String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-32-42-54

D'Addario NYXL1254 (12-16-20-32-42-54) in B standard on a 25" scale

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to B standard (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 78.9 lb35.8 kg351 N in total and 13.1 lb5.96 kg58 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.7%). String 4 (A2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
78.9 lb35.8 kg351 N
Average per string
13.1 lb5.96 kg58 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)1B3.01212.6 lb5.72 kg56 N2F#3.01612.6 lb5.71 kg56 N3D3.02012.4 lb5.62 kg55 N4A2.03214.8 lb6.73 kg66 N5E2.04213.8 lb6.24 kg61 N6B1.05412.7 lb5.75 kg56 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
1B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 12.6 lb5.72 kg56 N−4%
2F#3185.0 .016NYS016plain 12.6 lb5.71 kg56 N−4%
3D3146.8 .020NYS020plain 12.4 lb5.62 kg55 N−6%
4A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 14.8 lb6.73 kg66 N+13%
5E282.4 .042NYNW042wound 13.8 lb6.24 kg61 N+5%
6B161.7 .054NYNW054wound 12.7 lb5.75 kg56 N−4%
Total78.9 lb35.8 kg351 N

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Similar sets in B standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL1254 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5413.1 lb5.96 kg58 N 78.9 lb35.8 kg351 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5413.2 lb5.98 kg59 N 79.1 lb35.9 kg352 Nlooseeven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6014.3 lb6.50 kg64 N 86.0 lb39.0 kg383 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6014.4 lb6.52 kg64 N 86.3 lb39.1 kg384 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-6216.3 lb7.42 kg73 N 98.1 lb44.5 kg436 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL157 14-18-26-44-56-6820.3 lb9.22 kg90 N 122.0 lb55.3 kg543 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard, 25"

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 9.5%, average 16.3 lb7.42 kg73 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 19.2%, average 14.4 lb6.52 kg64 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL1260
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 23.5%, average 13.2 lb5.98 kg59 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the NYXL1254

Other tunings on 25": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

B standard on other scales: 24.75", 25.5", 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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