String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-34-46-60

D'Addario NYXL1260 (12-16-20-34-46-60) in Drop C on a 27" scale

12-60 Extra Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 136.5 lb61.9 kg607 N in total and 22.7 lb10.32 kg101 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.9%). String 4 (C3) deviates most: +19% from the set average.

Total tension
136.5 lb61.9 kg607 N
Average per string
22.7 lb10.32 kg101 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.9%

Tension per string

0102030lb0510kg050100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01220.8 lb9.43 kg92 N2A3.01620.8 lb9.43 kg92 N3F3.02020.4 lb9.27 kg91 N4C3.03427.1 lb12.31 kg121 N5G2.04626.7 lb12.09 kg119 N6C2.06020.7 lb9.37 kg92 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
1D4293.7 .012NYS012plain 20.8 lb9.43 kg92 N−9%
2A3220.0 .016NYS016plain 20.8 lb9.43 kg92 N−9%
3F3174.6 .020NYS020plain 20.4 lb9.27 kg91 N−10%
4C3130.8 .034NYNW034wound 27.1 lb12.31 kg121 N+19%
5G298.0 .046NYNW046wound 26.7 lb12.09 kg119 N+17%
6C265.4 .060NYNW060wound 20.7 lb9.37 kg92 N−9%
Total136.5 lb61.9 kg607 N

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Similar sets in Drop C, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5619.8 lb8.99 kg88 N 118.9 lb53.9 kg529 Ntightuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5020.8 lb9.43 kg92 N 124.7 lb56.6 kg555 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5421.0 lb9.51 kg93 N 125.8 lb57.1 kg560 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5421.0 lb9.53 kg93 N 126.1 lb57.2 kg561 Ntightmoderately uneven
NYXL1260 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6022.7 lb10.32 kg101 N 136.5 lb61.9 kg607 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6022.8 lb10.35 kg101 N 136.9 lb62.1 kg609 Ntightuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 9.8%, average 17.5 lb7.93 kg78 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 10.9%, average 16.8 lb7.60 kg75 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 11.9%, average 17.5 lb7.92 kg78 N, moderately uneven

More for the NYXL1260

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

Drop C on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 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.

Sources