String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-32-42-54

D'Addario NYXL1254 (12-16-20-32-42-54) in Drop A on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to Drop A (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 A1), pulls 84.0 lb38.1 kg374 N in total and 14.0 lb6.35 kg62 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.6%). String 4 (A2) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension
84.0 lb38.1 kg374 N
Average per string
14.0 lb6.35 kg62 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.6%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1B3.01213.1 lb5.95 kg58 N2F#3.01613.4 lb6.09 kg60 N3D3.02013.5 lb6.13 kg60 N4A2.03216.5 lb7.50 kg74 N5E2.04215.7 lb7.12 kg70 N6A1.05411.7 lb5.32 kg52 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
1B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 25.5" 13.1 lb5.95 kg58 N−6%
2F#3185.0 .016NYS016plain 25.8" 13.4 lb6.09 kg60 N−4%
3D3146.8 .020NYS020plain 26.1" 13.5 lb6.13 kg60 N−4%
4A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 26.4" 16.5 lb7.50 kg74 N+18%
5E282.4 .042NYNW042wound 26.7" 15.7 lb7.12 kg70 N+12%
6A155.0 .054NYNW054wound 27" 11.7 lb5.32 kg52 N−16%
Total84.0 lb38.1 kg374 N

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

Similar sets in Drop A, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL1254 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5414.0 lb6.35 kg62 N 84.0 lb38.1 kg374 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5414.0 lb6.37 kg62 N 84.2 lb38.2 kg375 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6015.2 lb6.91 kg68 N 91.4 lb41.5 kg407 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6015.3 lb6.93 kg68 N 91.7 lb41.6 kg408 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-6217.4 lb7.89 kg77 N 104.4 lb47.3 kg464 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A, 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 EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 12.3%, average 17.4 lb7.89 kg77 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 17.2%, average 15.2 lb6.91 kg68 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 20.3%, average 14.0 lb6.37 kg62 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the NYXL1254

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

Drop A on other scales: 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.

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