NOTE: Our string tension calculator is based on D’Addario’s string tension information and should therefore only be seen as an approximation when using different brand gauges, since other brands can have different tension values. The string material also matters, especially with bigger strings.
What tunings are supported?
It will calculate tensions for given string sizes and recommend which saddle is right.
Other Notes
For example, for tensions of 12 pounds or less, we suggest low tension saddles, even though technically the standard saddles should go down to 10 pounds. Likewise, for 26 pounds and up, we suggest high tension saddles.
Creating Your Own Custom String Sets:
With custom string sizes, you can easily tune your guitar to
non-standard tunings and/or alter
the loudness of the sound coming from each string (to eliminate,
or create, imbalance from string to string).
This calculator helps you select an appropriate string
diameter. There is also a calculator to
determine
tension, when you know the string diameter.
Using the String Diameter Calculator:
This String Diameter Calculator will determine the string
diameter which will produce the desired note at the desired string tension.
Then, you can simply use the closest available string size, based
upon that idealized calculation.
The Unit Weight is valid for any string
construction and any string materials from any manufacturer. The Unit Weight of the desired string can be provided to
your preferred string supplier (such as D’Addario or Kalium) to see if
they offer a string with the required Unit Weight. In many
cases, the resultant wound string will be around 1.1 to 1.2 times the
diameter of the calculated plain string (but a plain string would be more
difficult to bend, and would have greater inharmonicity).
The steel string calculations were originally created for guitar, but the
calculations are valid
for a variety of instruments which use steel or steel-core
strings such as acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric
bass, mandolin and banjo.
If the calculator cannot provide appropriate data for the requested
string size, it will simply display «na» (not available).
If the calculator results for wound strings do not include the type of
string which you prefer, or you see the dreaded «na»
indication, please use the Unit Weight value which the
calculator provides.
CAUTION: Please carefully check the applicability (and
sensibility) of each recommendation of this experimental
calculator. In my own tests, these calculations have proven
quite reliable, but your use of this calculator is
completely at your own risk.
Standard Tuning on the Guitar:
The standard guitar tuning of E A D G B E uses these
notes and octaves:
Scale length = 25.5 inches (65 cm)Desired Tension
= 30 pounds (14 kg)
Desired Note = GDesired Octave = 3
Please note that the Unit Weight calculation is valid for
any string, made from any material, from any manufacturer,
and may be your best bet for finding strings which are not
shown in the calculator results.
Here’s some further information about the variables which you enter
into the calculator:
Scale length is the distance from nut to bridge.
For full-size acoustic guitars this is typically around 25.5 inches (65
cm). A longer string will vibrate at a lower frequency, so the
strings for the low notes on an electric bass or on a piano are
longer than typical guitar strings.
Desired tension of each string on an acoustic
guitar varies from about 16 pounds (7 kg) for extra-light
strings to around 40 pounds (18 kg) for heavy-gauge strings.
As a starting point, you can simply copy the
string tensions from a standard set of strings that you like the
feel of. For example, if you like the feel of D’Addario medium
gauge strings in standard tuning, simply copy the manufacturer’s
string tension data for each individual string of your new
custom design. Sometimes the string tensions are given on the
string package, other times it is necessary to hunt for the data
on the manufacturer’s web site. (A few typical examples of
manufacturer’s string data are given at the end of this
article.)
Low tension produces less sound, but the strings are easier to
play. At tensions somewhere below 12 or 14 pounds on steel sting acoustic
guitars, the string may
be too loose to have acceptable sound quality.
Higher string tension produces louder sound,
but is harder to play and too much tension may damage
instruments which were not specifically
designed for such high tension.
For acoustic guitars, tensions around 20 to 30
pounds will be taut enough to have good tone, yet will still be
fairly easy to play.
Note that the calculator will show a
caution note when string tension is either lower or higher
than customary for common instruments such as guitar,
mandolin, banjo or electric bass.
String tension can also be used to balance (or unbalance) the
sound of your specific guitar. Prepackaged string sets are at best
a compromise, and you may be able to achieve a quite different sound
by changing the sizes of some of your strings. If a specific string
is too loud, then choose a new string with less tension. And conversely,
if a specific string is not loud enough, then choose a string with
greater tension. Differences of 2 or 3 pounds are often quite significant
for the smaller diameter strings (such as diameters of 0.012 or
less).
In order to avoid overstressing the instrument
structure and causing serious physical damage to the instrument, it
is important to note the total tension of all the strings. For
safety, it is best to look up the total tension of the string
set which is recommended by the manufacturer of your instrument, and
use that tension as a target value. For many 6-string acoustic
guitars, total tension (the total tension of all six strings)
around 160 pounds (72 kg) is generally structurally safe and
works nicely. For many 12-string acoustic guitars, total tension
(the total tension of all twelve strings) around 260 pounds (118
kg) is generally structurally safe and sounds good.
An additional consideration when choosing strings is the inharmonicity
of a stiff heavy-gauge string. An ideal string would produce a variety
of harmonics which are exactly integer multiples of the fundamental
frequency. However, the stiffer a string actually is, the farther
the harmonics will be from their ideal integer multiples. The stiffness
causes the higher modes to become progressively sharper.
Up to a point, such inharmonicity can be used to deliberately
impart a unique «character» to the instrument. Wound strings generally
have less inharmonicity than an equivalent plain (solid) string.
For both ease of playing and reduced inharmonicity, most pre-packaged
string sets utilize wound strings for diameters greater than something
around 0.020 inch (0.50 mm) to 0.023 inch (0.58 mm), depending upon
the desired string tensions.
A, A#, Bb, B, C, C#, Db, D, D#, Eb, E, F, F#,
Gb, G, G#, Ab
For instruments such as a guitar which have an essentially constant
scale length for all the strings (as opposed to a harp or a piano
which have different lengths of strings) there will be a practical
limit of the highest and lowest notes that the instrument will be
able to play on an open string. At the upper frequency limit, any
available string will require so much tension that it will always
break. And at the lower frequency limit, the strings become either
too large or too loose. For a guitar with a scale length of 25.5
inches, it is generally impractical to achieve an open string resonating
above A4 or below G1.
Wikipedia article about Scientific Pitch Notation
In this system of notation, each octave number begins on the
C note, and middle C on the piano is C4. Note that B3 is one half-step
below C4. And, as a reference point, A4 is defined as 440 Hz.
For example, in this system of notation, the white keys on a
portion of a piano keyboard below middle C would be called:
C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A2 B2 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 A3 B3 C4
Standard tuning on a guitar uses strings
tuned to:
E2 A2 D3 G3
B3 E4
The frequency of E2 (low E on standard
guitar tuning) is 82.407 Hz. An octave lower would be E1 at
41.203 Hz, and another octave lower would be E0 at 20.602
Hz.
Interpreting the Calculator Results:
Unfortunately, there are so many
different types of stringed instruments, and so many
different types of string construction from so many
different manufacturers, it is not practical for the
calculator to show every possible string type for every
possible stringed instrument. So, as an alternative, the
calculator shows the «Unit Weight» of the desired
string, with which you can happily go to your favorite
string manufacturer’s literature (and/or technical support)
to find a string which has the desired unit weight.
The unit weight value is valid for any string material,
from any manufacturer.
Choosing Applicable String Sizes:
Armed with the ideal answer, use the closest available string
diameter. In general, for strings less than 0.012 it is best to
try to find a string within 0.001 of the ideal size. For strings
larger than 0.012, it may be acceptable to use strings within 0.002
of the ideal size.
If a calculated string diameter is too small for your
application, see if a higher tension
is acceptable.
If a calculated string diameter is too large for your
application, see if a lower tension
is acceptable.
For a standard sized acoustic guitar it is generally impractical
to have an open string resonate above A4 or below G1.
Potential String Breakage:
With small diameter strings, the tension required to tune
the string to the desired pitch may stress the string so
much that it breaks easily. The calculator tries to help
warn you about string breakage by displaying the percent of
breaking tension which will be required to tune the string
to the desired pitch.
Whenever the percentage is greater than about 60 to 70
percent, there is a significant likelihood that the string
will be prone to breakage. As the percentage increases above
60 to 70 percent, any sort of defects in the string (such as
scratches, nicks, kinks, or metal impurities) or bends in
the string (such as bends at the bridge saddle, nut, or
tuning machines) may lead to failure either while the
instrument is being tuned to pitch or shortly thereafter.
The sharper the bend, the greater the likelihood of breakage
at a relatively low percentage.
As the percentage approaches 100 percent, string breakage
becomes extremely likely. Only in the rarest of occasions
will it be possible to exceed 100 percent without immediate
breakage.
The exact breaking percentage will vary from string to
string and will also vary somewhat depending upon the
manufacturer of the string and the exact steel alloy which
has been used. For this calculator, the minimum values for
ASTM A228 music wire have been used, although some
manufacturers claim to be able to provide strings which may
exceed those values.
There are three types of messages provided by the
calculator to help alert you to potential problems:
1) The percentage of string breaking
tension is intended to help determine the likelihood of a
string failure due to excessive stress in the string.
2) A «high tension» message appears when
the string tension is higher than normally used in common instruments
such as guitar, mandolin, banjo or electric bass. This
message is intended to help avoid structural damage to the instrument,
and may be too conservative for some instruments.
3) A «low tension» message appears when the string
tension is much lower than normally used in common instruments
such as guitar, mandolin, banjo or electric bass. This
message is intended to help avoid excessively loose and unresponsive
strings.
Note: This calculator cannot calculate the breaking point
of wound strings, because there is no industry standard for
the core diameter of wound strings. Therefore, only plain
strings will show error messages related to string breakage.
In general, the characteristics of the wound strings are
based on
data from D’Addario, and your results may differ if you
use strings which have a markedly different core diameter.
Examples of Wound Strings:
All of the examples of wound strings use data from
D’Addario, and therefore only apply to D’Addario wound
strings.
Equations used in this Calculator:
This calculator is based on the equations and data
provided by string manufacturer D’Addario in their PDF
document located at:
D’Addario String Information Booklet
Using Manufacturer’s Data:
One way to gain insight into string sizes and string tensions
is to study the data which major string companies provide in
their literature.
Note that the different strings of a typical string-set generally
have different tensions which have been selected to balance the
sound of the various notes on a typical guitar. However, your guitar
may respond nicely to some string tension changes based on how you
want your specific instrument to sound. More tension (larger string)
will make the string louder, and less tension (smaller string) will
produce a softer sound.
Extra-Light Gauge 6-string (data
from
D’Addario):
Light Gauge 6-string (data from D’Addario):
Medium Gauge 6-string (data from D’Addario):
Heavy Gauge 6-string (data from D’Addario):
Light Top/Medium Bottom 6-string (data from D’Addario):
Extra-Light Gauge 12-string (data from D’Addario):
This calculator helps you determine the string tension
for a certain string diameter.
There is also a calculator to
determine what size string
to use, when you know the desired tension.
Using the String Tension Calculator:
This String Tension Calculator will determine the string tension
(in pounds force, and kilograms force) for several popular string types
which will produce the desired note for a specified string size.
Be careful to avoid excessive tension, which can cause severe
structural damage to your instrument.
This calculator was originally created for guitar, but the
calculations are valid
for a variety of instruments which use steel or steel-core
strings such as acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric
bass, mandolin and banjo.
Results using D’Addario strings are generally within 5%
of the calculated value. Due to the differences in materials
used, results with strings from other manufacturers may
perhaps have greater variation from the calculated values.
Scale Length = 25.5 inchesString Diameter
= .030 inches
Desired Note = DDesired Octave = 3
The calculator predicts these tension values for various
types of strings:
Plain steel: 28.9
pounds
Phosphor Bronze
— Round wound: 26.5 pounds Phosphor Bronze — Flat wound:
29.7 pounds 80/20 Brass — Round wound: 25.9 pounds 85/15 Brass — Round
wound: 26.4 pounds
Nickel-Plated Steel — Round wound:
24.4 pounds Stainless Steel — Round wound: 25.7 pounds Stainless Steel
— Flat wound: 25.2 pounds
For instruments such as a guitar which have an essentially constant
scale length for all the strings (as opposed to a harp or a piano
which have different lengths of strings) there will be a practical
limit of the highest and lowest notes that the instrument will be
able to play on an open string. At the upper frequency limit, any
available string will require so much tension that it will always
break. And at the lower frequency limit, the strings become either
too large or too loose. For a guitar with a scale length of 25.5
inches (65 cm), it is generally impractical to achieve an open string resonating
above A4 or below G1.
Wikipedia article abut Scientific Pitch Notation
String Tension Precautions:
Each string on a typical acoustic guitar has about 16
pounds (7 kg) of tension for extra-light strings up to around 40 pounds (18
kg) per string for heavy-gauge strings.
As a starting point, you can simply copy the string tensions
from a standard set of strings that you like the feel of. For
example, if you like the feel of D’Addario medium gauge strings
in standard tuning, simply copy the manufacturer’s string
tension data for each individual string to help create your new
custom design. Sometimes the string tensions are given on the
string package, other times it is necessary to hunt for the data
on the manufacturer’s web site. (A few typical examples of
manufacturer’s string data are given at the end of this
article.)
Low tension produces less sound, but the strings are
easier to play. At tensions somewhere below 12 or 14 pounds,
the string may be too loose to have acceptable sound quality
on an acoustic guitar.
Higher string tension produces louder sound, but is harder to
play and too much tension may damage instruments which were not
specifically designed for such high tension.
In general, acoustic guitar tensions around 20 to 30
pounds will be taut enough to have good tone, yet still fairly
easy to play.
In order to avoid overstressing the instrument structure and
causing serious physical damage to the instrument, it is
important to note the total tension of all the strings. For
safety, it is best to look up the tension of the strings which
are recommended by the manufacturer of your instrument, and
use that tension as a target value.
For many 6-string acoustic
guitars, total tension (the total tension of all six strings)
around 160 pounds (70 kg) is generally structurally safe and
works nicely. For many 12-string acoustic guitars, total tension
(the total tension of all twelve strings) around 260 pounds (120
kg) is generally structurally safe and sounds good.
An additional consideration when choosing strings is the inharmonicity
of a stiff heavy-gauge string. An ideal string would produce a variety
of harmonics which are exactly integer multiples of the fundamental
frequency. However, the stiffer a string actually is, the farther
the harmonics will be from their ideal integer multiples. The stiffness
causes the higher harmonics to become progressively sharper.
Up to a point, such inharmonicity can be used to deliberately
impart a unique «character» to the instrument. Wound strings generally
have less inharmonicity than an equivalent plain (solid) string.
For both ease of playing and reduced inharmonicity, most pre-packaged
acoustic guitar string sets utilize wound strings for diameters greater than something
around 0.020 inch (0.50 mm) to 0.023 inch (0.58 mm), depending upon
the desired string tensions.
Extra-Light Gauge Acoustic 6-string (data
from
D’Addario):
Kalium String Tension Calculator
Kalium String Tension Calculator
Title
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