Cuatro string tension calculator
The Venezuelan cuatro has four nylon strings tuned A3 D4 F♯4 B3. The tuning is reentrant: the 1st string, B3, is lower than the 2nd, F♯4, so a cuatro set doesn't get thinner string by string the way a guitar set does. In the D'Addario EJ98 set, the 1st and 4th strings are the same .0327″ gauge.
Tension of a D'Addario EJ98 set on a 510 mm Venezuelan cuatro
Standard tuning A3 D4 F♯4 B3; unit weights from the D'Addario nylon chart, three of them interpolated.
| String | Note | Gauge | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B3 | .0327 | 3.5 | 7.7 |
| 2 | F♯4 | .022 | 3.5 | 7.8 |
| 3 | D4 | .0285 | 3.7 | 8.3 |
| 4 | A3 | .0327 | 2.8 | 6.1 |
How to use it
- The instrument starts on Venezuelan cuatro with the standard A D F♯ B tuning.
- Type your scale length: twice the distance from the nut to the 12th fret.
- Read the tension of each string in lb, kg or N, and the set total. Choose String by string (my set) to type your own gauges.
- Use Compare with to see another set next to it.
Help and explanations
This calculator opens on that set at 510 mm, the scale on Aquila's cuatro chart. Change the scale to your own, type any gauge in the string-by-string table, or compare two sets side by side.
EJ98 gauges and published tension
D'Addario publishes the EJ98 as .022, .0285 and two .0327 strings in black nylon. Following Lark in the Morning's tension chart, the .0327 goes on the B (1st) and the A (4th), the .022 on the F♯ and the .0285 on the D. D'Addario gives 6.6 lb on the A, 8.9 on the D, 8.5 on the F♯ and 8.3 on the B: 32.3 lb (14.7 kg) for the whole set.
At 510 mm this calculator gives a little less: 6.10 lb on the A, 8.26 on the D, 7.82 on the F♯ and 7.69 on the B, 29.9 lb (13.6 kg) in all, about 7 to 8% below the published figures. D'Addario's numbers match a scale of about 530 mm. Only the .022 is a row in D'Addario's nylon table; the other three gauges are interpolated and marked ≈.
Why tension matters on a cuatro
A cuatro is strummed hard, and the whole set pulls only about 30 lb, less than half of a classical guitar. Small changes in gauge show up as a slack, buzzing string or a stiff one that is hard to fret. Keeping the four strings within a pound or two of each other gives an even strum; the A is usually the lightest because it is the lowest note on a gauge shared with the B.
Tips
- Tune with the cuatro tuner after any gauge change: nylon stretches for days and the tension drops as it does.
- Building or refretting? Get the fret positions for your scale from the cuatro fret calculator.
- For fitting a new set, follow the cuatro string change guide.
Frequently asked questions
What gauge are cuatro strings?
The D'Addario EJ98 Venezuelan cuatro set is .022, .0285 and two .0327 strings: .0327 on the 1st (B) and 4th (A), .022 on the F♯ and .0285 on the D.
What is the tension of cuatro strings?
D'Addario lists 6.6 to 8.9 lb per string for the EJ98, 32.3 lb (14.7 kg) in total. At a 510 mm scale this calculator gives 29.9 lb (13.6 kg).
How is a Venezuelan cuatro tuned?
A3 D4 F♯4 B3, from the 4th string to the 1st. The 1st string is lower than the 2nd, which is why it uses a thicker string.
Can I use classical guitar strings on a cuatro?
Not directly: guitar trebles are .028 to .040 and the set is made for a 650 mm scale. Check any substitute gauge here at your cuatro's scale before fitting it.
Are Puerto Rican cuatro strings the same?
No. The Puerto Rican cuatro has 10 metal strings in five courses (B E A D G), and needs a set made for it, such as D'Addario's EJ96.