String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 11-14-18-28-38-49

D'Addario NYXL1149 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in C standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

11-49 Medium, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 78.1 lb35.4 kg348 N in total and 13.0 lb5.91 kg58 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.2%). String 2 (G3) deviates most: −12% from the set average.

Total tension
78.1 lb35.4 kg348 N
Average per string
13.0 lb5.91 kg58 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.2%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1C4.01112.4 lb5.61 kg55 N2G3.01411.5 lb5.21 kg51 N3Eb3.01812.3 lb5.57 kg55 N4Bb2.02814.2 lb6.44 kg63 N5F2.03814.4 lb6.55 kg64 N6C2.04913.4 lb6.06 kg59 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
1C4261.6 .011NYS011plain 25.5" 12.4 lb5.61 kg55 N−5%
2G3196.0 .014NYS014plain 25.8" 11.5 lb5.21 kg51 N−12%
3Eb3155.6 .018NYS018plain 26.1" 12.3 lb5.57 kg55 N−6%
4Bb2116.5 .028NYNW028wound 26.4" 14.2 lb6.44 kg63 N+9%
5F287.3 .038NYNW038wound 26.7" 14.4 lb6.55 kg64 N+11%
6C265.4 .049NYNW049wound 27" 13.4 lb6.06 kg59 N+3%
Total78.1 lb35.4 kg348 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in C standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL1149 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4913.0 lb5.91 kg58 N 78.1 lb35.4 kg348 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4913.1 lb5.92 kg58 N 78.3 lb35.5 kg348 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5013.6 lb6.15 kg60 N 81.4 lb36.9 kg362 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-4813.6 lb6.18 kg61 N 81.7 lb37.1 kg364 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario NYXL1152 11-14-18-30-42-5214.2 lb6.44 kg63 N 85.2 lb38.7 kg379 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL116 11-14-18-30-42-5214.2 lb6.46 kg63 N 85.4 lb38.8 kg380 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 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 NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 9.6%, average 16.3 lb7.39 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL145
  2. D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-50 deviation 16.2%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 17.1%, average 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148

More for the NYXL1149

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

C standard on other scales: 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