CALCULATOR
Scale Length & Tuning Calculator
Total string tension for any scale length, gauge and tuning.
Total tensionlb
Total in kilograms kg
Total in newtons N
Average per string lb
Saddle compensation
Suggested set for the target
Load on the neck
Total tension—
Tension = unit weight × (2 × scale × frequency)² ÷ 386.4
Unit weight = coefficient × diameter², with a different coefficient for plain and wound strings
Suggested gauge = current gauge × √(target ÷ current tension)
Compensation = a starting saddle setback per string, from its diameter
Unit weight = coefficient × diameter², with a different coefficient for plain and wound strings
Suggested gauge = current gauge × √(target ÷ current tension)
Compensation = a starting saddle setback per string, from its diameter
How to read thisTension follows the vibrating length, the pitch and the mass per unit length of the string. Dropping the tuning on the same gauges drops the tension, which is why down-tuned guitars need heavier strings. The figures are estimates built on standard approximations — check them against your own instrument before you make a decision that matters.
Educational tool. Nothing you type here leaves your browser. This is a reference calculation, not a measurement of your instrument, and it is not a substitute for the manufacturer’s specifications.