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	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gd.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
2	Bells,Fairy,Gliss,Appear.wav	Bell: Bells Fairy Gliss Appear	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
3	Bell,Hand,Dull,Ring,Medium,Uncertain,Accel,x3,Some faint birds BG.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Dull, Ring, Medium, Uncertain, Accel, X3, Some Faint Birds BG	i	1.0	0:42	Bell	Bell Hand
4	Bells,Church,Prague,Medium Distant,Noon,Constant,BG Crowd.wav	Bells, Church, Prague, Medium Distant, Noon, Constant, BG Crowd	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell Church
5	ChurchesGermany.BBC.EC46Db.wav	Bell, Church: St. Michael"s Church, Hamburg, Bell Ringing Starts And Builds Up.	i	2.0	2:16	Bell	Bell Church
6	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pe.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
7	Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Random.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Random	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Bicycle
8	Bells,Small,Door,Jingle,High.wav	Bell: Bells Small Door Jingle High	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Jingle
9	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Med,Loud.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Med Loud	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
10	CathedralsWinch.BBC.EC91F.wav	Bell, Church: Winchester Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
11	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,3,3.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 3 3	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
12	BellDeskHand_S08FO.121.wav	Foley, Bell, Desk, Hand, Small	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell
13	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 8 O"clock	i	2.0	1:20	Bell	Bell Clock
14	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ab.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
15	Bell,Boxing,Ring,1x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 1x	i	1.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Boxing
16	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_7.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
17	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Db.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Clock
18	Bell,Metal,Rhythmic,Soft,Medium.wav	Bell: Bell Metal Rhythmic Soft Medium	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell
19	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_6.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Double Ring	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Door
20	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ag.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:37	Bell	Bell Clock
21	Bell,Hand,Polar POV,Ring,Medium Length,Series,Some faint birds BG.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Polar POV, Ring, Medium Length, Series, Some Faint Birds BG	i	1.0	0:57	Bell	Bell Hand
22	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qd.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:44	Bell	Bell Clock
23	BellsCatholic.BBC.EC91Da.wav	Bell, Church: Catholic Church Bells, Sanctus Bell.	i	2.0	0:42	Bell	Bell Church
24	Tones-BicycleBell-4High-P_1.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 4 High-Pitched Tones Rung In Quick Succession, 2 Quick Rings @ Tail	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Bicycle
25	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104e.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College, Oxford (some Voices And Birdsong) - Bell Strikes 12	i	2.0	1:19	Bell	Bell Clock
26	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Delicate.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Delicate	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
27	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC91Hd.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Six Bells Ringing. (St. Mary"s, Hampton, Middlesex.)	i	2.0	3:04	Bell	Bell Church
28	Tones-ChurchBells-PragueChu.wav	Tones - Church Bells - Prague Church During Holiday Mass - Medium Distant - Constant Bells From A Variety Of Different Sources, Almost Psychedelic In Sheer Number Of Bells	i	2.0	1:57	Bell	Bell Church
29	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pj.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 10 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
30	Bells,Sleigh,Loose,x1,Lite.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose X1 Lite	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Sleigh
31	CathedralsCzech.BBC.EC46Gb.wav	Bell, Church: Domazlice Cathedral Bells Ringing. (Bells C. 1747)	i	2.0	1:59	Bell	Bell Church
32	Tones-PhoneBell-CU-Sweetene.wav	Tones - Phone Bell - C U - Sweetener Bell For Phone Slam Down	i	1.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
33	BellsMissions.BBC.EC1003A.wav	Bell, Church: Basutoland, Mission Bell Sounded. (Basutoland Renamed Lesotho.)	i	2.0	1:19	Bell	Bell Church
34	Bells16thCentury.BBC.ECD91a.wav	Bell, Church: Interior, 5 Bells Rung In The Style Used From The Reformation Until About The 17th Century - Rounds And Call Changes From Interior Of Church (St. Mary And St. Andrew"s Church, Whittlesford, Cambs.) - 1982 (2B8, Reprocessed )	i	2.0	5:32	Bell	Bell Church
35	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Cc.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Clock
36	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ca.wav	Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
37	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vc.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 3 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
38	Cowbell,Hit,Door,Bounce.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Dull	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Cowbell
39	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Te.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Five O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Clock
40	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qa.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Quarter-hour - SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell Clock
41	EFX INT Bell A 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Large Metal Bell, Ring Bell, Heavy Ding And Long Decay, Close	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell
42	BellsDoor.BBC.EC25Ae.wav	Bell, Door: Electric Door Bell Rung At Long And Short Intervals. (High Note)	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Door
43	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bk.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:34	Bell	Bell Clock
44	EFX INT Prayer Bowl 10.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Prayer Bowl Ring Tone	i	2.0	2:00	Bell	Bell
45	BellsCamel.BBC.EC25C.wav	Camel Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	2:07	Bell	Bell
46	Bell,Hand,Brass,Twice,Loose.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Twice Loose	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
47	ChurchBirkenhead.BBC.EC91S.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Ringing, Ringing Ends. (St. Saviour"s Church, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside.)	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
48	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
49	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Je.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
50	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Wary.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Wary	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
51	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B4b.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Stedman Cinques Finish, Traffic And Birdsong, St. Mary Le Bow Church, London.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Church
52	Tones-FightBell-CU-FirstTwi.wav	Tones - Fight Bell - C U - First Twice Then Singles	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell
53	BellsGreenock.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: 10 Bells Ringing, Parish Of St. George, Greenock.	i	2.0	2:54	Bell	Bell Church
54	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_15.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock With Street Atmosphere Striking Half-hour.	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Church
55	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ci.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
56	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Clock
57	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wl.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 12 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
58	Bell,School,Ring,Voices,Dist.wav	Bell, School: Bell School Ring Voices Dist	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell School
59	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ei.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
60	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qh.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 5 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
61	EFX INT Ice Cream Bell 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Ice Cream Truck, Buzzing, Electric Metal Bell, Very Mechanic	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell
62	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Le.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
63	ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Jb.wav	Bell, Clock: St. Clement Danes Church Clock, Striking Half-hour	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
64	EFX INT Broken Bell 04.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Broken Door Bell, Ding, Electric Buzz, Dead Dong	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell
65	BellsSleigh.BBC.EC25De.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Sleigh Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	1:07	Bell	Bell Sleigh
66	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Hc.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
67	Bells,Carillon,Song,Sample.wav	Bell: Bells Carillon Song Sample	i	2.0	1:33	Bell	Bell
68	Bell,Church,Old,Iron,2 Meter,Hit,Hammer,x4.wav	Bell, Church: Bell, Church, Old, Iron, 2 Meter, Hit, Hammer, X4	i	1.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Church
69	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
70	ChurchesFrance.BBC.ECD50b.wav	Bell, Church: St. Marie Church Bells, Church Clock Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Church
71	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pj.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
72	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Slow	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
73	Bells,Sleigh,Light,Jingley.wav	Bell: Bells Sleigh Light Jingley	i	1.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Jingle
74	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Fast.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Fast	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
75	ChurchHorsmonden.BBC.EC91Cb.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Single Bell Tolling. (St. Margaret"s Church, Horsmonden, Kent.)	i	2.0	2:58	Bell	Bell Church
76	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,Slow2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High Slow2	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Bicycle
77	Sleigh,Bells,Clunky,Long.wav	Bell: Sleigh Bells Clunky Long	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell
78	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Cf.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
79	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Af.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
80	Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast,High.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast High	i	1.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Boxing
81	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_2.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
82	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Rh.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
83	Bell,Large,Old,Hit,One,Chaang.wav	Bell: Bell Large Old Hit One Chaang	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell
84	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_1.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
85	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Al.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
86	Bell,Hand,High,Hit,Soft,x4,Some BG Birds.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, High, Hit, Soft, X4, Some BG Birds	i	2.0	0:20	Bell	Bell Hand
87	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Rc.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Clock
88	ChurchEdinburgh.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: Cambridge Maximus.	i	2.0	2:42	Bell	Bell Church
89	Tones-BicycleBell-2High-P_3.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 2 High-Pitched Rings	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
90	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bj.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:51	Bell	Bell Clock
91	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fd.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Clock
92	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pi.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 9 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
93	EFX INT Door Bell 01.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Door Bell, Quick Press, D, Dong	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell
94	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lj.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
95	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Dc.wav	Bell, Clock: St Magnus" Cathedral, Kirkwall Clock Chiming Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
96	EFX EXT Tram Bell 02.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Tram Or Street Car Bell Three Single Dings	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell
97	ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Dd.wav	Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Slow Engines, Various Bell Sequences. Engines Gather Speed.	i	2.0	2:00	Bell	Bell Ship
98	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
99	Bell,Antique,1800s,Polar POV,Hit,x5,Some faint BG birds.wav	Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Polar POV, Hit, X5, Some Faint BG Birds	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Antique
100	BellsSchools.BBC.ECD39c.wav	Mixed Comprehensive School, Classroom Atmosphere, 2nd Year Pupils Enter Room, Settle Down, Chatter And Quiet Periods While Working, Bell Rung, Chairs Move And Door Banged.	i	2.0	6:24	Bell	Bell School