String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · NANOWEB Nickel (coated) · 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74

Elixir 12062 (10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74) in E standard (8-string) on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB Nickel (coated) 8-String Light (10-74) on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to E standard (8-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 126.2 lb57.2 kg561 N in total and 15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 24.0%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +32% from the set average.

Total tension
126.2 lb57.2 kg561 N
Average per string
15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 24.0%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01012.8 lb5.78 kg57 N2A3.01312.0 lb5.46 kg54 N3F3.01713.2 lb5.98 kg59 N4C3.03020.5 lb9.32 kg91 N5G2.04220.9 lb9.46 kg93 N6D2.05419.8 lb9.00 kg88 N7A1.06415.6 lb7.07 kg69 N8E1.07411.3 lb5.14 kg50 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 12.8 lb5.78 kg57 N−19%
2A3220.0 .013AR013plain 12.0 lb5.46 kg54 N−24%
3F3174.6 .017AR017plain 13.2 lb5.98 kg59 N−16%
4C3130.8 .030ENN030wound 20.5 lb9.32 kg91 N+30%
5G298.0 .042ENN042wound 20.9 lb9.46 kg93 N+32%
6D273.4 .054ENN054wound 19.8 lb9.00 kg88 N+26%
7A155.0 .064ENN064wound 15.6 lb7.07 kg69 N−1%
8E141.2 .074ENN074wound 11.3 lb5.14 kg50 N−28%
Total126.2 lb57.2 kg561 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard (8-string), 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
12062 (this page) 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7415.8 lb7.15 kg70 N 126.2 lb57.2 kg561 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7415.8 lb7.15 kg70 N 126.2 lb57.2 kg561 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (8-string), 25.5"

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 22.6%, average 15.3 lb6.95 kg68 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8
  2. Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 23.5%, average 15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N, uneven; same gauges: 19062
  3. D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80 deviation 30.9%, average 11.9 lb5.40 kg53 N, moderately uneven

More for the 12062

Other tunings on 25.5": F# standard (8-string), Drop E (8-string)

E standard (8-string) on other scales: 26.5", 27", 28", 26.5"–28" 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