
158.5 lb71.9 kg705 N
Average per string
26.4 lb11.98 kg117 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.8%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nset averagemedium (12-53)1D4.01321.0 lb9.50 kg93 N2A3.01720.1 lb9.13 kg89 N3F#3.02630.1 lb13.64 kg134 N4D3.03534.5 lb15.66 kg154 N5A2.04531.6 lb14.31 kg140 N6D2.05621.2 lb9.63 kg94 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 12-53 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (26.8 lb12.14 kg119 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
1D4293.7 .013PL013plain 21.0 lb9.50 kg93 N−21%
2A3220.0 .017PL017plain 20.1 lb9.13 kg89 N−24%
3F#3185.0 .026PB026wound 30.1 lb13.64 kg134 N+14%
4D3146.8 .035PB035wound 34.5 lb15.66 kg154 N+31%
5A2110.0 .045PB045wound 31.6 lb14.31 kg140 N+19%
6D273.4 .056PB056wound 21.2 lb9.63 kg94 N−20%
Total158.5 lb71.9 kg705 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Open D, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5324.7 lb11.18 kg110 N 147.9 lb67.1 kg658 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5625.3 lb11.46 kg112 N 151.6 lb68.8 kg674 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-5626.1 lb11.84 kg116 N 156.7 lb71.1 kg697 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11102 13-17-26-35-45-5626.1 lb11.84 kg116 N 156.7 lb71.1 kg697 Nmediummoderately uneven
EJ17 (this page) 13-17-26-35-45-5626.4 lb11.98 kg117 N 158.5 lb71.9 kg705 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-5626.9 lb12.18 kg119 N 161.2 lb73.1 kg717 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Open D, 25"

Ranked by how close every string is to 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 11.3%, average 24.7 lb11.18 kg110 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11182
  2. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 11.5%, average 26.1 lb11.84 kg116 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  3. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 11.8%, average 26.4 lb11.98 kg117 N, moderately uneven

More for the EJ17

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

Open D on other scales: 24.75", 25.5"

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.

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