In 5G and 6G, beam alignment remains an arduous, time-consuming process. Procedures are disclosed herein for rapid and efficient beam alignment, by configuring a phased-array antenna to emit a “triangular beam”, which is a wide beam that varies in angle from a high power at angle-1 to a low power at angle-2, with a ramp-like intensity variation in the region between the two angles. Then a second signal is emitted, with the triangular distribution reversed (higher power at angle-2). A receiver can then measure the as-received amplitudes from the two triangular beams, calculate the ratio of signal reception from the two beams, and thereby determine the alignment angle. In another version, the transmitter transmits two non-directional pulses, and the receiver detects them using a triangular sensitivity distribution versus angle. By either method, the devices can align their beams using just two triangle beam pulses, saving substantial time, resources, and background generation.