String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario NYXL1046 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in D standard on a 27" scale

10-46 Regular Light, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 91.1 lb41.3 kg405 N in total and 15.2 lb6.89 kg68 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.2%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +11% from the set average.

Total tension
91.1 lb41.3 kg405 N
Average per string
15.2 lb6.89 kg68 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.2%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01014.4 lb6.54 kg64 N2A3.01313.7 lb6.22 kg61 N3F3.01714.8 lb6.71 kg66 N4C3.02616.3 lb7.39 kg72 N5G2.03616.9 lb7.67 kg75 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 Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .010NYS010plain 14.4 lb6.54 kg64 N−5%
2A3220.0 .013NYS013plain 13.7 lb6.22 kg61 N−10%
3F3174.6 .017NYS017plain 14.8 lb6.71 kg66 N−3%
4C3130.8 .026NYNW026wound 16.3 lb7.39 kg72 N+7%
5G298.0 .036NYNW036wound 16.9 lb7.67 kg75 N+11%
6D273.4 .046NYNW046wound 15.0 lb6.79 kg67 N−1%
Total91.1 lb41.3 kg405 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-4614.7 lb6.65 kg65 N 88.0 lb39.9 kg391 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4614.9 lb6.78 kg66 N 89.7 lb40.7 kg399 Nloosevery even
NYXL1046 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4615.2 lb6.89 kg68 N 91.1 lb41.3 kg405 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4615.2 lb6.89 kg68 N 91.1 lb41.3 kg405 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4615.2 lb6.90 kg68 N 91.3 lb41.4 kg406 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4917.3 lb7.86 kg77 N 104.0 lb47.2 kg463 Nmediumeven

Best match for a medium feel in D standard, 27"

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 6.3%, average 17.3 lb7.86 kg77 N, even; same gauges: EXL115
  2. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 6.4%, average 18.1 lb8.20 kg80 N, very even
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 11.3%, average 18.1 lb8.21 kg81 N, moderately uneven

More for the NYXL1046

Other tunings on 27": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

D standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 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