Bell Sound Effects

In the Avosound Online Sound Archive you will find a great selection of bell sounds and ringing bells and bell sound effects. The choices include bicycle bells, door bells, cow bell sound effects and sleigh bells, tubular bells, bell plates, and, of course, church bells.

Bell sounds are an everyday sound around the world -- and we often don't even notice them anymore because they are so commonplace (unless you live next door to a church, that is).

But bells are not only found in churches, they traditionally have also been serving other purposes (e.g. signalling and alarms). Maybe bells have been popular throughout the centuries because they are incredibly practical and yet so simple to use.

Bell Sounds - A History

According to archeological discoveries in China, bells date back roughly 3,000 BCE. These ancient bells were made from ceramics and pre-date the cast bells and the ones made of brass. It is said that even the Egyptians used to make metal bells and hang them from ropes in the towers. The sound of these bell plates could be heard many miles away, which made them ideal as alarm signals.

Bells Sounds - Made In China

The high quality of the metal bells hints at considerable metallurgical know-how in the 15th century BCE during the Chinese bronze age. Even back then, bells were cast with a very specific pitch in mind. In China they were used for ceremonial purposes, rituals and ceremonies of state. These bells also found use in temples and shrines outside of China, where they can still be found in great abundance.

Bells in the Temple

Bell sounds find frequent use in buddhist temples. Buddhist temples and monasteries often feature quite a number of standing or hanging brass and metal bells of considerable size that are struck with a wooden bar. Depending on the size of the location, you can find lots of smaller bells or sleigh bells ringing in the wind in stupas or at the top of temples.

Even today these bell sounds and noises can be heard in Myanmar's monasteries.

Bell Sounds - Metal Bells

In the western world, bell sound have traditionally had a strong symbolic connection to the church. To make their sound heard across many miles, the bells were hung in high towers. The mightier the building, the bigger the size of the bells. And the bigger the bell, the deeper its sound. These bells - several feet high and weighing tons - would then be hung in gigantic cathedral spires where they remain to this day, making their unique sound heard across the lands.

Bells were also mounted to public buildings to announce the time. Bells will either ring the time every quarter of an hour or every hour.

Bell Sounds - Church Bells

The sound of church bells differs depending on the size and architecture of the church. Monasteries, for example, tend to use smaller bells, while churches are a little more ostentatious about their oversized bells. Bells can sound individually, in groups, or all together.

In this context, bells have a ceremonial character as well. For festivities, all bells will usually ring at the same time. Sombre occasions might just require the sound of the deepest bell.

Bell Sounds in the Middle Ages

Apart from their religious connotations, bells were used in the middle ages to alert the people and the authorities. The striking of the bell(s) is used to announce the time to this day (much to the annoyance of many neighbours). Some of the more impressive bell towers even featured a glockenspiel––which made them known around the country. Alarm bells would ring whenever there was an attack or a fire. Those banished from the city or village could count themselves lucky if the only thing chasing them was the sound of the shame bell. Because the blood bells would announce an unkindly verdict from the worldly court in town.

Alarm Bells

As bells became easier to manufacture, cities were equipped with bells announcing alarms and storms. Before the constant cacophony of the industrial age, you could still the night porter's bell throughout the city. Bells announcing alarms and storms were equally prominent and their sound would carry from one end of the city to the other. The great benefit of bells was the amount of people you could reach in a short time and without much effort.

Bicycle Bells

To this day, bells play a significant role in our society: bells and sleigh bells can be found on ships; they were used on trains and streetcars before the invention of electrical or pressurised air horns; and, of course, they can be found on almost every bicycle.

	Filename	Description	info	Channels	Duration	ShortID	Category	Subcategory
1	Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Random.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Random	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Bicycle
2	Bells,Ring,Light,Slow,Constant.wav	Bell: Bells Ring Light Slow Constant	i	1.0	0:54	Bell	Bell
3	ChurchEvercreech.BBC.EC91Gd.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Ringing Down In Peals, Ringing Ends. (Evercreech Church, Somerset.)	i	2.0	2:31	Bell	Bell Church
4	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,3,3.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 3 3	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
5	Bell,Hand,Brass,Languid.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Languid	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
6	Ding,Bell,Hit,Quick,Bend Down.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Hit Quick Bend Down	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
7	CathedralsBells.BBC.EC2B1.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: St Pauls, Bells Pealing Finishes.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Church
8	Bell,Boxing,Ring,1x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 1x	i	1.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Boxing
9	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Stern.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Stern	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
10	Bell-Tibetan-Prayer-Wheel-01.wav	Bell, Small: Tibetan Bell From Prayer Wheel	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell	Bell
11	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_2.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking Three-quarters	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Church
12	Bell,Metal,Rhythmic,Soft,Medium.wav	Bell: Bell Metal Rhythmic Soft Medium	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell
13	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD90a.wav	Bell, Cathedral: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells, Pealing, With Distant Traffic - 1972 (2B1, Reprocessed)	i	2.0	5:00	Bell	Bell Cathedral
14	CathedralsGermany.BBC.EC46B.wav	Bell, Church: Munster Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	6:03	Bell	Bell Church
15	Cowbell,Ring,Gentle.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Irregular	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Cowbell
16	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qa.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Quarter-hour - SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell Clock
17	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
18	CathedralBirming.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: St. Philip"s Cathedral, Birmingham - Ringing.	i	2.0	2:57	Bell	Bell Church
19	EFX EXT BikeBellHouse 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings Around Corner Of House	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Bicycle
20	Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_5.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - CU - Single Ding	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Gas Station
21	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bk.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:34	Bell	Bell Clock
22	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104k.wav	Bell, Clock: Carfax Tower, Oxford (interior Perspective) - 1/4 Hour	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
23	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Sd.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 7 O"clock	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
24	EFX Meditation Bowl 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Meditation Bowl, Strike, Ring	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell
25	Tones-ChurchBells-ClockTowe.wav	Tones - Church Bells - Clock Tower Bell Strikes 3 4 Hours - C U - Light City Background Before Bell Strikes @ 0 11	i	2.0	0:46	Bell	Bell Church
26	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gd.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
27	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Af.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
28	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vj.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 10 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
29	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Bd.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 12 O"clock	i	2.0	1:23	Bell	Bell Clock
30	Tones-ClassicBicycleBell-_1.wav	Tones - Classic Bicycle Bell - Reverberant Ring	i	1.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
31	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pe.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
32	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cd.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Clock
33	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fg.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Clock
34	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ja.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
35	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ab.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
36	ShipsBells.BBC.ECD5.wav	Bell, Ship: Car Ferry, Watertight Door Open And Close, Bell Warns Of Closing. (Car Ferry ""St. Nicholas"", 17, 400 Tons, Built 1980.)	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Ship
37	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Db.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Clock
38	ChildrenPlaying.BBC.EC76Dd.wav	Crowd, Children: Crowd, Children: Junior School Playground, Bell Rings And Children Leave Playground. (8-9 Year-old Children.)	i	2.0	1:12	Bell	Bell School
39	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qd.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:44	Bell	Bell Clock
40	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Dist,4.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Dist 4	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
41	ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14f.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Ticking.	i	2.0	1:01	Bell	Bell Clock
42	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC91E.wav	Bell, Church: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	7:04	Bell	Bell Church
43	EFX INT Bell B 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Large Metal Bell, Ring Bell, Heavy Ding And Long Decay, Distant	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell
44	Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_3.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Gas Station
45	ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Jb.wav	Bell, Clock: St. Clement Danes Church Clock, Striking Half-hour	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
46	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sg.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Clock
47	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Sh.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 11 O"clock	i	2.0	0:50	Bell	Bell Clock
48	EFX INT Prayer Bowl 13.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Prayer Bowl Ding, Ring Out, Soft	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell
49	Tones-BongsGongs-Gong-Int-C.wav	Tones - Bongs Gongs - Gong - Int - CU - Large, Metal, Hard Hit W Ring, 1 Softer Hit, Metal Sqeaks And Creaks On Swing Back And Forth	i	2.0	0:51	Bell	Gong Metal
50	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Hc.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
51	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ae.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
52	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Xd.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	1:04	Bell	Bell Clock
53	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ca.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. Quater-hour	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
54	Tones-ChurchBellsFromNear_5.wav	Tones - Church Bells From Nearby Street - Ext - Distant City Traffic Wash, Bells From Second Church Audible Os, Some Pedestrian Movement, Coughs And Light Walla, Light Footsteps, Some Mic Bumps	i	2.0	3:44	Bell	Bell Church
55	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pj.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
56	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bf.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
57	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Eh.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Clock
58	Tones-SchoolBell-Interior-M.wav	Tones - School Bell - Interior - Medium - Long Ring In Hall	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell School
59	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jg.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
60	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Af.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
61	BellsHandBells.BBC.EC25Ab.wav	Bell, Hand: Hand Bell Ringing. (Medium Note)	i	2.0	0:37	Bell	Bell Hand
62	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Rh.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
63	LeicesterSquare.BBC.ECD104.wav	Swiss Centre, Leicester Square - Bell Strikes 6 Into Carrillion Of Traditional Tunes (some Voices In Background)	i	2.0	5:16	Bell	Bell
64	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Rc.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Clock
65	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 2	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle
66	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Slow	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
67	Bells,Jingle,Dampen,Stop,Slow.wav	Bell: Bells Jingle Dampen Stop Slow	i	1.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Jingle
68	Godmanchester.BBC.EC91Nb.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Half-muffled Bells Pealing And Stopping. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire.)	i	2.0	3:02	Bell	Bell Church
69	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,Slow2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High Slow2	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Bicycle
70	Bells,Noon,Prague,Crowd,2.wav	Bell: Bells Noon Prague Crowd 2	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell
71	Ding,Bell,Bend Up,Low.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Bend Up Low	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
72	BellsMytholmroyd.BBC.EC2B6a.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: One Bell Rung. St. Michael"s Parish Church, Mytholmroyd.	i	2.0	2:15	Bell	Bell Church
73	Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast,High.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast High	i	1.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Boxing
74	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Light.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Light	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
75	JingleBellDown_S08FO.1366.wav	Foley, Jingle, Bell, Set, Down, Drop, Wobble, Christmas, Holiday	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Jingle
76	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_9.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 7 O"clock	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell Church
77	Bell,Large,Old,Hit,One,Chaang.wav	Bell: Bell Large Old Hit One Chaang	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell
78	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD68b.wav	Bell, Cathedral: Odense Cathedral Bells Carillon	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Cathedral
79	CathedralsLincoln.BBC.EC37E.wav	Bell, Church: Lincoln Cathedral, General Atmosphere With Footsteps And Occasional Speech. (Echo)	i	2.0	6:39	Bell	Bell Church
80	Cowbell,Hit,Door,Muted,Bounce.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Faint	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Cowbell
81	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qh.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 5 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
82	BellsDoor.BBC.EC25Ac.wav	Bell, Door: Old-fashioned Door Bell Ringing. (High Note)	i	2.0	0:46	Bell	Bell Door
83	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Sa.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Seven O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
84	Bells.BBC.EC1003Aa.wav	Goat Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	1:10	Bell	Bell
85	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ma.wav	Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
86	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,1 1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 1 1	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle
87	Bells,Fairy,Tinkle,Long.wav	Bell: Bells Fairy Tinkle Long	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell
88	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC46C.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (Unidentified Foreign Location.)	i	2.0	5:19	Bell	Bell Church
89	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Doppler,By5.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Doppler By5	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
90	Bell,Small,Ring,Clatter,Short,x6,Facing Down.wav	Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Clatter, Short, X6, Facing Down	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell
91	Bells,Small,Jingle,Soft,Fast.wav	Bell: Bells Small Jingle Soft Fast	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Jingle
92	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B4d.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Bristol Maximus, From Interior, St. Mary-Le-Bow.	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
93	Bell,Boxing,Electronic,Beep,2.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Electronic Beep 2	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Boxing
94	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Blurry.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Blurry	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
95	ChristmasBells_S08FO.573.wav	Foley, Christmas, Bells, Single, Shake, Holiday	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell
96	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_4.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 2 O"clock	i	2.0	0:42	Bell	Bell Church
97	Bell,Door,Ring,Toll,Decay.wav	Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Toll Decay	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Door
98	BicyclesBells.BBC.ECD5.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle, 1936 Raleigh Sports Model, Passing With Bell From Left To Right.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Bicycle
99	Tones-Bells-CU-6InchBrass,F.wav	Tones - Bells - C U - 6 Inch Brass, Five Single Hits	i	1.0	0:51	Bell	Bell Brass
100	Cow,Moo,Irritated,MedDist.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Bounce	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Cowbell