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 28" scale

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Drop A (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 A1), pulls 95.7 lb43.4 kg426 N in total and 15.9 lb7.23 kg71 N per string on average. That is a medium 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
95.7 lb43.4 kg426 N
Average per string
15.9 lb7.23 kg71 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.5%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1B3.01215.8 lb7.17 kg70 N2F#3.01615.8 lb7.17 kg70 N3D3.02015.5 lb7.05 kg69 N4A2.03218.6 lb8.44 kg83 N5E2.04217.3 lb7.83 kg77 N6A1.05412.6 lb5.73 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 15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N−1%
2F#3185.0 .016NYS016plain 15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N−1%
3D3146.8 .020NYS020plain 15.5 lb7.05 kg69 N−2%
4A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 18.6 lb8.44 kg83 N+17%
5E282.4 .042NYNW042wound 17.3 lb7.83 kg77 N+8%
6A155.0 .054NYNW054wound 12.6 lb5.73 kg56 N−21%
Total95.7 lb43.4 kg426 N

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Similar sets in Drop A, 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5615.0 lb6.82 kg67 N 90.1 lb40.9 kg401 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5615.1 lb6.84 kg67 N 90.4 lb41.0 kg402 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5015.8 lb7.17 kg70 N 94.8 lb43.0 kg422 Nmediumuneven
NYXL1254 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5415.9 lb7.23 kg71 N 95.7 lb43.4 kg426 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5416.0 lb7.25 kg71 N 95.9 lb43.5 kg427 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6017.3 lb7.85 kg77 N 103.8 lb47.1 kg462 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A, 28"

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 12.6%, average 16.0 lb7.25 kg71 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1254
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 13.1%, average 17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-50 deviation 18.4%, average 15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N, uneven

More for the NYXL1254

Other tunings on 28": D standard, Drop C, C standard, B standard

Drop A on other scales: 26.5", 27", 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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