String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 11-14-18-28-38-49

D'Addario NYXL1149 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in D 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 D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 98.4 lb44.6 kg438 N in total and 16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.2%). String 2 (A3) deviates most: −12% from the set average.

Total tension
98.4 lb44.6 kg438 N
Average per string
16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.2%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01115.6 lb7.06 kg69 N2A3.01414.5 lb6.57 kg64 N3F3.01815.5 lb7.02 kg69 N4C3.02817.9 lb8.11 kg80 N5G2.03818.2 lb8.26 kg81 N6D2.04916.8 lb7.63 kg75 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 .011NYS011plain 25.5" 15.6 lb7.06 kg69 N−5%
2A3220.0 .014NYS014plain 25.8" 14.5 lb6.57 kg64 N−12%
3F3174.6 .018NYS018plain 26.1" 15.5 lb7.02 kg69 N−6%
4C3130.8 .028NYNW028wound 26.4" 17.9 lb8.11 kg80 N+9%
5G298.0 .038NYNW038wound 26.7" 18.2 lb8.26 kg81 N+11%
6D273.4 .049NYNW049wound 27" 16.8 lb7.63 kg75 N+3%
Total98.4 lb44.6 kg438 N

Open in the calculator

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

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL1149 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4916.4 lb7.44 kg73 N 98.4 lb44.6 kg438 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4916.5 lb7.46 kg73 N 98.7 lb44.8 kg439 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5216.8 lb7.64 kg75 N 101.1 lb45.8 kg450 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5216.9 lb7.66 kg75 N 101.3 lb46.0 kg451 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5017.1 lb7.75 kg76 N 102.5 lb46.5 kg456 Nmediumeven
D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-4817.2 lb7.79 kg76 N 103.0 lb46.7 kg458 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in D 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 EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 4.6%, average 17.1 lb7.75 kg76 N, even
  2. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 8.9%, average 16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 12.1%, average 17.2 lb7.79 kg76 N, uneven

More for the NYXL1149

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

D standard 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