String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-26-36-46-59

D'Addario NYXL1059 (10-13-17-26-36-46-59) in B standard (7-string) on a 27" scale

10-59 Regular Light 7-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to B standard (7-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 132.6 lb60.2 kg590 N in total and 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.2%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
132.6 lb60.2 kg590 N
Average per string
18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.2%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1E4.01018.2 lb8.24 kg81 N2B3.01317.3 lb7.84 kg77 N3G3.01718.6 lb8.45 kg83 N4D3.02620.5 lb9.31 kg91 N5A2.03621.3 lb9.67 kg95 N6E2.04618.8 lb8.55 kg84 N7B1.05917.8 lb8.09 kg79 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 .010NYS010plain 18.2 lb8.24 kg81 N−4%
2B3246.9 .013NYS013plain 17.3 lb7.84 kg77 N−9%
3G3196.0 .017NYS017plain 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N−2%
4D3146.8 .026NYNW026wound 20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N+8%
5A2110.0 .036NYNW036wound 21.3 lb9.67 kg95 N+13%
6E282.4 .046NYNW046wound 18.8 lb8.55 kg84 N−1%
7B161.7 .059NYNW059wound 17.8 lb8.09 kg79 N−6%
Total132.6 lb60.2 kg590 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in B standard (7-string), 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 12057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5618.9 lb8.56 kg84 N 132.1 lb59.9 kg587 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 19057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5618.9 lb8.56 kg84 N 132.1 lb59.9 kg587 Ntightmoderately uneven
NYXL1059 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-46-5918.9 lb8.59 kg84 N 132.6 lb60.2 kg590 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110-7 10-13-17-26-36-46-5919.0 lb8.61 kg84 N 132.8 lb60.3 kg591 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5919.2 lb8.69 kg85 N 134.1 lb60.8 kg596 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 19074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5919.2 lb8.69 kg85 N 134.1 lb60.8 kg596 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard (7-string), 27"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL120-7 9-11-16-24-32-42-54 deviation 13.1%, average 15.6 lb7.10 kg70 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 13.4%, average 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL110-7
  3. Elixir 12007 9-11-16-24-32-42-52 deviation 13.8%, average 15.7 lb7.10 kg70 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19007

More for the NYXL1059

Other tunings on 27": Drop A (7-string), A standard (7-string)

B standard (7-string) 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