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Catalog Supplement/String Tension SpecificationsA complete technical reference for fretted instrument string tensions
Table of ContentsIntroductionThis brochure was created to assist inTechnical Reference for fretted instrument string tensionsGuitar and Bass Fingerboard Legends45selecting the ideal string for your instrumentand playing style. Included in this brochureare tension tables and formulas to help youcalculate what tension a particular string willhave on your instrument.String TensionsAcoustic or Electric GuitarPedal Steel GuitarAcoustic GuitarClassical GuitarFolk GuitarElectric Bass GuitarAcoustic Bass GuitarMandolin Family StringsBanjo & Loop End Strings67781010131314
A complete technical referencefor fretted instrument string tensionsUnderstanding what determines string tension.In order to determine the tension at which a string will vibrate, you need three pieces ofinformation: the Unit Weight, the Scale Length, and the Frequency of the string. You can usethe charts in this brochure to get a pre-calculated tension for the D’Addario strings listed oryou can use the formulas below to calculate the exact tension for any string using the scalelength of your particular instrument. All of the charts illustrate string tensions for eachstring at a variety of pitches, in case you use alternative tunings.UW-Unit Weight. In all the charts and formulas in the brochure, unit weight isexpressed in pounds per linear inch (lb/in).L-Scale Length. This is the vibrating length of the string. This is determined bymeasuring the distance from the nut to the bridge of the instrument in inches (in).F-Frequency or pitch. This is the pitch at which you will be tuning the stringexpressed in cycles per second (Hertz).On the following page are two fingerboard graphics detailing the variousfrequencies for the standard guitar and electric bass guitar.To calculate the tension of a string in pounds use the formula below,inserting the three variables described above:T (Tension) (UW x (2 x L x F)2) / 386.4To convert the result into Newtons, simply multiply by 4.45.If you know what tension you want the string to have, you can calculate the stringunit weight. You can then use the charts in this guide to locate a string withapproximately the same desired unit weight.UW (unit weight) (T x 386.4) / (2 x L x F)24
Scale LengthsTo calculate the exact tension for a string on your instrument, measure the scale length (nut tobridge) of your instrument and then use the formula on the previous page. The following scalelengths were used to determine the string tensions found on the tension charts in this brochure.Acoustic/Electric/Classical Guitar 25 1/2"Electric Bass Guitar (Superlong Scale) 36"Electric Bass Guitar (Long Scale) 34"Electric Bass Guitar (Medium Scale) 32"Electric Bass Guitar (Short Scale) 30"Mandolin 13 7/8"Mandola 15 7/8"Mandocello 25"Mandobass 42"Banjo 26 1/4" (19 5/8" for 5th string)Fingerboard Legends for Pitch and Frequency at Standard TuningGuitar and Bass GuitarFingerboard LegendsNut / Open1st Fret2nd Fret3rd Fret4th FretUse these graphics to determine the1st Stringe’ - 329.6 Hzf’ - 349.2 Hzf#’ - 370.0 Hzg’ - 392.0 Hzg#’ - 415.3 Hzfrequency (in Hertz) of the pitch you2nd Stringb - 246.9 Hzc’ - 261.6 Hzc#’ - 277.2 Hzd’ - 293.7 Hzd#’ - 311.1 Hzare looking for. Standard tunings3rd Stringg - 196.0 Hzg# - 207.7 Hza - 220.0 Hza# - 233.1 Hzb - 246.9 Hz4th Stringd -146.8 Hzd# - 155.6 Hze - 164.8 Hzf - 174.6 Hzf# - 185.0 Hz5th StringA - 110.0 HzA# - 116.5 HzB - 123.5 Hzc - 130.8 Hzc# - 138.6 Hz6th StringE - 82.4 HzF - 87.3 HzF# - 92.5 HzG - 98.0 HzG# - 103.8 Hzwere used for all guitar and electricbass guitar frequency measurements.Pitch Notationc' (Middle c) 261.6 HzGuitar Fingerboard LayoutNote Above d'(Standard Tuning)Note Below bNut / OpenOctave Above c"1st Fret2nd Fret3rd Fret4th FretOctave Below c1st Stringc - 130.8 Hzc# - 138.6 Hzd - 146.8 Hzd# - 155.6 Hze - 164.8 Hz2 Octaves Below C2nd StringG - 98.0 HzG# - 103.8 HzA - 110.0 HzA# - 116.5 HzB - 123.5 Hz3rd StringD - 73.4 HzD# - 77.8 HzE - 82.4 HzF - 87.3 HzF# - 92.5 Hz4th StringA’ - 55.0 HzA#’ - 58.3 HzB’ - 61.7 HzC - 65.4 HzC# - 69.3 Hz5th StringE’ - 41.2 HzF’ - 43.7 HzF#’ - 46.3 HzG’ - 49.0 HzG#’ - 51.9 Hz6th StringB’’ - 30.9 HzC’ - 32.7 HzC#’ - 34.7 HzD’ - 36.7 HzD#’ - 38.9 Hz3 Octaves Below C'4-StringLayoutBass Guitar Fingerboard Layout(Standard 6-String Tuning)5
Acoustic or Electric GuitarXL - Nickelplated Steel Round WoundPlain Steel - Lock Item#PL018PL019PL020Item#PL022PL024PL026Unit 03744Unit 2Unit Weight.00007177.00007997.00008861Unit 8.712.2e10.411.7g4.65.76.99.7d8.29.3Plain Steel - Soldered 4KPL016KPL017KPL020Unit 4Unit 30.7c'20.026.129.540.8Plain Steel - Double Ball Unit Weight.00001794.00002215.00002680.00003744Unit NW072NW074NW080Unit 3.00009184.00010857.00012671Unit 4.00026471Unit 2.00043014.00048109Unit 6.317.218.219.220.123.4XL - Nickelplated Steel Round Wound SNW042SNW046Unit Weight.00010857.00012671Unit Weight.00019347.00023964Unit 3.8XLS - Stainless Steel Round WoundItem#XSG018XSG020XSG021XSG022XSG024XSG026Unit Weight b.00006588 27.0.00007919.00008774.00009731 7.020.522.725.229.734.7
XLS - Stainless Steel Round G056XSG070Unit 8.00027804Unit 6.00050382Unit 8.99.610.112.018.2Half Round - Stainless Steel Half 6Item#HRG039HRG042HRG046HRG052HRG056Unit Weight.00011271.00012857.00014750Unit Weight.00018970.00021100.00025650Unit 30.3d27.530.637.2A24.227.232.440.346.2Chromes - Stainless Steel Flat CG056CG065Unit Weight.00007812.00009784.00011601.00013574Unit Weight.00014683.00016958.00019233.00024197Unit Weight.00026520.00031676.00034377.00040393Unit 345.8Pedal Steel GuitarXLS - Stainless Steel Round Wound Pedal 8Item#SPS042SPS054Item#SPS070Unit Weight.00011501.00013419.00018203Unit Weight.00022729.00025198.00027804Unit Weight.00033924.00056388Unit oustic GuitarPhosphor Bronze - Round Wound (EXP Coated and PB062PB064PB066PB070Unit 2.00012686.00013640.00014834Unit 5.00026830Unit Weight.00031125.00036722.00041751Unit 0A'9.210.011.211.612.914.414.915.816.917.919.77
Great American Bronze - 85/15 Brass Round WoundFlat Tops - Phosphor Bronze 056Unit Weight.00012568.00013651.00015894.00017209Unit Weight.00019785.00023852.00027781.00029273Unit Weight.00032904.00036219.00041047.00042603Unit 21.623.325.327.229.5c19.420.823.426.22
Guitar and Bass Fingerboard Legends 5 String Tensions Acoustic or Electric Guitar 6 Pedal Steel Guitar 7 Acoustic Guitar 7 Classical Guitar 8 Folk Guitar 10 Electric Bass Guitar 10 Acoustic Bass Guitar 13 Mandolin Family Strings 13 Banjo & Loop End Strings 14. Understanding what determines string tension. In order to determine the tension at which a string will vibrate,you need three pieces of .
