String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel (coated) · 10-13-17-26-36-46-56

Elixir 12057 (10-13-17-26-36-46-56) in A standard (7-string) on a 26.5" scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) 7-String Light (10-56) on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to A standard (7-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1), pulls 101.0 lb45.8 kg449 N in total and 14.4 lb6.54 kg64 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.4%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension
101.0 lb45.8 kg449 N
Average per string
14.4 lb6.54 kg64 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.4%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01013.8 lb6.25 kg61 N2A3.01313.0 lb5.90 kg58 N3F3.01714.2 lb6.46 kg63 N4C3.02615.8 lb7.16 kg70 N5G2.03617.0 lb7.70 kg75 N6D2.04615.0 lb6.79 kg67 N7A1.05612.2 lb5.55 kg54 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 .010AR010plain 13.8 lb6.25 kg61 N−5%
2A3220.0 .013AR013plain 13.0 lb5.90 kg58 N−10%
3F3174.6 .017AR017plain 14.2 lb6.46 kg63 N−1%
4C3130.8 .026ENN026wound 15.8 lb7.16 kg70 N+9%
5G298.0 .036ENN036wound 17.0 lb7.70 kg75 N+18%
6D273.4 .046ENN046wound 15.0 lb6.79 kg67 N+4%
7A155.0 .056ENN056wound 12.2 lb5.55 kg54 N−15%
Total101.0 lb45.8 kg449 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in A standard (7-string), 26.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
12057 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-46-5614.4 lb6.54 kg64 N 101.0 lb45.8 kg449 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 19057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5614.4 lb6.54 kg64 N 101.0 lb45.8 kg449 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.5 lb6.57 kg64 N 101.4 lb46.0 kg451 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110-7 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.5 lb6.58 kg65 N 101.6 lb46.1 kg452 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.6 lb6.64 kg65 N 102.5 lb46.5 kg456 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 19074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.6 lb6.64 kg65 N 102.5 lb46.5 kg456 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in A standard (7-string), 26.5"

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1164 11-14-18-28-38-49-64 deviation 6.2%, average 16.6 lb7.54 kg74 N, even
  2. Elixir 12106 11-14-18-28-38-49-59 deviation 9.7%, average 16.5 lb7.50 kg74 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19106
  3. Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 16.1%, average 14.6 lb6.64 kg65 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19074

More for the 12057

Other tunings on 26.5": B standard (7-string), Drop A (7-string)

A standard (7-string) on other scales: 25.5", 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.

Sources