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	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,6,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 6 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
2	Bells,Sleigh,Loose,Tired.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose Tired	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Sleigh
3	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Eb.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:48	Bell	Bell Clock
4	ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151b.wav	Bell, Church: Ringing Up Into Rounds, English Village Church Bells.	i	2.0	3:06	Bell	Bell Church
5	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cb.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Clock
6	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
7	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Tj.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Ten O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
8	Tones-DrawbridgeHandBell-_1.wav	Tones - Drawbridge Hand Bell - Medium Distant - Eleven Hits Of The Bell Begin @ 0 24, Some Medium C U Traffic, Os Truck Idle And Away @ Head	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell
9	Bell,Desk,Ring,Sharp,x2.wav	Bell, Desk, Ring, Sharp, X2	i	1.0	0:07	Bell	Bell
10	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wh.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
11	Sleigh,Bells,Short,Shake.wav	Bell: Sleigh Bells Short Shake	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell
12	Bell,Bicycle,Rings,Messy2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Rings Messy2	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Bicycle
13	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD91a.wav	Bell, Church: Angelus, With Outdoor Atmosphere - 1966 (91D, Reprocessed )	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Church
14	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_5.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Door
15	Cowbell,Hit,Door,Simple.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Tongue Clasp Mute 2	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Cowbell
16	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
17	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD104a.wav	Bell, Church: St.Albans Catherdral - Bell Strikes 8	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Church
18	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jb.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
19	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
20	ClockGrandfather.BBC.ECD1_1.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock (1750) - Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Clock
21	Bell,Shop,Interior,Ring,Constant,Fast,Tired.wav	Bell: Bell, Shop, Interior, Ring, Constant, Fast, Tired	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell
22	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wi.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 9 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
23	BellsPembroke.BBC.EC91P.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire.)	i	2.0	3:03	Bell	Bell Church
24	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_6.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Brass
25	Tones-BicycleBell-2High-Pit.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 2 High-Pitched Rings, 1st One Is Slightly Muted	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
26	BellsHandBells.BBC.EC1003Ba.wav	Bell, Hand: Monastery Handbell Sounded.	i	2.0	1:09	Bell	Bell Hand
27	Bell,Door,Ring,Ding,Dong.wav	Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Ding Dong	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Door
28	EFX EXT Old Bike Bell 05ft 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings From 5 Feet	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Bicycle
29	ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14f.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Ticking.	i	2.0	1:01	Bell	Bell Clock
30	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kl.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
31	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Rb.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Striking Quarter-hour	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
32	Bells,Fairy,Tinkle,Med,Hover.wav	Bell: Bells Fairy Tinkle Med Hover	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell
33	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_6.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 7 O"clock	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
34	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Di.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	1:04	Bell	Bell Clock
35	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Med2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Med2	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle
36	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Jiggle.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Jiggle	i	1.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Hand
37	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Ra.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 9 O"clock - SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Clock
38	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Aj.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
39	BellsPre-Reform.BBC.EC2B7a.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: 5 Bells, At Random, Pre-Reformation Style, From Interior, St. Mary And St. Andrew"s, Whittlesford, Cambs.	i	2.0	3:29	Bell	Bell Church
40	Tones-ChurchBells-MoscowRed.wav	Tones - Church Bells - Moscow Red Square Kremlin Multiple Church Bells - Medium Distant - Big And Slow Bells, Some O S Walla And Movement	i	2.0	2:01	Bell	Bell Church
41	BellsCattle.BBC.ECD9b.wav	Switzerland: Small Cowbells.	i	2.0	4:01	Bell	Bell
42	Bell,Antique,1800s,Hit,LIght,x3.wav	Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Hit, LIght, X3	i	2.0	0:13	Bell	Bell Antique
43	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sg.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Clock
44	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ak.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 8 O"clock	i	2.0	1:06	Bell	Bell Clock
45	Bells,Small,Jingling,Rhythmic.wav	Bell: Bells Small Jingling Rhythmic	i	1.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
46	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ye.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Five O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
47	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High 1	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
48	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC1001Cc.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Bicycle
49	Bell,Church,St James,Clear,2.wav	Bell: Bell Church St James Clear 2	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Church
50	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
51	Abbeys.BBC.EC91Mc.wav	Bell, Church: St. Albans Abbey Bells, Erin Cinques, Start Into Ringing.	i	2.0	3:24	Bell	Bell Church
52	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cc.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	1:00	Bell	Bell Clock
53	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_11.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 10 O"clock	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Church
54	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Df.wav	Bell, Clock: Dunedin Town Hall Clock Striking And Chiming Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	1:01	Bell	Bell Clock
55	Tones-ModernSchoolBell-Int-.wav	Tones - Modern School Bell - Int - MCU Hallway - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell School
56	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,3,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 3 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
57	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Xd.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	1:04	Bell	Bell Clock
58	ChristmasFigurine_S08FO.581.wav	Foley, Christmas, Figurine, Ornament, Pick, Up, Bell, Holiday	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
59	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ld.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Clock
60	Bell,Boxing,Hits,3,Ring.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits 3 Ring	i	1.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Boxing
61	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Ab.wav	Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At Santa Agnese Church, Rome.	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Church
62	Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_1.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Gas Station
63	EFX INT Door Bell 02.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Door Bell, Ding, Dong	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell
64	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tf.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Six O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Clock
65	BellsKilndown.BBC.EC91B.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Single Bell Ringing Up Then Tolling. (Christ Church, Kilndown, Kent.)	i	2.0	6:11	Bell	Bell Church
66	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jf.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
67	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Rg.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking One O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
68	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
69	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
70	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yc.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Three O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
71	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
72	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_10.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Double Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Door
73	Tones-BongsGongs-Gong-Int_1.wav	Tones - Bongs Gongs - Gong - Int - CU - Large, Metal, Hard Hit W Ring, Metal Sqeaks And Creaks On Swing Back And Forth	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Gong Metal
74	ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Da.wav	Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Going Astern.	i	2.0	0:50	Bell	Bell Ship
75	Bell,Gong,High,Reverb,Fast.wav	Bell: Bell Gong High Reverb Fast	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
76	EFX EXT WoodChisel20ft 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Brass Ship Bell From The 1800"s Good Ring Out Could Be Fog Bell Or Farm Bell	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Ship
77	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ci.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
78	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pk.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
79	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Db.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 10	i	2.0	1:16	Bell	Bell Clock
80	Bells,Paris,Ext,Kids,Med Dist.wav	Bell: Bells Paris Ext Kids Med Dist	i	1.0	1:26	Bell	Bell
81	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Md.wav	Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Clock
82	Bell,Bicycle,Old,Ring,Double.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Old Ring Double	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Bicycle
83	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Bright.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Bright	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
84	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qj.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 7 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Clock
85	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ab.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
86	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
87	Tones-ChurchBellsFromNear_1.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	3:20	Bell	Bell Church
88	BellsSchools.BBC.ECD39b.wav	Mixed Comprehensive School, Classroom Atmosphere At End Of 5th Year Lesson, Bell Rung, Chairs Moved And Door Banged.	i	2.0	0:55	Bell	Bell School
89	Bell,Big,Interior,Hit,x1,x2,x3.wav	Bell: Bell, Big, Interior, Hit, X1, X2, X3	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell
90	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Clock
91	Ding,Bell,Flat,Low,Rise,Lite.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Flat Low Rise Lite	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
92	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Fast1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Fast1	i	1.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
93	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC25Dc.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Many Bicycle Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Bicycle
94	Courtyard,Budapest,Quiet,Cars.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Bounce Clink	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Cowbell
95	ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Jc.wav	Bell, Clock: St. Clement Danes Church Clock, Striking Three-quarters	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
96	ChurchesGermany.BBC.EC46Dc.wav	Bell, Church: St. Michael"s Church, Hamburg, Bell Ringing Ends.	i	2.0	1:37	Bell	Bell Church
97	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vk.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:51	Bell	Bell Clock
98	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_9.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 7 O"clock	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell Church
99	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Af.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
100	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Doppler2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Doppler2	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle