String Tension Lab Calculator

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

D'Addario EPS510 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in DADGAD on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

10-46 Regular Light, XL ProSteels Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 94.6 lb42.9 kg421 N in total and 15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 17.3%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +24% from the set average.

Total tension
94.6 lb42.9 kg421 N
Average per string
15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 17.3%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01012.9 lb5.84 kg57 N2A3.01312.5 lb5.68 kg56 N3G3.01717.4 lb7.89 kg77 N4D3.02618.2 lb8.27 kg81 N5A2.03619.5 lb8.86 kg87 N6D2.04614.1 lb6.38 kg63 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
1D4293.7 .010PL010plain 25.5" 12.9 lb5.84 kg57 N−18%
2A3220.0 .013PL013plain 25.8" 12.5 lb5.68 kg56 N−21%
3G3196.0 .017PL017plain 26.1" 17.4 lb7.89 kg77 N+10%
4D3146.8 .026PSG026wound 26.4" 18.2 lb8.27 kg81 N+16%
5A2110.0 .036PSG036wound 26.7" 19.5 lb8.86 kg87 N+24%
6D273.4 .046PSG046wound 27" 14.1 lb6.38 kg63 N−11%
Total94.6 lb42.9 kg421 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in DADGAD, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
EPS510 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4615.8 lb7.15 kg70 N 94.6 lb42.9 kg421 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4616.0 lb7.27 kg71 N 96.1 lb43.6 kg428 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4616.4 lb7.43 kg73 N 98.2 lb44.6 kg437 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4616.4 lb7.43 kg73 N 98.2 lb44.6 kg437 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4616.4 lb7.44 kg73 N 98.4 lb44.6 kg438 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4918.6 lb8.45 kg83 N 111.8 lb50.7 kg497 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 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 15.1%, average 16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N, uneven
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 17.8%, average 15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 21.2%, average 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL115

More for the EPS510

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D

DADGAD on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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