Therefore, despite the number "three" being embedded in the name "sankyoku," various kinds of performances are possible, such as an ensemble of just shamisen and shakuhachi, an ensemble of just koto and kokyu, an ensemble of just shamisen and koto, an ensemble of just the leading shamisen and the second shamisen, a solo performance or even an ensemble of four instruments; however, these performances aren't called sankyoku gasso.
それゆえ、三という数にこだわらず、たとえば三味線と尺八だけ、箏と胡弓だけ、三味線と箏、あるいは三味線の本手と替手だけといった編成での演奏も行なわれるし、独奏や四種の楽器での合奏すら可能である（ただしそれらのような場合は三曲合奏とは言わない）。