How to Play the Triangle

Summary: The triangle is an idiophone type of percussion music instrument. It consists of a bar of metal, primarily steel in modern instruments, bent into a triangle shape. On the triangle instrument, one of the angles is left open and the ends of the bar don't quite touch. This causes the instrument to have an undetermined pitch. A triangle is either suspended from one of the other corners by a piece of thin wire or gut, leaving it free to vibrate or hooked over the hand. It is usually struck with a metal rod or beater, giving off a high-pitched ringing tone.

A triangle is usually a part of a larger drum or percussion set and played as an accent, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. In this free video series, our expert will show you how to play a triangle to get the best and clearest tones possible. Besides learning how a triangle is made, you'll learn how to properly hold a triangle, as well as some alternate techniques. You'll learn how to make sounds, how to roll or trill, how to mute a triangle, and how to play long and short notes. Everything you need to know to incorporate the triangle into your percussion or a musical piece is included in these video lessons. Watch and learn!