String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · Pure Nickel · 11-14-18-27-37-48

D'Addario EPN115 (11-14-18-27-37-48) in Drop D on a 28" scale

11-48 Medium, XL Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 142.0 lb64.4 kg632 N in total and 23.7 lb10.73 kg105 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.4%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +17% from the set average.

Total tension
142.0 lb64.4 kg632 N
Average per string
23.7 lb10.73 kg105 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.4%

Tension per string

0102030lb0510kg050100Nmedium (10-46)set average1E4.01123.7 lb10.73 kg105 N2B3.01421.5 lb9.74 kg96 N3G3.01822.4 lb10.18 kg100 N4D3.02726.5 lb12.04 kg118 N5A2.03727.8 lb12.59 kg123 N6D2.04820.1 lb9.12 kg89 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
1E4329.6 .011PL011plain 23.7 lb10.73 kg105 N−0%
2B3246.9 .014PL014plain 21.5 lb9.74 kg96 N−9%
3G3196.0 .018PL018plain 22.4 lb10.18 kg100 N−5%
4D3146.8 .027PNG027wound 26.5 lb12.04 kg118 N+12%
5A2110.0 .037PNG037wound 27.8 lb12.59 kg123 N+17%
6D273.4 .048PNG048wound 20.1 lb9.12 kg89 N−15%
Total142.0 lb64.4 kg632 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4619.9 lb9.02 kg88 N 119.3 lb54.1 kg530 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4619.9 lb9.03 kg89 N 119.5 lb54.2 kg531 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4922.7 lb10.30 kg101 N 136.2 lb61.8 kg606 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4922.8 lb10.33 kg101 N 136.6 lb62.0 kg608 Ntightmoderately uneven
EPN115 (this page) 11-14-18-27-37-4823.7 lb10.73 kg105 N 142.0 lb64.4 kg632 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5023.7 lb10.74 kg105 N 142.0 lb64.4 kg632 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 28"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL120BT 9-12-15-22-30-40 deviation 12.3%, average 15.4 lb7.00 kg69 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EXL120 9-11-16-24-32-42 deviation 13.9%, average 16.4 lb7.42 kg73 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL0942
  3. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 17.0%, average 19.6 lb8.87 kg87 N, moderately uneven

More for the EPN115

Other tunings on 28": E standard, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, B standard, Drop A, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Drop D on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 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