String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-32-42-54

D'Addario NYXL1254 (12-16-20-32-42-54) in C standard on a 25.5" scale

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 92.1 lb41.8 kg410 N in total and 15.4 lb6.96 kg68 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.7%). String 4 (Bb2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
92.1 lb41.8 kg410 N
Average per string
15.4 lb6.96 kg68 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 6.7%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1C4.01214.7 lb6.68 kg65 N2G3.01614.7 lb6.67 kg65 N3Eb3.02014.5 lb6.57 kg64 N4Bb2.03217.3 lb7.86 kg77 N5F2.04216.1 lb7.29 kg72 N6C2.05414.8 lb6.72 kg66 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 Tensionvs avg
1C4261.6 .012NYS012plain 14.7 lb6.68 kg65 N−4%
2G3196.0 .016NYS016plain 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N−4%
3Eb3155.6 .020NYS020plain 14.5 lb6.57 kg64 N−6%
4Bb2116.5 .032NYNW032wound 17.3 lb7.86 kg77 N+13%
5F287.3 .042NYNW042wound 16.1 lb7.29 kg72 N+5%
6C265.4 .054NYNW054wound 14.8 lb6.72 kg66 N−4%
Total92.1 lb41.8 kg410 N

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Similar sets in C standard, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5614.5 lb6.59 kg65 N 87.2 lb39.5 kg388 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5614.6 lb6.61 kg65 N 87.5 lb39.7 kg389 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5015.2 lb6.89 kg68 N 91.2 lb41.4 kg406 Nlooseuneven
NYXL1254 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5415.4 lb6.96 kg68 N 92.1 lb41.8 kg410 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5415.4 lb6.98 kg68 N 92.3 lb41.9 kg411 Nlooseeven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6016.7 lb7.59 kg74 N 100.4 lb45.6 kg447 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 25.5"

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 11.7%, average 15.4 lb6.98 kg68 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 12.6%, average 16.7 lb7.59 kg74 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 15.3%, average 19.1 lb8.66 kg85 N, moderately uneven

More for the NYXL1254

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

C standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 26.5", 27", 28", 25.5"–27" multiscale

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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