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
1	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Dg.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
2	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wd.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 4 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
3	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104c.wav	Bell, Clock: English Clock (1715) - Strikes 12 Across Halway	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
4	Bells,Church,Prague,BG Crowd and Traffic.wav	Bells, Church, Prague, BG Crowd And Traffic	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Church
5	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_9.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Triple Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
6	Sleigh,Bells,Clunky,Long.wav	Bell: Sleigh Bells Clunky Long	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell
7	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Bright.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Bright	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
8	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Sh.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 11 O"clock	i	2.0	0:50	Bell	Bell Clock
9	Bell,Door,Ring,Toll,Decay,Lon.wav	Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Toll Decay Lon	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Door
10	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_1.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 2 O"clock	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
11	BellsEvercreech.BBC.ECD151a.wav	Bell, Church: Grandsire Triples Run - Ringing Ends (Evercreech, Somerset).	i	2.0	2:53	Bell	Bell Church
12	EFX INT Door Bedroom OC 08.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Door Bell, Long Hold, Ding, Dong	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell
13	Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Approach.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Approach	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Bicycle
14	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bg.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Clock
15	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ue.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Five O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.)	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Clock
16	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Nc.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
17	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Da.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Clock
18	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Med,Long.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Med Long	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
19	Tones-BicycleBell-4High-P_4.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 4 High-Pitched Rings, Last One Is Flanged	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
20	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_2.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
21	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC25Dc.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Many Bicycle Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Bicycle
22	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Se.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Clock
23	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ca.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. Quater-hour	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
24	BellsDoor.BBC.EC25Ab.wav	Bell, Door: Old-fashioned Door Bell Ringing. (Medium Note)	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Door
25	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2C9c.wav	Bell, Church: Large Crowd: Outside St. Paul"s Cathedral, Shouts Of Orders, Carriage Procession Arrives, Cheers.	i	2.0	1:45	Bell	Bell Church
26	EFX EXT Tram Bell 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Tram Or Street Car Bell Ding	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
27	Bells,Fairy,Short,Gliss Up.wav	Bell: Bells Fairy Short Gliss Up	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell
28	ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151c.wav	Bell, Church: Peal Of 6 Bells, English Village Church.	i	2.0	6:47	Bell	Bell Church
29	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 2	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle
30	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Hb.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:34	Bell	Bell Clock
31	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ce.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	1:04	Bell	Bell Clock
32	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qa.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
33	ChurchEvercreech.BBC.EC91Gb.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Grandsire Caters Rung, Ringing Ends. (Evercreech Church, Somerset.)	i	2.0	2:58	Bell	Bell Church
34	Tones-ChurchBells-St.HavelC.wav	Tones - Church Bells - St. Havel Church - C U - 2 Bells Constant (Simultaneous Hits), Calling Mass	i	2.0	1:49	Bell	Bell Church
35	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wk.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell Clock
36	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Tf.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Six O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Clock
37	BellsSleigh.BBC.EC1010Gb.wav	Horse Trotting Fast, With Sleigh Bells.	i	2.0	1:41	Bell	Bell
38	Bell,Antique,1800s,Polar POV,Hit,x3,Some faint BG birds.wav	Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Polar POV, Hit, X3, Some Faint BG Birds	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Antique
39	Bells,Small,Jingle,Quiet,Long.wav	Bell: Bells Small Jingle Quiet Long	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Jingle
40	Bell,Hand,Brass,Gentle.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Gentle	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
41	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD91f.wav	Bell, Church: St. Sepulchre"s Church, High Holborn, Known As "bells Of Old Bailey", Exterior, Aborted Cambridge Surprise Maximus, Ends - 1985 (2B9, Reprocessed )	i	2.0	1:15	Bell	Bell Church
42	Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast	i	1.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Boxing
43	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ve.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
44	BellsRochdale.BBC.EC2B3b.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Inside Porch, St. Chads Parish Church, Rochdale.	i	2.0	4:45	Bell	Bell Church
45	Bell,Tone,Class,Change,Feet.wav	Bell: Bell Tone Class Change Feet	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
46	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Eb.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:48	Bell	Bell Clock
47	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wh.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 8 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
48	ClockGrandfather.BBC.ECD1_3.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock (1680) - Ticking	i	2.0	4:07	Bell	Bell Clock
49	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,1 2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 1 2	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle
50	Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_3.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Gas Station
51	BellStoreClerk_S08FO.124.wav	Foley, Bell, Store, Clerk, Hotel, Ring, Ding	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
52	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Slur.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Slur	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
53	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Aa.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. Quarter Hour	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
54	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Rd.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Chimes And 1 O"clock	i	2.0	0:20	Bell	Bell Clock
55	Bell,Large,Old,Hit,One,Long.wav	Bell: Bell Large Old Hit One Long	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell
56	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_5.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 6 O"clock	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
57	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_7.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 5 O"clock	i	2.0	0:51	Bell	Bell Church
58	EFX INT Ice Cream Bell 03.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Ice Cream Truck Swinging Bells, Clunking Swing, Bells Jingle	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Jingle
59	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,2,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 2 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
60	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Te.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Five O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:41	Bell	Bell Clock
61	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ag.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
62	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Dg.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:57	Bell	Bell Clock
63	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2B6.wav	Bell, Church: Bells: St. Paul"s Cathedral, H.R.H Prince Of Wales" Wedding, 29.7.81	i	2.0	6:31	Bell	Bell Church
64	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
65	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int-C.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Brass
66	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD90b.wav	Bell, Cathedral: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells, Pealing Ends - 1972 (2B1, Reprocessed)	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Cathedral
67	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sd.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
68	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ag.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 4 O"clock	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell Clock
69	BellsSchools.BBC.EC3C9a.wav	Bell, School: Electric School Bell Rings. (Recorded In London, 1980.)	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell School
70	EFX INT Broken Bell 06.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Broken Door Bell, Ding, Electric Buzz, Dead Dong	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell
71	Bells,Jingle,Dampen,Stop,Slow.wav	Bell: Bells Jingle Dampen Stop Slow	i	1.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Jingle
72	Bell,Hand,Medium Tone,Hit,Thoughtful,x3,Birds BG.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Medium Tone, Hit, Thoughtful, X3, Birds BG	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Hand
73	ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151d.wav	Bell, Church: Single Bell Ringing, English Village Church.	i	2.0	3:21	Bell	Bell Church
74	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Slo2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Slo2	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
75	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kl.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
76	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bg.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
77	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yh.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Eight O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
78	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC91Hc.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Ringing Down With Rapid, Joyous And Random Ringing For Last Minute Of Recording. (St. Clement Dane"s Church, The Strand, London.)	i	2.0	3:00	Bell	Bell Church
79	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
80	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Ra.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 9 O"clock - SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Clock
81	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Xb.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Clock
82	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Tb.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Clock
83	BellsSleigh.BBC.EC1010Gc.wav	Two Horses Trotting Fast, With Sleigh Bells.	i	2.0	1:19	Bell	Bell
84	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_15.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Door
85	Bell,Cow,Constant,Series,Faint Birds BG.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Bell, Cow, Constant, Series, Faint Birds BG	i	2.0	1:31	Bell	Bell Cowbell
86	Ding,Bell,Bend Up,Low.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Bend Up Low	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
87	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Cautious.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Cautious	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
88	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
89	Bell,Boxing,Ring,7x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 7x	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Boxing
90	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ji.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
91	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2B1.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: St. Pauls, Some Distant Traffic.	i	2.0	6:49	Bell	Bell Church
92	Cowbell,Ring,Faint.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Gentle Casual	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Cowbell
93	ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Je.wav	Bell, Clock: Sound Of Carillon Playing "Oranges And Lemons". St. Clement Danes Church, London	i	2.0	4:41	Bell	Bell Clock
94	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ef.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
95	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Rb.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Half Past The Hour. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
96	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Dist,1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Dist 1	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Bicycle
97	Tones-Bells-GasStationBell-.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Gas Station
98	JingleBellDown_S08FO.1366.wav	Foley, Jingle, Bell, Set, Down, Drop, Wobble, Christmas, Holiday	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Jingle
99	Bells,Sleigh,Loose,Tired.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose Tired	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Sleigh
100	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ce.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Clock