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.EC36Ki.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:20	Bell	Bell Clock
2	Bells,Sleigh,Jingle,One,Decay.wav	Bell: Bells Sleigh Jingle One Decay	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Jingle
3	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36La.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Clock
4	Sleigh Bells,Classic,Constant.wav	Bell: Sleigh Bells Classic Constant	i	2.0	1:23	Bell	Bell
5	BellsSleigh.BBC.EC25Db.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Sleigh Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	1:06	Bell	Bell Sleigh
6	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-In_10.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
7	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
8	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Doppler5.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Doppler5	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
9	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,3,Messy.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 3 Messy	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Bicycle
10	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
11	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Scrape.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Scrape	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Bicycle
12	CathedralsBells.BBC.EC2B1.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: St Pauls, Bells Pealing Finishes.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Church
13	Cowbell,Hit,Door,Bounce.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Dull	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Cowbell
14	Bell,Buoy,Ext,Gentle,Clangs.wav	Bell: Bell Buoy Ext Gentle Clangs	i	1.0	1:01	Bell	Bell
15	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_6.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Double Ring	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Door
16	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_2.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking Three-quarters	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Church
17	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
18	Bells,Carillon,Elfs,Alarm 1.wav	Bell: Bells Carillon Elfs Alarm 1	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell
19	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
20	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Ra.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
21	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
22	EFX INT Prayer Bowl 10.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Prayer Bowl Ring Tone	i	2.0	2:00	Bell	Bell
23	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ab.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
24	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Delicate.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Delicate	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
25	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wi.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:42	Bell	Bell Clock
26	CathedralsGermany.BBC.EC46B.wav	Bell, Church: Munster Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	6:03	Bell	Bell Church
27	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
28	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ag.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:37	Bell	Bell Clock
29	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
30	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
31	Bells,Sleigh,Loose,x1,Lite.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose X1 Lite	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Sleigh
32	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fa.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:37	Bell	Bell Clock
33	CathedralBirming.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: St. Philip"s Cathedral, Birmingham - Ringing.	i	2.0	2:57	Bell	Bell Church
34	Tones-PhoneBell-CU-Sweetene.wav	Tones - Phone Bell - C U - Sweetener Bell For Phone Slam Down	i	1.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
35	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104e.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College, Oxford (some Voices And Birdsong) - Bell Strikes 12	i	2.0	1:19	Bell	Bell Clock
36	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36De.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
37	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qd.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:44	Bell	Bell Clock
38	BellsMissions.BBC.EC1003A.wav	Bell, Church: Basutoland, Mission Bell Sounded. (Basutoland Renamed Lesotho.)	i	2.0	1:19	Bell	Bell Church
39	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Sd.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 7 O"clock	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
40	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pj.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 10 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:39	Bell	Bell Clock
41	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ti.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Clock
42	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Bd.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 12 O"clock	i	2.0	1:23	Bell	Bell Clock
43	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,1 1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 1 1	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
44	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
45	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Slo,2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Slo 2	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
46	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
47	Bell,School,Ring,Voices,Dist.wav	Bell, School: Bell School Ring Voices Dist	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell School
48	Bell,Boxing,Ring,3x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 3x	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Boxing
49	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_1.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
50	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_9.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 7 O"clock	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell Church
51	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
52	Bell,Salvation,Fast,High,Sharp.wav	Bell: Bell Salvation Fast High Sharp	i	1.0	0:05	Bell	Bell
53	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
54	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sb.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:33	Bell	Bell Clock
55	Tones-BicycleBell-2High-P_3.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 2 High-Pitched Rings	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
56	EFX INT Broken Bell 04.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Broken Door Bell, Ding, Electric Buzz, Dead Dong	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell
57	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Af.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
58	Bell,Hand,Brass,Twice,Loose.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Twice Loose	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
59	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wh.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
60	CathedralsLincoln.BBC.EC37E.wav	Bell, Church: Lincoln Cathedral, General Atmosphere With Footsteps And Occasional Speech. (Echo)	i	2.0	6:39	Bell	Bell Church
61	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
62	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Al.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
63	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
64	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
65	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Wary.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Wary	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
66	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wi.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 9 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
67	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC91E.wav	Bell, Church: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	7:04	Bell	Bell Church
68	Tones-FightBell-CU-FirstTwi.wav	Tones - Fight Bell - C U - First Twice Then Singles	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell
69	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bj.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:51	Bell	Bell Clock
70	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Dj.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
71	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Rc.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Clock
72	BellsGreenock.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: 10 Bells Ringing, Parish Of St. George, Greenock.	i	2.0	2:54	Bell	Bell Church
73	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Sh.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 11 O"clock	i	2.0	0:50	Bell	Bell Clock
74	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Je.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
75	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Th.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Eight O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell Clock
76	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ca.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. Quater-hour	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
77	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kh.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
78	Bells,Sleigh,Harness,Jingles.wav	Bell: Bells Sleigh Harness Jingles	i	1.0	0:13	Bell	Bell Jingle
79	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lg.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
80	Ding,Bell,Rattle,Bend Up,Low.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Rattle Bend Up Low	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
81	ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Db.wav	Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Ahead.	i	2.0	1:10	Bell	Bell Ship
82	Tones-BellLikeTone-Int-CU_1.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
83	SchoolsBells.BBC.ECD94b.wav	Crowd, School: Electric School Bell - 1980 (3C9, Reprocessed)	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell School
84	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Dist,Med.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Dist Med	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Bicycle
85	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vf.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 6 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
86	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD91c.wav	Bell, Church: St. Mary-Le-Bow, Interior, Incomplete Bristol Maximus From Interior Of Church, With Distant Traffic - July 1976 (2B4, Reprocessed )	i	2.0	2:52	Bell	Bell Church
87	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
88	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Be.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
89	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Db.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
90	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ma.wav	Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
91	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD90d.wav	Bell, Cathedral: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells, On Occasion Of HRH Prince Of Wales" Wedding - 1981 (2B6, Reprocessed)	i	2.0	4:57	Bell	Bell Cathedral
92	Abbeys.BBC.EC91E.wav	Bell, Church: Westminster Abbey Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	7:05	Bell	Bell Church
93	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jj.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:17	Bell	Bell Clock
94	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bf.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Clock
95	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ci.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 6 O"clock	i	2.0	0:57	Bell	Bell Clock
96	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gf.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
97	Bells,Jingle,Slow,Long,Steady.wav	Bell: Bells Jingle Slow Long Steady	i	1.0	1:26	Bell	Bell Jingle
98	Ding,Bell,Cackles,Bend Up.wav	Bell: Ding Bell Cackles Bend Up	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
99	BellsHandBells.BBC.EC25C.wav	Bell, Hand: Small Bell, Short And Frantic Ringing.	i	2.0	0:17	Bell	Bell Hand
100	SchoolBellRing_S08FO.2261.wav	Foley, School, Bell, Ring	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell School