String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80

D'Addario NYXL0980 (9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80) in F# standard (8-string) on a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale

09-80 Super Light 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale, tuned to F# standard (8-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1 F#1), pulls 137.3 lb62.3 kg611 N in total and 17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.0%). String 1 (E4) deviates most: −17% from the set average.

Total tension
137.3 lb62.3 kg611 N
Average per string
17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.0%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nmedium (10-46)set average1E4.00914.2 lb6.42 kg63 N2B3.01214.4 lb6.53 kg64 N3G3.01616.4 lb7.44 kg73 N4D3.02417.8 lb8.07 kg79 N5A2.03217.8 lb8.06 kg79 N6E2.04418.2 lb8.24 kg81 N7B1.06019.5 lb8.84 kg87 N8F#1.08019.1 lb8.67 kg85 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
1E4329.6 .009NYS009plain 26.5" 14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N−17%
2B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 26.71" 14.4 lb6.53 kg64 N−16%
3G3196.0 .016NYS016plain 26.93" 16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N−4%
4D3146.8 .024NYNW024wound 27.14" 17.8 lb8.07 kg79 N+4%
5A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 27.36" 17.8 lb8.06 kg79 N+4%
6E282.4 .044NYNW044wound 27.57" 18.2 lb8.24 kg81 N+6%
7B161.7 .060NYNW060wound 27.79" 19.5 lb8.84 kg87 N+14%
8F#146.2 .080NYNW080wound 28" 19.1 lb8.67 kg85 N+11%
Total137.3 lb62.3 kg611 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 26.5" (treble) to 28" (bass).

Similar sets in F# standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-6515.5 lb7.03 kg69 N 123.9 lb56.2 kg551 Nlooseuneven
NYXL0980 (this page) 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8017.2 lb7.78 kg76 N 137.3 lb62.3 kg611 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in F# standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80 deviation 11.0%, average 17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65 deviation 15.1%, average 15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 41.6%, average 22.1 lb10.01 kg98 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8

More for the NYXL0980

Other tunings on 26.5"–28" multiscale: Drop E (8-string), E standard (8-string)

F# standard (8-string) 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