Triangle wave

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A triangle wave is a basic kind of non-sinusoidal waveform named for its triangular shape.

A bandlimited triangle wave pictured in the time domain (top) and frequency domain (bottom). The fundamental is at 220 Hz (A2).

Like a square wave, the triangle wave contains only odd harmonics. However, the higher harmonics roll off much faster than in a square wave (proportional to the inverse square of the harmonic number as opposed to just the inverse), and so its sound is smoother than a square wave and is nearer to that of a sine wave.

It is possible to approximate a triangle wave with additive synthesis by adding odd harmonics of the fundamental, multiplying every (4n−1)th harmonic by −1 (or changing its phase by [\pi]), and rolling off the harmonics by the inverse square of their relative frequency to the fundamental.

This infinite Fourier series converges to the triangle wave:

[x_\mathrm(t) = \frac \sum_^\infty \sin \left(\frac \right)\frac]

Animation of the additive synthesis of a triangle wave with an increasing number of harmonics

[Triangle wave sound sample] ([file info])
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* Problems listening to the file? See [Media helpmedia help].

Triangle wave

See also