tealc

tealc is a command-line Tension Estimate cALCulator for stringed instruments. Users can calculate tensions for single strings or string sets. Estimates are available for most common string materials for acoustic and electric instruments. Tension estimates are based on published data from major US string manufacturers.

Tensions estimates should be regarded as just that: estimates only, approximate tensions under ideal conditions. Variations in acutal string length due to bridge compensation, environmental conditions, string age, and and manufacturing tolerances all affect the actual tension of a string. Use estimates from tealc as a guide only.

Requirements

The principal requirement is a working Python 3 installation or virtual environment.

Officially, only Linux and Windows are supported. However, tealc can run on other systems can run on other platforms such as the BSDs and macOS, provided:

1. the user has write permissions to the platform's (or environment's) Python install directory (generally Scripts/), and
2. the install directory is on the user's PATH.

Installation

python -m pip install -U tealc

Usage

tealc contains these subcommands:

• tealc string: Calucate tension estimate for a single string.
• tealc set: Calculate tension estimates for a string set.
• tealc file: Calculate string set tension estimates from a file.
• tealc materials: Print a chart of string material codes and descriptions.
• tealc help: Open the tealc manual.

tealc string

Usage: tealc string [OPTIONS] GAUGE MATERIAL PITCH LENGTH

REQUIRED

GAUGE

String gauge in inches, 1/1000in, or mm with the --si flag. Inch gauges may optionally be in thousandths of an inch: 11 or .011 are both valid and produce the same output.

MATERIAL

Short code for string construction material. Options:

code	material
ps	plain steel
nps	nickel plated steel wound
pb	phosphor bronze wound
8020	80/20 bronze wound
8515	85/15 bronze wound
ss	stainless steel roundwound
fw	stainless steel flatwound
pn	pure nickel wound

PITCH

Tuned pitch of string in scientific pitch notation, from A0-E5. Middle C is C4, and A440 is A4. Octaves change at C: A2, B2 is followed by C3, D3, ..., A3, B3, C4, ...

Examples of open-string pitches in standard tunings:

• Guitar: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4
• Bass: (B0), E1, A1, D2, G2
• Mandolin/violin: G3, D4, A4, E5
• Banjo: G4, D3, G3, B3, D4

LENGTH

Scale length of the instrument in inches, 1/1000in, or mm with the --si flag.

OPTIONAL

--si

Supply gauge and length arguments in millimenters. Tension is returned in kilograms (converted from pounds; used in place of Newtons.)

EXAMPLES

tealc string .011 ps E4 25.5

tealc string --si 1.37 pb E2 632.5

tealc set

usage: tealc set [OPTIONS]

REQUIRED

-l, --length

Scale length, just as in `tealc string`

-s, --string <GAUGE MATERIAL PITCH>...

Repeated option, per string for the entire set. Requiremnts for the sub-arguments in <GAUGE MATERIAL PITCH> are just as in "tealc string".

OPTIONAL

--si

Supply set-wide --length and per-string GAUGE arguments in millimenters inctead of inches. Tension is returned in kilograms.

--title TEXT

An optional title for the output chart.

EXAMPLES

tealc set -l 25.5 -s 10 ps e4 13 -s 13 ps b3 -s 17 ps g3 -s 26 nps d3 \
    -s 36 nps a3 46 -s 46 nps e2

tealc set -l 34 -s 45 bfw g2 -s 60 bfw d2 -s 80 bfw a1 -s 105 bfw e1 \
    --title "Bass Flatwound Mediums"

tealc file

usage: tealc file SETFILE

REQUIRED:

SETFILE

A file formatted using the format:

length = LENGTH
GAUGE MATERIAL PITCH
[GAUGE MATERIAL PITCH]
[...]
[si = True or False]

An example SETFILE for a common set of light gauge ("10's") electric guitar strings on a Fender-scale instrument, with nickel plated steel wound strings, would look like this:

length = 25.5
10 ps e4
13 ps b3
17 ps g3
26 nps d3
36 nps a2
46 nps e2

The length = ... line and at least one GAUGE MATERIAL PITCH line are required.

si = False is not required, and the SetFileParser.si attribute defaults to False if no si = ... line is included.

OPTIONAL:

--si

Show output chart units in mm/kg.

--title TEXT

An optional title for the output chart.

EXAMPLE:

tealc file ~/path/to/setfile

tealc materials

Print a chart of material codes and their descriptions.

tealc help

Print a man page style help manual to the terminal (a formatted version of this Usage section).