String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · OPTIWEB Nickel (coated) · 11-14-18-28-38-49-59

Elixir 19106 (11-14-18-28-38-49-59) in A standard (7-string) on a 28" scale

OPTIWEB Nickel (coated) 7-String Medium (11-59) on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to A standard (7-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1), pulls 129.2 lb58.6 kg575 N in total and 18.5 lb8.37 kg82 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.4%). String 7 (A1) deviates most: −17% from the set average.

Total tension
129.2 lb58.6 kg575 N
Average per string
18.5 lb8.37 kg82 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.4%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01118.9 lb8.55 kg84 N2A3.01417.1 lb7.77 kg76 N3F3.01817.8 lb8.05 kg79 N4C3.02820.3 lb9.22 kg90 N5G2.03820.8 lb9.42 kg92 N6D2.04918.9 lb8.59 kg84 N7A1.05915.4 lb6.97 kg68 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 .011AR011plain 18.9 lb8.55 kg84 N+2%
2A3220.0 .014AR014plain 17.1 lb7.77 kg76 N−7%
3F3174.6 .018AR018plain 17.8 lb8.05 kg79 N−4%
4C3130.8 .028ENO028wound 20.3 lb9.22 kg90 N+10%
5G298.0 .038ENO038wound 20.8 lb9.42 kg92 N+13%
6D273.4 .049ENO049wound 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N+3%
7A155.0 .059ENO059wound 15.4 lb6.97 kg68 N−17%
Total129.2 lb58.6 kg575 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in A standard (7-string), 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL110-7 10-13-17-26-36-46-5916.2 lb7.35 kg72 N 113.4 lb51.4 kg504 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5916.3 lb7.42 kg73 N 114.4 lb51.9 kg509 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 19074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5916.3 lb7.42 kg73 N 114.4 lb51.9 kg509 Nmediummoderately uneven
19106 (this page) 11-14-18-28-38-49-5918.5 lb8.37 kg82 N 129.2 lb58.6 kg575 Ntightmoderately uneven
Elixir 12106 11-14-18-28-38-49-5918.5 lb8.37 kg82 N 129.2 lb58.6 kg575 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1164 11-14-18-28-38-49-6418.6 lb8.42 kg83 N 129.9 lb58.9 kg578 Ntighteven

Best match for a medium feel in A standard (7-string), 28"

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 8.6%, average 16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1059
  2. Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 9.4%, average 16.3 lb7.42 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19074
  3. D'Addario NYXL1164 11-14-18-28-38-49-64 deviation 10.6%, average 18.6 lb8.42 kg83 N, even

More for the 19106

Other tunings on 28": B standard (7-string), Drop A (7-string)

A standard (7-string) on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 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.

Sources