Charango string tension
The La Bella C80 "La Preferita" is a common nylon charango set, from .019 to .033. On a 370 mm scale in standard G C E A E tuning, the calculator puts about 93 lb (42 kg) on the neck, around 4 to 5 kg per string: a little more in total than a classical guitar's six strings, spread over ten lighter ones.
Estimated tension of the La Bella C80 set
Standard G C E A E tuning on a 370 mm scale, from the 1st course; calculated with D'Addario nylon unit weights.
| String | Note | Gauge | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E5 | .019 | 4.4 | 9.7 |
| 2 | E5 | .019 | 4.4 | 9.7 |
| 3 | A4 | .028 | 4.3 | 9.4 |
| 4 | A4 | .028 | 4.3 | 9.4 |
| 5 | E5 | .020 | 4.9 | 10.8 |
| 6 | E4 | .033 | 3.3 | 7.3 |
| 7 | C5 | .024 | 4.4 | 9.8 |
| 8 | C5 | .024 | 4.4 | 9.8 |
| 9 | G4 | .030 | 3.9 | 8.6 |
| 10 | G4 | .030 | 3.9 | 8.6 |
How to use it
- The page opens with the Charango, the La Bella C80 set and standard G C E A E tuning.
- Type your scale if your charango isn't 370 mm: tension grows with the square of the length.
- Edit a gauge to compare, for example a thicker E4 in the middle course.
Help and explanations
Change any gauge or the scale and every string is recalculated in kg, lb or N. Nylon unit weights come from the D'Addario chart, so the results are estimates: La Bella doesn't publish tension for this set.
The C80 set, course by course
From the 1st course: two .019 on E5 at about 9.7 lb (4.4 kg) each, two .028 on A4 at 9.4 lb, then the octave course, a .020 on E5 at 10.8 lb with a .033 on E4 at only 7.3 lb (3.3 kg). The 4th course is two .024 on C5 at 9.8 lb and the 5th two .030 on G4 at 8.6 lb.
The thick E4 in the middle course is the lowest note on the charango, and also the slackest string. The re-entrant tuning puts the 5th course, G4, above it, which is why the charango sounds so bright.
Nylon, Nylgut and estimates
Tension follows T = UW × (2 × L × F)² ÷ 386.4, using the unit weights D'Addario publishes for nylon strings. Since La Bella gives gauges but not tension, every figure on this page is an estimate, close but not a manufacturer value.
Aquila's Nylgut charango set uses a different material that the calculator doesn't model, so it isn't in the list. Aquila designs it for 35 to 36.5 cm scales, and advises against using it above 36.8 cm.
Tips
- Nylon stretches a lot: the steps for a new set are in how to restring a charango.
- A longer 384 mm scale raises tension by about 8 % with the same strings.
- Tune each string with the charango tuner; the octave E course needs both strings checked.
Frequently asked questions
What gauge are charango strings?
The La Bella C80 runs .019 (E5), .028 (A4), .020 + .033 (E5 + E4), .024 (C5) and .030 (G4), two strings per course.
What are the notes of the charango strings?
From the 5th course to the 1st: G4 (392.00 Hz), C5 (523.25 Hz), E4 + E5 (329.63 + 659.26 Hz), A4 (440.00 Hz) and E5 (659.26 Hz), at A 440 Hz.
How much tension is on a charango?
About 93 lb (42 kg) in total for the La Bella C80 on a 370 mm scale, by this calculator's estimate: from about 3.3 kg on the E4 to 4.9 kg on the E5 octave string.
Which charango string is the lowest?
The thick E4 in the middle (3rd) course, at 329.63 Hz. The 5th course, G4, sits above it because the charango is tuned re-entrant.
Does scale length change charango string tension?
Yes, with the square of the length. The same C80 set on a 384 mm charango carries about 8 % more tension than on a 370 mm one.