String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario NYXL1046 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Open G on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

10-46 Regular Light, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to Open G (D4 B3 G3 D3 G2 D2), pulls 97.2 lb44.1 kg432 N in total and 16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.9%). String 4 (D3) deviates most: +21% from the set average.

Total tension
97.2 lb44.1 kg432 N
Average per string
16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.9%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01012.9 lb5.84 kg57 N2B3.01315.8 lb7.16 kg70 N3G3.01717.4 lb7.89 kg77 N4D3.02619.6 lb8.90 kg87 N5G2.03616.5 lb7.51 kg74 N6D2.04615.0 lb6.79 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .010NYS010plain 25.5" 12.9 lb5.84 kg57 N−21%
2B3246.9 .013NYS013plain 25.8" 15.8 lb7.16 kg70 N−3%
3G3196.0 .017NYS017plain 26.1" 17.4 lb7.89 kg77 N+7%
4D3146.8 .026NYNW026wound 26.4" 19.6 lb8.90 kg87 N+21%
5G298.0 .036NYNW036wound 26.7" 16.5 lb7.51 kg74 N+2%
6D273.4 .046NYNW046wound 27" 15.0 lb6.79 kg67 N−8%
Total97.2 lb44.1 kg432 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in Open G, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-4615.6 lb7.10 kg70 N 93.9 lb42.6 kg417 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4616.0 lb7.24 kg71 N 95.8 lb43.4 kg426 Nmediummoderately uneven
NYXL1046 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4616.2 lb7.35 kg72 N 97.2 lb44.1 kg432 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4616.2 lb7.35 kg72 N 97.2 lb44.1 kg432 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4616.2 lb7.36 kg72 N 97.4 lb44.2 kg433 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4918.5 lb8.38 kg82 N 110.9 lb50.3 kg493 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Open G, 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 12.7%, average 16.0 lb7.24 kg71 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 13.3%, average 16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N, uneven; same gauges: XSE1046, EXL110, EPS510
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 15.1%, average 18.5 lb8.38 kg82 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115

More for the NYXL1046

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

Open G 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