String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 11-14-19-32-44-56

D'Addario NYXL1156 (11-14-19-32-44-56) in D standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

11-56 Medium Top/Extra Heavy Bottom, 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 117.1 lb53.1 kg521 N in total and 19.5 lb8.85 kg87 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 19.9%). String 2 (A3) deviates most: −26% from the set average.

Total tension
117.1 lb53.1 kg521 N
Average per string
19.5 lb8.85 kg87 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 19.9%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01115.6 lb7.06 kg69 N2A3.01414.5 lb6.57 kg64 N3F3.01917.2 lb7.80 kg76 N4C3.03223.4 lb10.61 kg104 N5G2.04424.1 lb10.93 kg107 N6D2.05622.3 lb10.13 kg99 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−20%
2A3220.0 .014NYS014plain 25.8" 14.5 lb6.57 kg64 N−26%
3F3174.6 .019NYS019plain 26.1" 17.2 lb7.80 kg76 N−12%
4C3130.8 .032NYNW032wound 26.4" 23.4 lb10.61 kg104 N+20%
5G298.0 .044NYNW044wound 26.7" 24.1 lb10.93 kg107 N+24%
6D273.4 .056NYNW056wound 27" 22.3 lb10.13 kg99 N+14%
Total117.1 lb53.1 kg521 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
D'Addario EXL116 11-14-18-30-42-5217.9 lb8.14 kg80 N 107.7 lb48.8 kg479 Nmediumuneven
NYXL1156 (this page) 11-14-19-32-44-5619.5 lb8.85 kg87 N 117.1 lb53.1 kg521 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5619.6 lb8.88 kg87 N 117.4 lb53.3 kg522 Ntightuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5020.3 lb9.23 kg90 N 122.1 lb55.4 kg543 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5420.5 lb9.31 kg91 N 123.1 lb55.9 kg548 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5420.6 lb9.33 kg92 N 123.5 lb56.0 kg549 Ntightmoderately uneven

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 NYXL1156

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: Eb standard, Drop C, C standard

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