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.
Library | Waveform | Filename | add | Description | info | Channels | Duration | ShortID | Category | Subcategory | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BicyclesBells.BBC.EC1001Cd.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell Ringing. | i |
2.0 | 0:19 | Bell |
Bell Bicycle |
||||
2 | BellsSleigh.BBC.EC25Db.wav | Bell, Sleigh: Sleigh Bells Ringing. | i |
2.0 | 1:06 | Bell | Bell Sleigh | ||||
3 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Dd.wav | Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking One O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:23 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
4 | BellsEvercreech.BBC.ECD151b.wav | Bell, Church: Grandsire Caters Rung - Ringing Ends (Evercreech, Somerset). | i |
2.0 | 2:53 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
5 | Cowbell,Ring,Gentle.wav | Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Irregular | i |
1.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Cowbell | ||||
6 | ConcertHall.BBC.EC74Ab.wav | Bell, Clock: Broadcasting House Concert Hall, String Quartet Tuning Up. | i |
2.0 | 0:41 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
7 | Bells,Fairy,Gliss,Appear.wav | Bell: Bells Fairy Gliss Appear | i |
2.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell | ||||
8 | ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Ba.wav | Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At St Francis Church, Valetta. | i |
2.0 | 1:50 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
9 | BellsSchools.BBC.ECD32.wav | School, Ambience: Greece: School Playground, Very Noisy With Children Shouting And Playing, Distant Traffic, Bell Rings And They Go In. | i |
2.0 | 2:14 | Bell | Bell School | School Ambience | |||
10 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bc.wav | Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Three O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:24 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
11 | CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2C9b.wav | Bell, Church: Large Crowd: Outside St. Paul"s Cathedral, Shouts Of Orders, Carriage Procession Arrives, Cheers. | i |
2.0 | 0:54 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
12 | EFX EXT BikeBellHouse 01.wav | Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings Around Corner Of House | i |
2.0 | 0:26 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
13 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Cb.wav | Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Two O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:26 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
14 | Bells,Small,Door,Jingle,High.wav | Bell: Bells Small Door Jingle High | i |
1.0 | 0:01 | Bell | Bell Jingle | ||||
15 | Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_20.wav | Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Multiple Rings | i |
2.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Door | ||||
16 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Af.wav | Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Six O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:19 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
17 | Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Doppler5.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Doppler5 | i |
2.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
18 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ge.wav | Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Two O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:18 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
19 | Abbeys.BBC.EC91Mb.wav | Bell, Church: St. Albans Abbey Bells, Ringing Down, Bells Stop. | i |
2.0 | 3:06 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
20 | EFX Meditation Bowl 01.wav | Bell: Bell, Interior, Meditation Bowl, Strike, Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:23 | Bell | Bell | ||||
21 | ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vg.wav | Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 7 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist) | i |
2.0 | 0:18 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
22 | BellDeskHand_S08FO.121.wav | Foley, Bell, Desk, Hand, Small | i |
2.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell | ||||
23 | Tones-BerlinChurchBells-Ext.wav | Tones - Berlin Church Bells - Exterior - MCU - Church Bells Ring 6x W Light Rain In Bg, Take Ends W Rain | i |
2.0 | 0:32 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
24 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cd.wav | Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Seven O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 1:03 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
25 | ChurchHorsmonden.BBC.EC91Ca.wav | Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Single Bell Ringing. (St. Margaret"s Church, Horsmonden, Kent.) | i |
2.0 | 6:43 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
26 | Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_7.wav | Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Brass | ||||
27 | Tones-ChurchBells-Ext-MCU_2.wav | Tones - Church Bells - Ext - MCU - 3 Different Size Bells For Small Rural Church, Variety Of Hits, Occasional Wind And Leaf Rustle, Occasional Light Bg Birds | i |
2.0 | 1:11 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
28 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ja.wav | Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Ten O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:22 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
29 | ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Dc.wav | Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 11 | i |
2.0 | 1:23 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
30 | Tones-DrawbridgeHandBell-CU.wav | Tones - Drawbridge Hand Bell - C U - Ten Hits Of The Bell, Some Os Traffic And Pedestrian Walla | i |
2.0 | 0:19 | Bell | Bell | ||||
31 | Bell,Bicycle,Ring,5,Slow.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 5 Slow | i |
2.0 | 0:06 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
32 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ug.wav | Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Seven O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.) | i |
2.0 | 0:07 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
33 | Bell,Bicycle,Rings,Messy1.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Rings Messy1 | i |
2.0 | 0:08 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
34 | ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Dg.wav | Bell, Clock: Gound Level With Traffic In 1969. Three-quarters | i |
2.0 | 0:38 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
35 | Bell,Door,Ring,Ding,Dong,Fast.wav | Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Ding Dong Fast | i |
2.0 | 0:01 | Bell | Bell Door | ||||
36 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Dc.wav | Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Six O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:46 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
37 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qe.wav | Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Two O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:47 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
38 | Bell,Small,Interior,Ring,Constant,Fast,Loose.wav | Bell: Bell, Small, Interior, Ring, Constant, Fast, Loose | i |
2.0 | 0:09 | Bell | Bell | ||||
39 | BellsKilbroney.BBC.EC91P.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (Kilbroney Parish Church, County Down.) | i |
2.0 | 3:03 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
40 | Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Lazy.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Lazy | i |
1.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
41 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36La.wav | Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Ten O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:29 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
42 | BellsPre-Reform.BBC.EC2B7d.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells: 3 Bells, At Random, Pre-Reformation Style, From Outside Church. St. Andrew"s Church, Toft, Cambs. | i |
2.0 | 3:27 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
43 | Bell,Bicycle,Ring,4,Detune2.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 4 Detune2 | i |
2.0 | 0:07 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
44 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ti.wav | Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.) | i |
2.0 | 0:10 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
45 | Bell,Bicycle,Rings,Loose,Fast.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Rings Loose Fast | i |
2.0 | 0:04 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
46 | ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104b.wav | Bell, Clock: French Clock (late 19th Century) - Strikes 12 | i |
2.0 | 0:21 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
47 | Bell,Church,Toll,Ding-Ding.wav | Bell: Bell Church Toll Ding-Ding | i |
1.0 | 1:36 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
48 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Df.wav | Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Nine O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:55 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
49 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qj.wav | Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Seven O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:58 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
50 | Bell,Hand,Polar POV,Ring,Single,Some faint birds BG.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Polar POV, Ring, Single, Some Faint Birds BG | i |
1.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
51 | BellsCatholic.BBC.EC91Dd.wav | Bell, Church: Catholic Church Bells, Sanctus Bell. | i |
2.0 | 0:52 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
52 | Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Joyful.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Joyful | i |
1.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
53 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lg.wav | Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Four O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:15 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
54 | ChurcheBellsCroy.BBC.EC91Ra.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells, Start Into Ringing. (St. John The Baptist"s Church, Croydon.) | i |
2.0 | 3:01 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
55 | Bells,Sleigh,Loose,x4.wav | Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose X4 | i |
1.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Sleigh | ||||
56 | ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Db.wav | Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Ahead. | i |
2.0 | 1:10 | Bell | Bell Ship | ||||
57 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ec.wav | Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:50 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
58 | Bells16thCentury.BBC.ECD91b.wav | Bell, Church: Exterior, 5 Bells Rung In The Style Used From The Reformation Until About The 17th Century - Rounds And Call Changes Recorded Outside Church (St. Mary And St. Andrew"s Church, Whittlesford, Cambs.) - 1982 (2B8, Reprocessed ) | i |
2.0 | 5:31 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
59 | Cowbell,Hit,Door,Muted,Bounce.wav | Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Faint | i |
1.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Cowbell | ||||
60 | ClocksChiming.BBC.ECD104d.wav | Bell, Clock: Bracket With St.Michael"s Chimes - 1/2 Hour | i |
2.0 | 0:12 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
61 | Bells,Carillon,Song,Sample.wav | Bell: Bells Carillon Song Sample | i |
2.0 | 1:33 | Bell | Bell | ||||
62 | CathedralsBells.BBC.EC100_1.wav | Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At Nidaros Cathedral. | i |
2.0 | 1:02 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
63 | SchoolsBells.BBC.ECD94b.wav | Crowd, School: Electric School Bell - 1980 (3C9, Reprocessed) | i |
2.0 | 0:15 | Bell | Bell School | ||||
64 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bi.wav | Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Nine O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:32 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
65 | CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2C9d.wav | Bell, Church: Large Crowd: Outside St. Paul"s Cathedral, Cheering And Whistling Builds Up. | i |
2.0 | 1:04 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
66 | 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 | ||||
67 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Cg.wav | Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Seven O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:33 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
68 | Bells,Sleigh,Light,Jingley.wav | Bell: Bells Sleigh Light Jingley | i |
1.0 | 0:18 | Bell | Bell Jingle | ||||
69 | Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_15.wav | Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Single Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Door | ||||
70 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ae.wav | Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Five O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:18 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
71 | Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Dist,Med.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Dist Med | i |
2.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
72 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gj.wav | Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Seven O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:28 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
73 | ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151d.wav | Bell, Church: Single Bell Ringing, English Village Church. | i |
2.0 | 3:21 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
74 | EFX INT Prayer Bowl 13.wav | Bell: Bell, Interior, Prayer Bowl Ding, Ring Out, Soft | i |
2.0 | 0:15 | Bell | Bell | ||||
75 | ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105We.wav | Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 5 O"clock. (All Saints Church) | i |
2.0 | 0:16 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
76 | Sleigh,Bells,Clunky,Long.wav | Bell: Sleigh Bells Clunky Long | i |
2.0 | 0:12 | Bell | Bell | ||||
77 | Tones-Bells-GasStationBell-.wav | Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings | i |
2.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell Gas Station | ||||
78 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bf.wav | Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour. | i |
2.0 | 0:24 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
79 | ChristChurch.BBC.EC91B.wav | Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Peal Of Six Bells. (Christ Church, Kilndown, Kent.) | i |
2.0 | 6:46 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
80 | Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_2.wav | Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Brass | ||||
81 | Tones-ChurchBells-CU-St.Ant.wav | Tones - Church Bells - C U - St. Anthony's Cathedral, Nine Big Rings | i |
1.0 | 0:35 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
82 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jg.wav | Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Four O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:12 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
83 | ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14c.wav | Bell, Clock: Big Ben Chiming Half Past The Hour. | i |
2.0 | 0:20 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
84 | Tones-DistantChurchBells-_1.wav | Tones - Distant Church Bells - Ext - Magdelen College Oxford Bells, Complex Orchestration Played On Church Bells, Recorded From A Distance, Part 2 | i |
2.0 | 2:52 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
85 | Bell,Hand,Medium Tone,Constant,Various,Some BG Birds.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Medium Tone, Constant, Various, Some BG Birds | i |
2.0 | 2:44 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
86 | CathedralsLondon.BBC.ECD4.wav | Bell, Church: Cathedral Atmosphere With Movement From Visitors And Distant Traffic. (Recorded At St. Paul"s Cathedral.) | i |
2.0 | 3:55 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
87 | Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Abrupt.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Abrupt | i |
1.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
88 | ChurcheBellsCroy.BBC.EC91Rb.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells, Ringing, Stop. (St. John The Baptist Church, Croydon.) | i |
2.0 | 3:01 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
89 | Bells,Sleigh,Loose,Perky.wav | Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose Perky | i |
1.0 | 0:09 | Bell | Bell Sleigh | ||||
90 | BellsHandBells.BBC.EC25C.wav | Bell, Hand: Small Bell, Short And Frantic Ringing. | i |
2.0 | 0:17 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
91 | ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qk.wav | Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 8 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul | i |
2.0 | 0:58 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
92 | CathedralsGermany.BBC.EC46E.wav | Bell, Church: Cologne Cathedral, Single Bell Tolling. | i |
2.0 | 6:01 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
93 | Cow,Moo,Irritated,MedDist.wav | Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Bounce | i |
1.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Cowbell | ||||
94 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Cf.wav | Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Six O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:15 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
95 | CathedralsGermany.BBC.EC4_1.wav | Bell, Church: Aachen Cathedral Bells Ringing. | i |
2.0 | 6:04 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
96 | BellsCattle.BBC.EC25Db.wav | Twelve Bells Ringing. (No Animal Sounds) | i |
2.0 | 1:19 | Bell | Bell | ||||
97 | ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104d.wav | Bell, Clock: Tom, Christ Church, Oxford - Strikes 12 (interior Perspective) | i |
2.0 | 1:22 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
98 | Godmanchester.BBC.ECD151a.wav | Bell, Church: Half-muffled - Starting, Pealing, Stopping At St Mary The Virgin Godmanchester. | i |
2.0 | 3:29 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
99 | EFX INT Apt. Door Bell 01.wav | Bell: Apt, Interior, Door Bell, Ding Dong, Inconsistent Rings, High Pitch, Very Metallic, Series | i |
2.0 | 0:42 | Bell | Bell | ||||
100 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Bc.wav | Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour. | i |
2.0 | 0:11 | Bell | Bell Clock |