String gauge calculator

[Pete Martin]

Is there a string gauge calculator anyone has found for lap steel? I find plenty for guitar but don't know if that works for steel.

[LaVern Skarzenski]

Have you seen or tried this one on John Ely's site?

https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php

LaVern

[Mike Bonnice]

Consider customizing your string set to meet your needs.

This one allows you to save a set of strings and then calculate: https://chordgen.parmakis.co.uk/tensiontool.php

It has graphs if you press "show statistics".

Here's my preset for 8-string C6 tuning:

Scale length 24
Material steel, winding material nickel

G-4-.012-p,
E-4-.014-p,
C-4-.018-p,
A-3-.022-p,
G-3-.024-p,
E-3-.032-w,
C-3-.040-w,
A-2-.049-w

[Michael Kiese]

Is there a string gauge calculator anyone has found for lap steel? I find plenty for guitar but don't know if that works for steel.

Aloha Pete,

String tension calculators are for the most part universal. You input string gauge, scale length, and a desired pitch, and out pops string tension usually measured in foot pounds.

A string is a string is a string. String physics are the same whether they are on a Bass, Guitar, Violin, Piano, or the cables on the Golden Gate bridge.

There are lots of free apps you can put on your phone, or websites that have string tension calculators.

Here's one that I recommend because it's simple, free, and straightforward:
https://tension.stringjoy.com

I did some fun at home physics experiments, and got data points that are within an acceptable margin of error from that data of most string tension apps/calculators provide.

So just about any string tension app or website should be usable. Pick the one you like.

Enjoy!