String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

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

Elixir 19057 (10-13-17-26-36-46-56) in B standard (7-string) on a 25" scale

OPTIWEB Nickel (coated) 7-String Light (10-56) on an electric guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to B standard (7-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 113.2 lb51.4 kg504 N in total and 16.2 lb7.34 kg72 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.4%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +18% from the set average.

Total tension
113.2 lb51.4 kg504 N
Average per string
16.2 lb7.34 kg72 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.4%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.01015.4 lb7.01 kg69 N2B3.01314.6 lb6.61 kg65 N3G3.01716.0 lb7.24 kg71 N4D3.02617.7 lb8.03 kg79 N5A2.03619.0 lb8.63 kg85 N6E2.04616.8 lb7.61 kg75 N7B1.05613.7 lb6.23 kg61 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
1E4329.6 .010AR010plain 15.4 lb7.01 kg69 N−5%
2B3246.9 .013AR013plain 14.6 lb6.61 kg65 N−10%
3G3196.0 .017AR017plain 16.0 lb7.24 kg71 N−1%
4D3146.8 .026ENO026wound 17.7 lb8.03 kg79 N+9%
5A2110.0 .036ENO036wound 19.0 lb8.63 kg85 N+18%
6E282.4 .046ENO046wound 16.8 lb7.61 kg75 N+4%
7B161.7 .056ENO056wound 13.7 lb6.23 kg61 N−15%
Total113.2 lb51.4 kg504 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in B standard (7-string), 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
19057 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-46-5616.2 lb7.34 kg72 N 113.2 lb51.4 kg504 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 12057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5616.2 lb7.34 kg72 N 113.2 lb51.4 kg504 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-5916.2 lb7.37 kg72 N 113.7 lb51.6 kg506 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110-7 10-13-17-26-36-46-5916.3 lb7.38 kg72 N 113.9 lb51.7 kg507 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5916.4 lb7.45 kg73 N 114.9 lb52.1 kg511 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 19074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5916.4 lb7.45 kg73 N 114.9 lb52.1 kg511 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard (7-string), 25"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL110-7 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 8.4%, average 16.3 lb7.38 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1059
  2. Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 9.2%, average 16.4 lb7.45 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19074
  3. D'Addario NYXL1164 11-14-18-28-38-49-64 deviation 11.0%, average 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N, even

More for the 19057

B standard (7-string) on other scales: 24.75", 25.5", 26.5", 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