How to Play Triangle Like a Pro: Expert Tips for Percussionists
- Nathan Coles
- May 14
- 5 min read
The triangle is one of the most deceptively simple percussion instruments. But in the hands of a skilled player, it can be a source of exquisite musical expression. In this post, we’ll explore how to play triangle with confidence, focusing on a professional player’s insights that can help you unlock its true potential.
Table of Contents
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Meet Your Instructor
Josh Jones is a Black Swamp artist and an accomplished percussionist with a remarkable journey from performing in church at age five to becoming Principal Percussionist of the Grant Park Orchestra. Trained under Patricia Dash (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and Douglas Waddell (Lyric Opera of Chicago) through the prestigious Percussion Scholarship Group (PSG), Josh has performed on major stages, earned national awards, and held positions with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony. His expertise and passion for percussion make him an outstanding guide for your triangle journey.
Understanding Triangle Technique
Before diving into how to play triangle, it’s important to understand the core of good technique. At its best, triangle playing is a balance of comfort, control, and musicality. That begins with how you hold the triangle, your posture, and your approach to striking the instrument.
Holding the Triangle Comfortably
One of the most important aspects of playing triangle well is maintaining a comfortable, relaxed grip. Josh recommends using a triangle clip with your thumb resting in the hole and your index finger wrapping around it. This helps avoid unnecessary tension in the fingers and wrist.
To ensure maximum control, make sure your forearm is in a natural resting position, with the shoulder relaxed. Start by positioning the triangle at nose level, then adjust it to a height where your arm can comfortably rest without raising the shoulder.
Practical Tip: Fine-Tune Your Grip
If you find that your grip causes tension, try slightly adjusting the curve of your index finger or exploring a different position. Always prioritize comfort—it directly impacts your control and sound quality.
How to Play Triangle: Essential Techniques
Finding the Perfect Single Note
Josh demonstrates that a key aspect of triangle playing is discovering the sweet spot for single notes. Start by experimenting with different areas of the triangle, listening for a clear, resonant tone. On Josh's 7" Legacy Bronze Triangle, he finds the sweet spot near the bottom corner where the bend in the triangle can be found.
"The more control you have over the single notes, the better your playing overall is going to get."
Recent studies have shown that the triangle's unique shape allows for the formation of standing waves within its semi-open triangular air cavity. When struck at the corner, these standing waves are more effectively excited, resulting in a sound rich in overtones and increased amplitude. This phenomenon occurs because striking the corner stimulates multiple vibration paths simultaneously, enhancing the instrument's resonant qualities.
Playing Multiple Notes
When playing fast passages, the best approach is to maintain a stable grip and use minimal wrist motion. This allows for better precision and avoids unnecessary tension.
Adjusting Your Strike for Musicality
Every triangle has a unique voice. Experiment with your striking angle, speed, and strength to discover a wide range of sounds. Moving your arms opposite of the other will help as you adjust your striking hand from single notes to rolls.
Naturally, your striking arm will lift to be parallel with the floor to achieve a triangle. The arm holding the triangle should lower enough to meet the striking arm in a balanced position.
Exploring Sound Zones
The triangle is a versatile instrument because of its various sound zones. Josh suggests exploring the different sides of the triangle to discover how each area can produce a distinct tone.
Black Swamp Artist, JB Leclere, also discusses this topic briefly. Demonstrating that the corners of the triangle will produce more overtones in the instrument whereas the bar or side of the triangle will produce more of a fundamental pitch.
Tip: Develop a Mental Sound Map
Take the time to practice and memorize which areas of your triangle produce bright, dark, or balanced tones.
Adjusting for Speed and Precision
Building Speed Without Losing Control
To maintain speed without sacrificing accuracy, focus on minimizing large arm movements. Instead, rely on small wrist movements for quick passages. The upstroke should be a point of focus. Using a book like Stick Control to practice is a great technique. Josh recommends using just the first page as a warm up. Treat the Right hand as a down stroke and the Left hand as an up stroke (or vice versa).
Fine-Tuning with Fine Twitch Muscles
A unique technique for speed is using your fine twitch muscles—tiny, fast muscle movements in your wrist and fingers. Practicing this technique can significantly increase your speed and control.
How to Play Triangle: Choosing and Holding Your Beater
Not all triangle beaters are created equal. Josh recommends choosing a beater that is comfortable in your hand and suits the sound you want to produce. He demonstrates how to hold the beater in a way that allows for both flexibility and control. The bottom of the beater rests at the base of the pinky with the middle finger balancing the rest of the beater. The remaining fingers allow support for the beater and something to rebound against.
Follow our Triangle & Beater Buying Guide to find the right instrument selection for your needs.
Developing Control with Fine Twitch Muscles
To gain control, practice using the fine twitch muscles in your wrist. This allows for rapid, controlled movements, especially for fast, delicate passages.
How to Play Triangle Rolls with Ease
When performing rolls, let the triangle do most of the work. A gentle, steady movement is all you need to maintain a clear, sustained sound.
"Let the triangle do all the work"
Rolling too fast can create "too much information" and can result in the instrument being overplayed. Find a balance of movement from the beater and the sound resulting from that motion. Use your ears to evaluate how the instrument blends in context.
BSP Artist, Andrea Venet, has a great lesson on achieving the perfect triangle roll every time. Don't skip it!
Gear Tour: The Professional Setup
For this lesson Josh uses a 7" Legacy Bronze Triangle with a Black Swamp triangle clip for maximum comfort. Josh also recommends using a versatile triangle beater that feels balanced in your hand, like the Teardrop Spectrum Beater.
7" Legacy Bronze Triangle
Model: LBT7
Bronze Teardrop Spectrum Beater
Model: SPEC4
Triangle Clip
Model: TRCLIP
Student Action Plan: Apply What You’ve Learned
Start by experimenting with your grip and triangle position.
Explore different sound zones and memorize your favorites.
Practice single notes with a focus on clarity.
Develop speed using fine twitch muscles.
Master triangle rolls with a relaxed technique.
Reflect and Explore
The triangle is far more than a simple metal shape—it’s a canvas for expression. Keep experimenting, stay curious, and make every note count. For more expert insights and tutorials, don’t forget to subscribe to the Black Swamp Newsletter.
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