String Tension Lab Calculator

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

D'Addario EPS510 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Open G on a 28" scale

10-46 Regular Light, XL ProSteels Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Open G (D4 B3 G3 D3 G2 D2), pulls 106.8 lb48.5 kg475 N in total and 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.7%). String 4 (D3) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
106.8 lb48.5 kg475 N
Average per string
17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.7%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01015.5 lb7.04 kg69 N2B3.01318.6 lb8.43 kg83 N3G3.01720.0 lb9.09 kg89 N4D3.02620.5 lb9.30 kg91 N5G2.03617.0 lb7.73 kg76 N6D2.04615.1 lb6.86 kg67 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
1D4293.7 .010PL010plain 15.5 lb7.04 kg69 N−13%
2B3246.9 .013PL013plain 18.6 lb8.43 kg83 N+4%
3G3196.0 .017PL017plain 20.0 lb9.09 kg89 N+13%
4D3146.8 .026PSG026wound 20.5 lb9.30 kg91 N+15%
5G298.0 .036PSG036wound 17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N−4%
6D273.4 .046PSG046wound 15.1 lb6.86 kg67 N−15%
Total106.8 lb48.5 kg475 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Open G, 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL125 9-11-16-26-36-4616.7 lb7.57 kg74 N 100.1 lb45.4 kg445 Nmediumuneven
EPS510 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4617.8 lb8.08 kg79 N 106.8 lb48.5 kg475 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4618.2 lb8.24 kg81 N 109.0 lb49.4 kg485 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4618.4 lb8.35 kg82 N 110.5 lb50.1 kg492 Ntightuneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4618.4 lb8.35 kg82 N 110.5 lb50.1 kg492 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4618.5 lb8.37 kg82 N 110.7 lb50.2 kg492 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Open G, 28"

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

  1. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 12.8%, average 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  2. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 14.0%, average 18.2 lb8.24 kg81 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL120 9-11-16-24-32-42 deviation 17.8%, average 15.2 lb6.89 kg68 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL0942

More for the EPS510

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

Open G 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