Requinto string tension
The D'Addario EJ94 is a nylon requinto set, .022 to .036, for A D G C E A tuning. D'Addario lists 12.4 lb on the A4, 11.3 on the E4, 9.7 on the C4, 12.2 on the G3, 11.3 on the D3 and 11.8 on the A2: 68.7 lb (31.2 kg) in all, lighter than a classical guitar set. On a 540 mm scale the calculator gives 71.2 lb (32.3 kg).
Tension of the D'Addario EJ94 requinto set
A D G C E A tuning from the 1st string (A4) on a 540 mm scale, calculated with the nylon unit weights from D'Addario's tension chart; D'Addario's own EJ94 figures differ by −0.3 % to +10.9 % (the D3).
| String | Note | Gauge | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A4 | .022 | 5.6 | 12.4 |
| 2 | E4 | .028 | 5.1 | 11.3 |
| 3 | C4 | .033 | 4.5 | 9.9 |
| 4 | G3 | .025w | 5.7 | 12.6 |
| 5 | D3 | .030w | 5.7 | 12.5 |
| 6 | A2 | .036w | 5.7 | 12.5 |
How to use it
- The page opens with the Requinto guitar, the EJ94 set and A D G C E A tuning.
- Choose the Galli Requinto set (.022–.035) to compare.
- Type your scale, for example 580 mm for a Córdoba: tension grows with the square of the length.
Help and explanations
The calculator starts from that set on a 540 mm scale. Switch to the Galli requinto set, change a gauge or the scale, and every string is recalculated in kg, lb or N.
The EJ94 set, string by string
The three trebles are plain nylon: .022 on A4, .028 on E4 and .033 on C4. The three basses are wound: .025 on G3, .030 on D3 and .036 on A2. By D'Addario's figures the C4 is the slackest string, at 9.7 lb (4.4 kg), and the A4 the tightest, at 12.4 lb (5.6 kg). In the calculator the C4 comes out at 9.9 lb and the three basses at 12.5 to 12.6 lb, just above the A4.
The Galli RE601–RE606 set is close: .022, .029 and .033 on the trebles, .026, .029 and .035 on the basses, so it feels much the same.
How the numbers are checked
Tension is T = UW × (2 × L × F)² ÷ 386.4, with nylon unit weights from D'Addario's String Tension Specifications. On a 540 mm scale, five of the six strings land within −0.3 % to +6.1 % of the package.
The exception is the D3 .030 wound, 12.5 lb here against D'Addario's 11.3 lb (+10.9 %). The calculator uses the weight of D'Addario's loose .030 wound nylon string, and the EJ94 bass appears to be about 10 % lighter, a different winding. The table below shows the calculator's values, so the D3 reads 12.5 lb.
Tips
- Moving from a 535 mm to a 580 mm requinto adds about 18 % tension with the same set.
- New nylon stretches for a day or two: retune often before judging the feel of a set.
- Tune each string with the requinto guitar tuner.
Frequently asked questions
What strings does a requinto use?
Nylon trebles and wound basses, like a classical guitar but made for A D G C E A. The D'Addario EJ94 runs .022, .028, .033, .025w, .030w and .036w.
Can I use classical guitar strings on a requinto?
Not as a set. The requinto is tuned a fourth higher on a shorter scale, so the gauges are different; requinto sets like the EJ94 or Galli RE601–RE606 are made for it.
How much tension is on a requinto?
About 69 lb (31 kg) for the EJ94, according to D'Addario, between 9.7 and 12.4 lb per string. The calculator gives 71 lb (32 kg) on a 540 mm scale.
What are the notes of the requinto strings?
From the 6th string to the 1st: A2 (110.00 Hz), D3 (146.83 Hz), G3 (196.00 Hz), C4 (261.63 Hz), E4 (329.63 Hz) and A4 (440.00 Hz).