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.EC36Xa.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Clock
2	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bh.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Clock
3	Bell,Hand,High,Fast,Constant,x2,Some BG birds.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, High, Fast, Constant, X2, Some BG Birds	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Hand
4	BellsGreenland.BBC.ECD65.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells - Ammassalik	i	2.0	1:15	Bell	Bell Church
5	BellsHandBells.BBC.EC1003Ba.wav	Bell, Hand: Monastery Handbell Sounded.	i	2.0	1:09	Bell	Bell Hand
6	Bells,Fairy,Tinkle,Flight.wav	Bell: Bells Fairy Tinkle Flight	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell
7	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Rc.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Clock
8	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_9.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Triple Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
9	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004De.wav	Bell, Clock: St Magnus" Cathedral, Kirkwall Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
10	EFX EXT Old Bike Bell 20ft 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings From 30 Feet	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Bicycle
11	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ti.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
12	CathedralsCzech.BBC.EC46Ga.wav	Bell, Church: St. Vidus Cathedral, Prague, Zigmund Bell Tolling.	i	2.0	2:01	Bell	Bell Church
13	Bell,Door,Ring,Smooth,Decay.wav	Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Smooth Decay	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Door
14	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fe.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:48	Bell	Bell Clock
15	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jd.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Clock
16	Bell,Hand,Brass,Perky.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Perky	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
17	BellsPre-Reform.BBC.EC2B7c.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: 3 Bells, At Random, Pre-Reformation Style, From Church Interior, With Feet And Rope. St. Andrew"s, Toft, Cambs.	i	2.0	3:25	Bell	Bell Church
18	BellsCattle.BBC.ECD9b.wav	Switzerland: Small Cowbells.	i	2.0	4:01	Bell	Bell
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	Bells,Small,Jingle,Shake,Slow.wav	Bell: Bells Small Jingle Shake Slow	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Jingle
21	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Slow	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
22	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tb.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
23	ClocksGong.BBC.ECD104.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock (1740) With Gong - Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
24	Bell,Antique,1800s,Hit,x3.wav	Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Hit, X3	i	2.0	0:17	Bell	Bell Antique
25	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104b.wav	Bell, Clock: French Clock (late 19th Century) - Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
26	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Rf.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Chimes And 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Clock
27	Bell,Church,Venice,MedDist.wav	Bell: Bell Church Venice MedDist	i	2.0	0:13	Bell	Bell Church
28	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Twice.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Twice	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
29	ChurchesGermany.BBC.EC6F7.wav	Bell, Church: Germany: Square Atmosphere, Tolling Bell And Churchgoers.	i	2.0	2:22	Bell	Bell Church
30	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,3,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 3 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
31	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
32	BellStoreClerk_S08FO.126.wav	Foley, Bell, Store, Clerk, Hotel, Ring, Ding, Two, Times	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
33	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,Slow2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High Slow2	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Bicycle
34	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pl.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:17	Bell	Bell Clock
35	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Si.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
36	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ak.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:48	Bell	Bell Clock
37	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ld.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Clock
38	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
39	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ai.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 6 O"clock	i	2.0	0:58	Bell	Bell Clock
40	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qc.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Three-quarters - SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:35	Bell	Bell Clock
41	EFX INT Door Bell Old House.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Door Bell, Old House, Metal Bell, Ding	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell
42	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD67a.wav	Bell, Cathedral: Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) - Internal	i	2.0	2:29	Bell	Bell Cathedral
43	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2C9e.wav	Bell, Church: Large Crowd: Outside St. Paul"s Cathedral, Orders Shouted, Small Cheer.	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Church
44	Tones-Bells-CU-4InchBrass,F.wav	Tones - Bells - C U - 4 Inch Brass, Four Single Hits	i	1.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Brass
45	Bells.BBC.EC1003Ab.wav	Bell, Church: Six Cwt. Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	2:24	Bell	Bell Church
46	Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast,High.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast High	i	1.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Boxing
47	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wa.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 1 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Clock
48	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bi.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:48	Bell	Bell Clock
49	Bell,Hand,Polar POV,Ring,Medium,Constant,x3,Some faint birds BG.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Polar POV, Ring, Medium, Constant, X3, Some Faint Birds BG	i	1.0	1:35	Bell	Bell Hand
50	BellsSevenoaks.BBC.EC91F.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Eight Bells Ringing. (St. Nicholas" Church, Sevenoaks, Kent.)	i	2.0	2:52	Bell	Bell Church
51	ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Da.wav	Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Going Astern.	i	2.0	0:50	Bell	Bell Ship
52	Bells,Jingle,Hit Store Door.wav	Bell: Bells Jingle Hit Store Door	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Jingle
53	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qj.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:58	Bell	Bell Clock
54	Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_3.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Gas Station
55	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Be.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
56	EFX INT Broken Bell 02.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Broken Door Bell, Ding, Electric Buzz, Dead Dong	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
57	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Tj.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Ten O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
58	BellsNorthMimms.BBC.EC91Ab.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Ringing Up Into Rounds. (Location Unknown.)	i	2.0	3:15	Bell	Bell Church
59	Bell,Large,Old,Hit,One,Chaang.wav	Bell: Bell Large Old Hit One Chaang	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell
60	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Eg.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
61	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pa.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 1 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
62	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Firm.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Firm	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
63	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B4c.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Cambridge Maximus, From Churchyard, Distant Traffic, (Incomplete), St. Mary Le Bow Church, London.	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
64	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
65	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
66	Ding,Bell,Bend Up.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Bend Up	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
67	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,1 1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 1 1	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
68	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ga.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Clock
69	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Cg.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
70	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Nk.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
71	Bell,Church,Iron,Large,2 Meter,x4,BG birds.wav	Bell, Church: Bell, Church, Iron, Large, 2 Meter, X4, BG Birds	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Church
72	ClockGrandfather.BBC.ECD1_1.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock (1750) - Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Clock
73	ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14d.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Chiming Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
74	Cowbell,Hit,Door,Bounce,Clink.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Muted Bounce	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Cowbell
75	Bells,Sleigh,Loose,x1,Slow.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose X1 Slow	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Sleigh
76	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_5.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Church
77	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Doppler2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Doppler2	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle
78	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
79	JingleBellUp_S08FO.1365.wav	Foley, Jingle, Bell, Pick, Up, Christmas, Holiday	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Jingle
80	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Slo,2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Slo 2	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
81	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lk.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
82	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Cd.wav	Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
83	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ac.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:20	Bell	Bell Clock
84	BellsDoor.BBC.EC25Ba.wav	Bell, Door: Electric Buzzer Sounded At Long And Short Intervals.	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Door
85	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
86	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_15.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Door
87	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Da.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Clock
88	EFX INT Bell A 02.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Large Metal Bell, Ring Bell, Heavy Ding And Long Decay Series, Double Ring At End, Close	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell
89	CathedralsBells.BBC.EC1003B.wav	Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At Bergen Cathedral.	i	2.0	0:47	Bell	Bell Church
90	Tones-SleighBells-Close-Up-.wav	Tones - Sleigh Bells - Close-Up - Medium Heavy Jingle, Intensity Decreases As If Growing More Distant	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Jingle
91	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD91b.wav	Bell, Church: St. Mary-Le-Bow, Exterior, Stedman Cinques Finish, With Traffic And Birdsong - July 1976 (2B4, Reprocessed )	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Church
92	Bell,Boxing,Ring,3x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 3x	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Boxing
93	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wb.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 2 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Clock
94	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vb.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:20	Bell	Bell Clock
95	Bell,Small,Interior,Ring,Constant,Fast.wav	Bell: Bell, Small, Interior, Ring, Constant, Fast	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell
96	ChurchesDundee.BBC.EC91R.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Old Steeple Bells Ringing. (Tower Of St. Mary"s Church, Dundee, Known As Old Steeple And Is The Only Surviving Part Of The Pre-Reformation Church Of St. Mary.)	i	2.0	1:43	Bell	Bell Church
97	BellsTicket.BBC.EC25C.wav	Bell Ringing On Old-fashioned Bus Ticket Machine.	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell
98	Tones-Bells-GasStationBell-.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Gas Station
99	Bells,Sleigh,Jingle,Constant1.wav	Bell: Bells Sleigh Jingle Constant1	i	1.0	0:44	Bell	Bell Jingle
100	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