The triangle is a musical instrument that has long been the butt of jokes. It’s commonly seen as a simple, easy instrument that requires no specialist ability to play and as gratuitous, a useless piece of percussion that doesn’t contribute anything to musical pieces.
However, this is far from the truth. Believe it or not, triangles are in fact historically significant instruments and remains so today. The triangle is certainly not a joke instrument.
Here, we’re going to explore the history of the triangle, famous musical pieces that feature the triangle, some techniques on how to play the triangle, and where you can find yourself a triangle teacher.
You’ll see that there’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to the triangle.
What is the Triangle?
As the name suggests, the triangle is a percussion instrument that is crafted out of a bar of metal which is bent into a triangle shape. And, like most percussion instruments, it is struck – typically with a metal beater, which emits a high-pitched, ringing tone. Similar to the marimba and the xylophone, the triangle is an idiophone, a musical instrument that creates sound primarily by the vibration of the instrument itself, without the use of air flow, strings, membranes or electricity.
You might have noticed that the triangle is not exactly a whole triangle. In fact, one of the angles is left open. There’s an explanation for this. If the instrument was a whole triangle, when it is struck it would emit a definite pitch. However, with the corner missing, the triangle can create many rich non-harmonic overtones – which lends the instrument its distinctive sound.
When playing the triangle, you will also need what is commonly known as a ‘triangle holder’ – a loop from which the triangle is hung – in order to avoid muting the instrument’s resonance.
Other than in the classroom, the triangle is used in many different musical contexts. In samba music, a lot Brazilian traditional music, and classical music. And, we think that if Brahms is willing to make use of the triangle, you shouldn’t underestimate it either.
A Short History of the Triangle
How did this instrument come to exist? How has something so simple – and objectively so limited – come to be found in different musical genres worldwide? The answer to these questions goes back hundreds and thousands of years.
The triangle was developed from the Egyptian sistrum and, like its predecessor, was largely used for religious purposes. It has been present in Europe since Medieval times, sometimes in trapezoidal form or as a non-equilateral isosceles triangle. These early triangles often had three rings on the lower bar which produced a continuous jingle when struck.
Several paintings from the Middle Ages depict the instrument being played by angels. Indeed, according to some sources, the triangle is the second most common instrument, after the cymbal, played by angels in religious images.
Along with cymbals and bass drums, triangles were fundamental to the Turkish Janissary music in 18th-century Europe. It was also introduced to Western classical orchestra at that time, used by Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms.
In the 19th century, the rings vanished from the lower bar and it began to be used purely for its sound, as in Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major (Triangle Concerto). This is the first piece to make the triangle really prominent, it is used as a solo instrument in the second movement.
Considering all that, it is clear to us that the triangle is a historically important instrument. In addition, as mentioned above, the instrument has also been popular in some genres of Brazilian music – including samba and forró.
The Different Kinds of Triangles
Like lots of percussion instruments, there is no one single type of triangle. Actually, it comes in a variety of sizes.
Most triangles range in size from four to ten inches. The preferred size for orchestra and concert bands is between six and nine inches. The size impacts the sound that the instrument emits, larger ones may be louder but they emit lower pitches, while the smaller ones are more high in pitch.
As there is no “correct” triangle size, it is up to the percussionist to choose an instrument of suitable sonority for each particular work. For example, larger triangles are more suitable for pieces from the Romantic period.
You can also get different types of beaters, the size and weight of which also effect the sound. Typically, heavier beaters of various metals produce the most sonorous sounds. Very quiet notes can be achieved by using a lighter beater – knitting needles are sometimes used for the quietest notes. A wooden beater can also be used instead of a metal one to give a “duller” and quieter tone.
The manner in which the triangle is suspended is vital to the quality of sound emitted. Sometimes triangles are played using a stand – but more often than not the percussionist uses a holder or string loop as mentioned above. Since the triangle is a highly resonant instrument and must be free to vibrate, a decent triangle clip with a very thin suspension line is crucial.
A suspension line that is too thick or heavy will stop the triangle from vibrating and it will emit an undesirable sound. The most ideal material to use is fishing line, which is readily available and inexpensive. When tying the line to the clip, do not leave too much slack or the triangle may turn when played.
Discover more about the various kinds of percussion instruments!
Renowned Triangle Performances
To prove to you that the triangle is no joke, we can look at some famous musical pieces where it has been put to extraordinary use. And, as you’ll see, the use of the triangle has an incredible impact, without which these pieces of music would not be the same.
Johannes Brahms – Symphony No. 4 (Third Movement)
The third movement of Brahms’s Fourth Symphony is one of the most renowned uses of the triangle in classical music. Marked 'Allegro giocoso' (fast and playful), the use of the triangle, along with the piccolo, contributes to the high spirits and raw energy of the piece.
And if you have watched a video of an orchestra performing this piece, you will have seen the concentration on the triangle player’s face.
Franz Liszt – Piano Concerto No. 1 (Second Movement)
The frequent and prominent use of the triangle led to this piece being mocked as a "Triangle Concerto". The triangle begins the movement, with strings and the piano following. The use of the triangle lends the piece a dynamic and rhythmic effect, and the movement is decidedly jocular in character.
Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 – Casa Forte
It's not just classical music that features the triangle. We’ve said before that a fair amount of Brazilian music also makes frequent use of the triangle.
Take Sérgio Mendes and Brasil ’66’s "Casa Forte" for example. Sérgio Mendes plays Bossa nova, a style of samba developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When he created the new group Brasil ’66, the heavy use of percussion (including the triangle!) gave their music a more orchestral sound.
Learn how to play the marimba or even the xylophone!
Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
"Inner City Blues", is the third and final single and the climactic song of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 landmark album, What's Going On. The song progresses with a leisurely pace with a subdued and bleak mood, yet the performance is also lively, with bass, percussion, and vocals exuding energy.
This soul/funk tune begins with piano and the triangle, accompanied by a steady drone and accentuated on the downbeats by a kick drum. Percussion instruments enter, gradually filling out the groove.
Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
"Big Yellow Taxi" is a song written, composed, and originally recorded by Joni Mitchell in 1970, and released on her album Ladies of the Canyon. The triangle plays a key role in the song.
While each verse is up-tempo with a clear, strong vocal delivery, Mitchell makes a dramatic shift in volume and intensity for the key lines, ’Don’t it always seem to go …’ All of the percussion except the triangle drops out, adding importance to the next to last line and creating a tension that is immediately resolved with the last lines of the refrain, ’They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.’
Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther Theme
"The Pink Panther Theme" is an instrumental composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther. The triangle plays a major part in this feline classic, played by Francis Cappuccio. In his autobiography Did They Mention the Music? Mancini talked about how he composed the theme music: “I told [the animators] that I would give them a tempo they could animate to, so that any time there were striking motions, someone getting hit, I could score to it.”
Radiohead - The Tourist
"The Tourist" is the final song of Radiohead’s third studio album OK Computer released in 1997. The song, like the album, distances itself from the guitar-centred, lyrically introspective style of their previous music.
Jonny Greenwood said, "'The Tourist' doesn't sound like Radiohead at all. It has become a song with space." OK Computer features more elaborate and layered arrangements with a wide variety of instruments. For example, the triangle at the end of "The Tourist" characterises Radiohead’s new augmented sound.
The soft metallic percussion on "The Tourist" was previously thought to be a glockenspiel but is actually a triangle played by Phil, as Nigel explained to RollingStone. The final 'ding' of the triangle is the last sound you hear of the song, and the album. As Greenwood said, "It sounds like the last song on an album". You could say it ends on a high note!
Usher - Yeah
"Yeah!" is a song by Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon, the later also producing the song. Lil Jon incorporated crunk and R&B—which he coined as crunk&B—in the song's production. The song was released as the lead single from Usher's fourth studio album Confessions in 2004.
Once you hear the triangle in "Yeah!", you can’t un-hear it. The ringing of the triangle can heard throughout the entire song.
Ludacris - Southern Hospitality ft. Pharrell
"Southern Hospitality" is the second single from Ludacris's album Back for the First Time, released in 2000. Similarly to Usher’s “Yeah!”, the triangle can be heard throughout this hip-hop track.
Triangle Playing Techniques
So, you’ve learned about some renowned uses of the triangle. Before you pick up the instrument and start playing yourself, we need to cover technique - because as we’ve learnt, it’s not that straightforward. Here we will explore three techniques: the basic strike, the roll, and the muted bossa nova technique as heard in ‘Casa Forte’.
Holding the Triangle
Before you begin to play, you need to position the triangle correctly. Attach the triangle clip by looping the string onto the open corner and pulling the string to the first closed corner you reach.
The clip should be held between the ring finger and the thumb with the pointer on top. Hold the triangle in the weaker of the two hands. If you are right-handed, hold the triangle in your left hand with the open corner pointing in the left direction. If you’re left-handed, do the opposite.
This method leaves the other fingers free for muting the triangle. You should play the triangle with one hand while suspending it with the other. By holding the instrument up, the sound is more easily projected and there are no extraneous stand sounds.
Striking the Triangle
Once you are holding the triangle correctly, you can now practice striking the instrument. Strike the triangle with the beater “pushing out” away from the body while holding the instrument at eye level. Then return your hand to its original position so that it resonates.
The instrument may be struck on the bottom or the side. Wherever the instrument is struck, it must be with a pushing motion since a slapping motion will produce a hard, metallic ping rather than a resonant tone.
The Triangle Roll
Once you’ve mastered the basic strike, you can attempt the triangle roll. Fast rhythms are played by placing the beater inside the instrument and quickly striking it back and forth from side to side. This will emit a jingling effect similar to a snare roll.
You could also suspend the triangle using a stand and strike it with one beater in each hand.
Muting the Triangle
To achieve a more rhythmic technique by muting the triangle, unloop the triangle holder and place the top corner of the triangle onto your left hand’s index finger (if you are right-handed). It should balance on that finger, enabling your other fingers to move. Do the opposite if you are left-handed.
Now you can utilise your free fingers to mute and unmute the triangle during a rhythm – just like they do in Brazil.
You could also play the tambourine or even the steel hang!
Find a Triangle Teacher
Like with any musical instrument, an experienced teacher would really enhance your technique.
However, there are very few teachers that work solely with the triangle. As the triangle is part of the percussion section, the best idea is to find a general percussion teacher.
You can find a percussion teacher easily with Superprof. We have a vast number of tutors available for tutoring worldwide – either in person or online. Simply search for a percussion tutor!
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