Irish bouzouki string tension
The D'Addario EJ81 is a standard Irish bouzouki set for GDAD: .011 and .016 plain steel on the D and A courses, .028 and .040 phosphor bronze wound on D and G, two strings of each, all in unison. D'Addario lists 15.6, 18.5, 22.8 and 20.7 lb per string, 155.2 lb (70.4 kg) for the set; on a 25″ scale the calculator gives 15.0, 17.8, 22.4 and 20.5 lb, about 151 lb (68.6 kg) in all.
Tension of the D'Addario EJ81 set in GDAD
Unison courses from the 1st (D4) to the 4th (G2) on a 25″ (635 mm) scale, calculated with the unit weights from D'Addario's tension chart; D'Addario's own EJ81 figures run up to 4.1 % higher.
| String | Note | Gauge | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D4 | .011 | 6.8 | 15.0 |
| 2 | D4 | .011 | 6.8 | 15.0 |
| 3 | A3 | .016 | 8.1 | 17.8 |
| 4 | A3 | .016 | 8.1 | 17.8 |
| 5 | D3 | .028w | 10.2 | 22.4 |
| 6 | D3 | .028w | 10.2 | 22.4 |
| 7 | G2 | .040w | 9.3 | 20.5 |
| 8 | G2 | .040w | 9.3 | 20.5 |
How to use it
- The page opens with the Irish bouzouki, the EJ81 set and GDAD tuning.
- Switch to GDAE to see what the higher top course does to the .011 strings.
- Edit the scale or any gauge to compare sets, for example a heavier .042 on the G course.
Help and explanations
The calculator starts from that set on a 25″ (635 mm) scale. Change a gauge, the scale or the tuning and every string is recalculated in kg, lb or N.
GDAD, GDAE and octave strings
In GDAD the courses are G2, D3, A3 and D4 (98.00, 146.83, 220.00 and 293.66 Hz). GDAE raises the top course a whole step to E4 (329.63 Hz): on the same .011, tension goes up by about 26 %, from 15.6 to roughly 19.7 lb on D'Addario's figures (15.0 to 18.8 lb in the calculator), which is why some GDAE players choose a lighter top string.
Wikipedia notes that Dónal Lunny replaced the octave strings on the two bass courses with unisons, and most players now follow him, as the EJ81 does. If you prefer an octave on the G or D course, the extra thin string carries the same note an octave up and needs its own, much lighter gauge.
How the numbers are checked
Tension is T = UW × (2 × L × F)² ÷ 386.4, with unit weights from D'Addario's String Tension Specifications. On a 25″ scale the result stays within 4.1 % of the EJ81 package on every string: 15.0 lb against 15.6 on the .011 and 20.5 against 20.7 on the .040.
D'Addario doesn't say which scale its numbers use; they line up at about 644 mm (25.35″). Neither wound gauge (.028 or .040) is listed in the chart, so both are interpolated between their neighbors and marked as estimates.
Tips
- Loop end or ball end depends on your tailpiece or bridge, not on the gauges: check before you order. The steps are in how to restring an Irish bouzouki.
- A longer 26″ or 27″ scale tightens the same set noticeably: type your scale before you compare gauges.
- Tune with the Irish bouzouki tuner, one string of each course at a time.
Frequently asked questions
What gauge strings for an Irish bouzouki?
A common GDAD set is the D'Addario EJ81: .011 on D4, .016 on A3, .028 wound on D3 and .040 wound on G2, two of each in unison.
How much tension does an Irish bouzouki set have?
About 155 lb (70 kg) for the EJ81 in GDAD, according to D'Addario: 15.6 lb on each .011, 18.5 on the .016, 22.8 on the .028 and 20.7 on the .040. The calculator, on a 25″ scale, gives about 151 lb (68.6 kg).
Should the bass courses of an Irish bouzouki be octaves or unisons?
Most players use unisons on all four courses, a change Wikipedia credits to Dónal Lunny. Octaves on the G and D courses give a brighter, more cittern-like sound; you need a thin octave string for each course.
Do Irish bouzouki strings have loop ends or ball ends?
It depends on the instrument. Tailpieces with hooks or studs take loop ends, like the EJ81; pin bridges and some tailpieces need ball ends.
How many strings does an Irish bouzouki have?
Eight, in four double courses. Some instruments have ten strings in five courses, which needs a different set.