String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

D'Addario · XL Nickel · 9-11-16-24-32-42-54

D'Addario EXL120-7 (9-11-16-24-32-42-54) in Drop A (7-string) on a 26.5" scale

09-54 Super Light 7-String, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to Drop A (7-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 A1), pulls 102.5 lb46.5 kg456 N in total and 14.6 lb6.64 kg65 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 14.3%). String 7 (A1) deviates most: −22% from the set average.

Total tension
102.5 lb46.5 kg456 N
Average per string
14.6 lb6.64 kg65 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.3%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.00914.2 lb6.42 kg63 N2B3.01111.9 lb5.39 kg53 N3G3.01615.9 lb7.21 kg71 N4D3.02417.0 lb7.70 kg75 N5A2.03216.7 lb7.59 kg74 N6E2.04215.5 lb7.04 kg69 N7A1.05411.4 lb5.16 kg51 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 .009PL009plain 14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N−3%
2B3246.9 .011PL011plain 11.9 lb5.39 kg53 N−19%
3G3196.0 .016PL016plain 15.9 lb7.21 kg71 N+8%
4D3146.8 .024NW024wound 17.0 lb7.70 kg75 N+16%
5A2110.0 .032NW032wound 16.7 lb7.59 kg74 N+14%
6E282.4 .042NW042wound 15.5 lb7.04 kg69 N+6%
7A155.0 .054NW054wound 11.4 lb5.16 kg51 N−22%
Total102.5 lb46.5 kg456 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop A (7-string), 26.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
EXL120-7 (this page) 9-11-16-24-32-42-5414.6 lb6.64 kg65 N 102.5 lb46.5 kg456 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 12057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5617.7 lb8.04 kg79 N 124.0 lb56.3 kg552 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5617.7 lb8.04 kg79 N 124.0 lb56.3 kg552 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-5917.7 lb8.05 kg79 N 124.2 lb56.3 kg553 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110-7 10-13-17-26-36-46-5917.8 lb8.06 kg79 N 124.4 lb56.4 kg553 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5917.9 lb8.14 kg80 N 125.6 lb57.0 kg559 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A (7-string), 26.5"

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 12.7%, average 17.7 lb8.05 kg79 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL110-7
  2. Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 14.3%, average 17.9 lb8.14 kg80 N, uneven; same gauges: 19074
  3. Elixir 12057 10-13-17-26-36-46-56 deviation 16.3%, average 17.7 lb8.04 kg79 N, uneven; same gauges: 19057

More for the EXL120-7

Other tunings on 26.5": B standard (7-string)

Drop A (7-string) on other scales: 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.

Sources