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	Subcategory
1	BellsSchools.BBC.EC3C9b.wav	School, Ambience: School Bell Rings, Mixed 10 To 13 Year Old Schoolchildren Leave Classroom. (Recorded In London, 1980.)	i	2.0	0:51	Bell	Bell School	School Ambience
2	School,Primary,Kids Voices,Bell,Scooters,Loud,Idles,Pass Bys,NOT GOOD,Atiu.wav	School Primary Kids Voices Bell Scooters Loud Idles Pass Bys NOT GOOD Atiu	i	2.0	1:57	Bell	Bell School	School Ambience
3	School,Atiu,Primary,Kids,Distant,Scooters - bell at head, some birds.wav	School, Atiu, Primary, Kids, Distant, Scooters - Bell At Head, Some Birds	i	2.0	1:57	Bell	Bell School	School Ambience
4	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
5	Bells-Elevator-Hotel,Electric Ding Dong x4,Alarm Call,Construction Rattle Drill Constant,Traffic Distant,Reverby,Interior,Vietnam,A12 Bells A34 Construction.wav	Bells: Elevator: Hotel, Electric Ding Dong X4, Alarm Call, Construction Rattle Drill Constant, Traffic Distant, Reverby, Interior, Vietnam, A12 Bells A34 Construction	i	4.0	0:13	Bell	Bell	Elevator
6	Bell-Tibetan-Prayer-Wheel-01-MS.wav	Bell, Small: Tibetan Bell From Prayer Wheel, UNDECODED MS-STEREO TRACK	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell	Bell
7	Bell-Tibetan-Prayer-Wheel-01.wav	Bell, Small: Tibetan Bell From Prayer Wheel	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell	Bell
8	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Rf.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Chimes And 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Clock
9	Bell,Sleigh,Double Ring.wav	Bell: Bell Sleigh Double Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
10	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Ch.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Clock
11	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Scrape.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Scrape	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Bicycle
12	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Uf.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Six O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.)	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Clock
13	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_2.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
14	AustriaCathedrals.BBC.EC46B.wav	Bell, Church: Salzburg Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	5:03	Bell	Bell Church
15	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pe.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
16	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104h.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College, Oxford - Bell Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Clock
17	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
18	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ba.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
19	Bells,Sleigh,Loose,x2,Slow.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose X2 Slow	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Sleigh
20	BellsSouthLopham.BBC.EC91Q.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Start Into Ringing. (St. Andrew"s Church, South Lopham, Norfolk.)	i	2.0	3:03	Bell	Bell Church
21	Bell,Medium,Interior,Ring,Constant,Fast.wav	Bell: Bell, Medium, Interior, Ring, Constant, Fast	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell
22	Bell,Door,Ring,Toll,Decay.wav	Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Toll Decay	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Door
23	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Rd.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Ten O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Clock
24	CathedralsLondon.BBC.ECD14.wav	Bell, Church: Westminster Cathedral Atmosphere, With Large Tourist Groups.	i	2.0	4:03	Bell	Bell Church
25	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,Slow1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High Slow1	i	1.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Bicycle
26	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Je.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
27	CathedralsLincoln.BBC.EC37E.wav	Bell, Church: Lincoln Cathedral, General Atmosphere With Footsteps And Occasional Speech. (Echo)	i	2.0	6:39	Bell	Bell Church
28	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kf.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
29	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ah.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Clock
30	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_6.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 4 O"clock	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell Church
31	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Dc.wav	Bell, Clock: St Magnus" Cathedral, Kirkwall Clock Chiming Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
32	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Peppy.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Peppy	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
33	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
34	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
35	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qf.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell Clock
36	Bell,Buoy,Ext,Gentle,Clangs.wav	Bell: Bell Buoy Ext Gentle Clangs	i	1.0	1:01	Bell	Bell
37	ClockGrandfather.BBC.ECD104.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock (1710) - Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:33	Bell	Bell Clock
38	BellsEvercreech.BBC.ECD151c.wav	Bell, Church: Stedman Triples Rung - Ringing , Starts And Ends (Evercreech, Somerset)	i	2.0	3:24	Bell	Bell Church
39	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,4,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 4 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
40	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vf.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:41	Bell	Bell Clock
41	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gi.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
42	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Bb.wav	Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At Lavenham Church, Suffolk.	i	2.0	4:09	Bell	Bell Church
43	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ah.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell Clock
44	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD141.wav	Bell, Church: Exterior - Church Bells In Romania, Three Sets Of Church Bells Ringing In Different Perspectives.	i	2.0	1:55	Bell	Bell Church
45	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Dd.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
46	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Fast.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Fast	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
47	BellsLiverpool.BBC.EC91K.wav	Bell, Church: Churc H Bells, Eight Bells Ringing. (St. Peter"s Church, Woolton, Liverpool.)	i	2.0	3:02	Bell	Bell Church
48	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Cj.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 7 O"clock	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Clock
49	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Mc.wav	Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
50	Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast,Hard.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast Hard	i	1.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Boxing
51	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Aj.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:41	Bell	Bell Clock
52	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC91E.wav	Bell, Church: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	7:04	Bell	Bell Church
53	Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Dist1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Dist1	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
54	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104g.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College, Oxford - 1/4 Hour	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
55	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tj.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Ten O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:54	Bell	Bell Clock
56	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD68a.wav	Bell, Cathedral: Odense Cathedral Bells Chime And Run-down	i	2.0	1:41	Bell	Bell Cathedral
57	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yb.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Clock
58	BellsRochdale.BBC.EC2B3a.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Outside St. Chad"s Parish Church, Rochdale.	i	2.0	1:46	Bell	Bell Church
59	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qg.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 4 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:47	Bell	Bell Clock
60	Bell,Hand,Brass,Languid.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Languid	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
61	ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14e.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Chiming And Striking 1 O"clock.	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
62	Bells,Carillon,Elfs,Alarm 1.wav	Bell: Bells Carillon Elfs Alarm 1	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell
63	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:37	Bell	Bell Clock
64	Bell,Bicycle,Rings,Loose,Slo1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Rings Loose Slo1	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Bicycle
65	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Uc.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Three O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.)	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Clock
66	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_4.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 5 O"clock	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
67	Bells.BBC.EC1003Ab.wav	Bell, Church: Six Cwt. Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	2:24	Bell	Bell Church
68	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cb.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Clock
69	BellsAbbeys.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: Iona Abbey"s Tenor Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	3:03	Bell	Bell Church
70	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bc.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
71	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC1001Cb.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Bicycle
72	BellsGreenock.BBC.EC91K.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Ten Bells Ringing. (St. George"s Church, Greenock, Inverclyde.)	i	2.0	2:54	Bell	Bell Church
73	Tones-RailRoadCrossingBell-.wav	Tones - Rail Road Crossing Bell - CU - Rings	i	1.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Railroad Crossing
74	Bell,Small,Ring,Clatter,Long,Random,Series.wav	Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Clatter, Long, Random, Series	i	2.0	1:44	Bell	Bell
75	Bell,Gong,Low,Ring,Vibrate.wav	Bell: Bell Gong Low Ring Vibrate	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell
76	ClocksGrandfather.BBC.EC48S.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Ticking. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	3:04	Bell	Bell Clock
77	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Sh.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 11 O"clock	i	2.0	0:50	Bell	Bell Clock
78	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,3 1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 3 1	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Bicycle
79	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Rb.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 10 O"clock - SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	1:06	Bell	Bell Clock
80	Godmanchester.BBC.ECD151b.wav	Bell, Church: Muffled Bells - Starting And Pealing At St, Mary The Virgin Godmanchester.	i	2.0	2:32	Bell	Bell Church
81	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pb.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
82	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ad.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
83	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_10.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 8 O"clock	i	2.0	1:04	Bell	Bell Church
84	ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Jd.wav	Bell, Clock: St. Clement Danes Church Clock, Striking 2 O"clock Followed By Oranges And Lemons	i	2.0	3:19	Bell	Bell Clock
85	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Stern.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Stern	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
86	ChurchEvercreech.BBC.EC91Gd.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Ringing Down In Peals, Ringing Ends. (Evercreech Church, Somerset.)	i	2.0	2:31	Bell	Bell Church
87	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ab.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. Half-hour	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
88	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yk.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Eleven O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:41	Bell	Bell Clock
89	Bell,Hand,High,Medium Speed,Constant,x3.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, High, Medium Speed, Constant, X3	i	2.0	1:14	Bell	Bell Hand
90	Bell,Desk,Ring,Short,Twice.wav	Bell: Bell Desk Ring Short Twice	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
91	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
92	BellsNorthMimms.BBC.EC91Ab.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Ringing Up Into Rounds. (Location Unknown.)	i	2.0	3:15	Bell	Bell Church
93	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,5,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 5 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
94	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jb.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
95	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ge.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
96	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Ad.wav	Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At San Sabino, Rome.	i	2.0	0:42	Bell	Bell Church
97	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ai.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Clock
98	Bells.BBC.EC1003Ac.wav	Bell, Church: Fourteen Cwt. Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	2:22	Bell	Bell Church
99	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Di.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:35	Bell	Bell Clock
100	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Quick.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Quick	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand