String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 9-11-16-26-36-46

D'Addario NYXL0946 (9-11-16-26-36-46) in Drop D on a 26.5" scale

09-46 Super Light Top/Regular Bottom, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 96.7 lb43.8 kg430 N in total and 16.1 lb7.31 kg72 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 19.2%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +27% from the set average.

Total tension
96.7 lb43.8 kg430 N
Average per string
16.1 lb7.31 kg72 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 19.2%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.00914.2 lb6.42 kg63 N2B3.01111.9 lb5.39 kg53 N3G3.01615.9 lb7.21 kg71 N4D3.02619.8 lb8.97 kg88 N5A2.03620.5 lb9.31 kg91 N6D2.04614.4 lb6.54 kg64 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 .009NYS009plain 14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N−12%
2B3246.9 .011NYS011plain 11.9 lb5.39 kg53 N−26%
3G3196.0 .016NYS016plain 15.9 lb7.21 kg71 N−1%
4D3146.8 .026NYNW026wound 19.8 lb8.97 kg88 N+23%
5A2110.0 .036NYNW036wound 20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N+27%
6D273.4 .046NYNW046wound 14.4 lb6.54 kg64 N−11%
Total96.7 lb43.8 kg430 N

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Similar sets in Drop D, 26.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL0942 9-11-16-24-32-4214.6 lb6.64 kg65 N 87.8 lb39.8 kg391 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL120 9-11-16-24-32-4214.7 lb6.65 kg65 N 88.0 lb39.9 kg391 Nlooseuneven
NYXL0946 (this page) 9-11-16-26-36-4616.1 lb7.31 kg72 N 96.7 lb43.8 kg430 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL125 9-11-16-26-36-4616.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.9 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-4617.2 lb7.81 kg77 N 103.3 lb46.8 kg459 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4617.5 lb7.94 kg78 N 105.1 lb47.7 kg467 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 26.5"

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 8.5%, average 17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 10.6%, average 17.2 lb7.81 kg77 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. D'Addario EXL120 9-11-16-24-32-42 deviation 18.5%, average 14.7 lb6.65 kg65 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL0942

More for the NYXL0946

Other tunings on 26.5": E standard, Open G

Drop D 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.

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