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	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC25Dc.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Many Bicycle Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Bicycle
2	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ak.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:48	Bell	Bell Clock
3	Bells,Sleigh,Jangle,Distant.wav	Bell: Bells Sleigh Jangle Distant	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell
4	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
5	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bi.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:48	Bell	Bell Clock
6	Ding,Bell,Warble,Wiggle,Low.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Warble Wiggle Low	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell
7	ChurcheBellsCroy.BBC.EC91Rb.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Ringing, Stop. (St. John The Baptist Church, Croydon.)	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
8	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pa.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 1 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
9	Tones-BellLikeTone-Int-CU_2.wav	Tones - Bell Like Tone - Int - C U - Hit To Large Full Glass Water Bottle W Piece Of Wood, Musical	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
10	CathedralsGermany.BBC.EC46E.wav	Bell, Church: Cologne Cathedral, Single Bell Tolling.	i	2.0	6:01	Bell	Bell Church
11	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qi.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 6 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:54	Bell	Bell Clock
12	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_1.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
13	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
14	ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Ja.wav	Bell, Clock: St. Clement Danes Church Clock, Striking Quater-hour	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
15	Tones-BicycleBell-2High-P_3.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 2 High-Pitched Rings	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
16	Bells.BBC.EC1003Ab.wav	Bell, Church: Six Cwt. Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	2:24	Bell	Bell Church
17	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gh.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
18	Tones-ChurchBells-KrumlovCh.wav	Tones - Church Bells - Krumlov Church Bells - Medium Distant - Pedestrian Movement And Walla Throughout, 3 Bells, All Bells Seem To Ring From Different Distances	i	2.0	2:05	Bell	Bell Church
19	BellsNorthMimms.BBC.EC91Ab.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Ringing Up Into Rounds. (Location Unknown.)	i	2.0	3:15	Bell	Bell Church
20	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pi.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
21	Tones-FightBell-CU-FirstTwi.wav	Tones - Fight Bell - C U - First Twice Then Singles	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell
22	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Rd.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
23	ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14d.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Chiming Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
24	BellsHandBells.BBC.EC25C.wav	Bell, Hand: Small Bell, Short And Frantic Ringing.	i	2.0	0:17	Bell	Bell Hand
25	Bell,Church,St James,Hour,12.wav	Bell: Bell Church St James Hour 12	i	2.0	1:07	Bell	Bell Church
26	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wj.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:46	Bell	Bell Clock
27	BellsCattle.BBC.EC25Db.wav	Twelve Bells Ringing. (No Animal Sounds)	i	2.0	1:19	Bell	Bell
28	EFX INT Door Bell 04.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Door Bell, Quick Press, D, Dong	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell
29	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fb.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
30	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,5,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 5 Slow	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Bicycle
31	EFX INT Broken Bell 01.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Broken Electric Doorbell, With Dead Sounding Ding Dong	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
32	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Uc.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Three O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.)	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Clock
33	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,2,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 2 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
34	Bell,Church,1948,Large Two Meters,Old Iron,Light Bells Chimes,Clang Very Loud,Four Medium Bell Tolls,Close POV Below Bell,San Carlos,Uruguay,BG Light Town Traffic.wav	Bell, Church: Bell, Church, 1948, Large Two Meters, Old Iron, Light Bells Chimes, Clang Very Loud, Four Medium Bell Tolls, Close POV Below Bell, San Carlos, Uruguay, BG Light Town Traffic	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Church
35	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Re.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Eleven O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:47	Bell	Bell Clock
36	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Slo2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Slo2	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
37	Bell,Small,Ring,Clatter,Strong,Sustained,Clear,Measured,Series,Increases in Intensity.wav	Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Clatter, Strong, Sustained, Clear, Measured, Series, Increases In Intensity	i	2.0	1:36	Bell	Bell
38	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Mk.wav	Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
39	Bell,Boxing,Ring,7x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 7x	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Boxing
40	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Bright.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Bright	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
41	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ya.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking One O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Clock
42	Bell,Sleigh,Single Ring.wav	Bell: Bell Sleigh Single Ring	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
43	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD104.wav	Bell, Church: St.Michael"s Church, St.Albans - Bell Strikes 9	i	2.0	0:37	Bell	Bell Church
44	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ph.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
45	Tones-DoorBell-CU-Doorbell,.wav	Tones - Door Bell - C U - Doorbell, Four Rings, Medium Pitched Vibrarting Metallic Ring	i	1.0	0:20	Bell	Bell Door
46	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sh.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:47	Bell	Bell Clock
47	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Rc.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Striking Three-quarters	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
48	BellsHandBells.BBC.EC25Aa.wav	Bell, Hand: Hand Bell Ringing. (High Note)	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Hand
49	Bell,Church,Old,Hollow,Mid.wav	Bell: Bell Church Old Hollow Mid	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Church
50	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Xc.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:00	Bell	Bell Clock
51	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ba.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 9 O"clock	i	2.0	1:09	Bell	Bell Clock
52	Copenhagen.BBC.ECD104d.wav	Martinskirken Bell (Copenhagen) - Call To Mid-morning Service	i	2.0	1:35	Bell	Bell
53	EFX EXT Ice Cream Bells 02.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Ice Cream Truck Bells Jingle, Ring And Sustain	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Jingle
54	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vh.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 8 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
55	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,1,Strong1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 1 Strong1	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Bicycle
56	EFX EXT Old Bike Bell 60ft 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings From 60 Feet	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Bicycle
57	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Tf.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Six O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Clock
58	Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Random.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Random	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Bicycle
59	Bell,Antique,1800s,Polar POV,Hit,Chaotic,Many.wav	Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Polar POV, Hit, Chaotic, Many	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Antique
60	ClockGrandfather.BBC.ECD1_3.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock (1680) - Ticking	i	2.0	4:07	Bell	Bell Clock
61	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,3,3.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 3 3	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
62	Bell,Small,Ring,Clatter,Long,Random,Series.wav	Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Clatter, Long, Random, Series	i	2.0	1:44	Bell	Bell
63	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
64	Bell,Boxing,Ring,1x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 1x	i	1.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Boxing
65	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Quick.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Quick	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
66	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
67	Bell,Metal,Rhythmic,Soft,Medium.wav	Bell: Bell Metal Rhythmic Soft Medium	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell
68	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC25Da.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell, Single, Double And Frantic Ringing.	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Bicycle
69	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Af.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
70	Bells,Paris,Ext,Kids,Med Dist.wav	Bell: Bells Paris Ext Kids Med Dist	i	1.0	1:26	Bell	Bell
71	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
72	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cd.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Clock
73	Ding,Bell,Flat,Low,Rise,Lite.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Flat Low Rise Lite	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
74	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
75	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ja.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
76	SchoolBellRing_S08FO.2262.wav	Foley, School, Bell, Ring	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell School
77	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2B1.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: St. Pauls, Some Distant Traffic.	i	2.0	6:49	Bell	Bell Church
78	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qd.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 1 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:37	Bell	Bell Clock
79	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_18.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Double Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Door
80	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_18.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock With Street Atmosphere	i	2.0	3:02	Bell	Bell Church
81	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Db.wav	Bell, Clock: St Magnus" Cathedral, Kirkwall Clock Chiming Quarter Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
82	Tones-Bells-SleighBells-C_2.wav	Tones - Bells - Sleigh Bells - CU - Jingling	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Sleigh Bells
83	ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151a.wav	Bell, Church: Rounds - Firing, Ends With Rounds, English Village Church.	i	2.0	2:40	Bell	Bell Church
84	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tc.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Three O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:34	Bell	Bell Clock
85	Tones-ChurchBells-CzechVill.wav	Tones - Church Bells - Czech Village Strba Church Bells - MCU - Interesting Resonant Characteristics With These Bells, 3 Tones Played In Different Combinations, Light Reverb	i	2.0	1:40	Bell	Bell Church
86	Bell,Hand,Polar POV,Ring,Slow,Constant,x3,Some faint birds BG.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Polar POV, Ring, Slow, Constant, X3, Some Faint Birds BG	i	1.0	1:07	Bell	Bell Hand
87	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Ci.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
88	Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast,High.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast High	i	1.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Boxing
89	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Excite.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Excite	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
90	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qi.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Clock
91	Bell,Large,Old,Hit,One,Chaang.wav	Bell: Bell Large Old Hit One Chaang	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell
92	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC1001Ca.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Bicycle
93	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ae.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
94	Bells,Jangley,Santa,Foley.wav	Bell: Bells Jangley Santa Foley	i	1.0	0:06	Bell	Bell
95	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Aa.wav	Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At San Petronio Church, Bologna.	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Church
96	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bf.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
97	Ding,Bell,Bend Up,Lite.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Bend Up Lite	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
98	Godmanchester.BBC.EC91Na.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Half-muffled Bells Starting And Pealing. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire.)	i	2.0	3:02	Bell	Bell Church
99	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jg.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
100	DinnerBellDing_S08FO.857.wav	Foley, Dinner, Bell, Ding	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell