String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 11-14-18-28-38-49

D'Addario NYXL1149 (11-14-18-28-38-49) in E 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 E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 124.0 lb56.3 kg552 N in total and 20.7 lb9.38 kg92 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.2%). String 2 (B3) deviates most: −12% from the set average.

Total tension
124.0 lb56.3 kg552 N
Average per string
20.7 lb9.38 kg92 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.2%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1E4.01119.6 lb8.90 kg87 N2B3.01418.2 lb8.27 kg81 N3G3.01819.5 lb8.85 kg87 N4D3.02822.5 lb10.22 kg100 N5A2.03822.9 lb10.40 kg102 N6E2.04921.2 lb9.62 kg94 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
1E4329.6 .011NYS011plain 25.5" 19.6 lb8.90 kg87 N−5%
2B3246.9 .014NYS014plain 25.8" 18.2 lb8.27 kg81 N−12%
3G3196.0 .018NYS018plain 26.1" 19.5 lb8.85 kg87 N−6%
4D3146.8 .028NYNW028wound 26.4" 22.5 lb10.22 kg100 N+9%
5A2110.0 .038NYNW038wound 26.7" 22.9 lb10.40 kg102 N+11%
6E282.4 .049NYNW049wound 27" 21.2 lb9.62 kg94 N+3%
Total124.0 lb56.3 kg552 N

Open in the calculator

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

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL1149 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-4920.7 lb9.38 kg92 N 124.0 lb56.3 kg552 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4920.7 lb9.40 kg92 N 124.4 lb56.4 kg553 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5221.2 lb9.63 kg94 N 127.3 lb57.8 kg566 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5221.3 lb9.65 kg95 N 127.7 lb57.9 kg568 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5021.5 lb9.77 kg96 N 129.2 lb58.6 kg575 Ntighteven
D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-4821.6 lb9.81 kg96 N 129.8 lb58.9 kg577 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in E 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 EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 7.3%, average 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N, even
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 7.6%, average 17.5 lb7.93 kg78 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. D'Addario EXL120 9-11-16-24-32-42 deviation 17.5%, average 15.0 lb6.79 kg67 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL0942

More for the NYXL1149

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

E 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