String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · ProSteels · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario EPS510 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Drop D on a 24.75" scale

10-46 Regular Light, XL ProSteels Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 90.1 lb40.9 kg401 N in total and 15.0 lb6.81 kg67 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.6%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −21% from the set average.

Total tension
90.1 lb40.9 kg401 N
Average per string
15.0 lb6.81 kg67 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.6%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.01015.3 lb6.93 kg68 N2B3.01314.5 lb6.59 kg65 N3G3.01715.7 lb7.10 kg70 N4D3.02616.0 lb7.27 kg71 N5A2.03616.8 lb7.61 kg75 N6D2.04611.8 lb5.36 kg53 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 .010PL010plain 15.3 lb6.93 kg68 N+2%
2B3246.9 .013PL013plain 14.5 lb6.59 kg65 N−3%
3G3196.0 .017PL017plain 15.7 lb7.10 kg70 N+4%
4D3146.8 .026PSG026wound 16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N+7%
5A2110.0 .036PSG036wound 16.8 lb7.61 kg75 N+12%
6D273.4 .046PSG046wound 11.8 lb5.36 kg53 N−21%
Total90.1 lb40.9 kg401 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
EPS510 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4615.0 lb6.81 kg67 N 90.1 lb40.9 kg401 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4615.3 lb6.93 kg68 N 91.7 lb41.6 kg408 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4615.5 lb7.04 kg69 N 93.2 lb42.3 kg414 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4615.5 lb7.04 kg69 N 93.2 lb42.3 kg414 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4615.6 lb7.06 kg69 N 93.4 lb42.3 kg415 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4917.7 lb8.05 kg79 N 106.4 lb48.3 kg473 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 24.75"

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.9%, average 17.7 lb8.05 kg79 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115
  2. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 12.8%, average 15.3 lb6.93 kg68 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 13.0%, average 18.5 lb8.39 kg82 N, moderately uneven

More for the EPS510

Other tunings on 24.75": E standard, Eb standard, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Drop D on other scales: 25", 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.

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