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 27" scale

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to Drop A (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 A1), pulls 89.0 lb40.3 kg396 N in total and 14.8 lb6.72 kg66 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.5%). String 6 (A1) deviates most: −21% from the set average.

Total tension
89.0 lb40.3 kg396 N
Average per string
14.8 lb6.72 kg66 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.5%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1B3.01214.7 lb6.67 kg65 N2F#3.01614.7 lb6.67 kg65 N3D3.02014.5 lb6.56 kg64 N4A2.03217.3 lb7.85 kg77 N5E2.04216.1 lb7.28 kg71 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 Tensionvs avg
1B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N−1%
2F#3185.0 .016NYS016plain 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N−1%
3D3146.8 .020NYS020plain 14.5 lb6.56 kg64 N−2%
4A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N+17%
5E282.4 .042NYNW042wound 16.1 lb7.28 kg71 N+8%
6A155.0 .054NYNW054wound 11.7 lb5.32 kg52 N−21%
Total89.0 lb40.3 kg396 N

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Similar sets in Drop A, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5614.0 lb6.34 kg62 N 83.8 lb38.0 kg373 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5614.0 lb6.36 kg62 N 84.1 lb38.1 kg374 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5014.7 lb6.67 kg65 N 88.2 lb40.0 kg392 Nlooseuneven
NYXL1254 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5414.8 lb6.72 kg66 N 89.0 lb40.3 kg396 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5414.9 lb6.74 kg66 N 89.2 lb40.4 kg397 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6016.1 lb7.30 kg72 N 96.5 lb43.8 kg429 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A, 27"

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 13.5%, average 16.1 lb7.30 kg72 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  2. D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 14.4%, average 18.4 lb8.34 kg82 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 16.5%, average 14.9 lb6.74 kg66 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the NYXL1254

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

Drop A on other scales: 26.5", 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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