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	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD91b.wav	Bell, Cathedral: Canterbury Cathedral Bells, Exterior, Ringing Starts, Rounds, Grandsire Cinques, Rounds, Ringing Stops (recorded From Top Of "Bell Harry" Tower) - 1981 (2B5, Reprocessed )	i	2.0	6:33	Bell	Bell Cathedral
2	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ki.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:20	Bell	Bell Clock
3	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 8 O"clock	i	2.0	1:20	Bell	Bell Clock
4	EFX EXT Bell High School 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, High School Dismissal Bell	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell School
5	EFX EXT Old Bike Bell 05ft 02.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings From 5 Feet	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Bicycle
6	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
7	Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Random.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Random	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Bicycle
8	Bell,Antique,1800s,Hit,Many,Clatter,Weak.wav	Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Hit, Many, Clatter, Weak	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Antique
9	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104k.wav	Bell, Clock: Carfax Tower, Oxford (interior Perspective) - 1/4 Hour	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
10	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,3,3.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 3 3	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
11	Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_1.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - CU - Single Ding	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Gas Station
12	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vj.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 10 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
13	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ug.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Seven O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.)	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Clock
14	Bell,Boxing,Ring,1x.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 1x	i	1.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Boxing
15	Tones-BongsGongs-Gong-Int_2.wav	Tones - Bongs Gongs - Gong - Int - CU - Large, Metal, Hard Hits W Ring, Metal Sqeaks And Creaks On Swing Back And Forth	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Gong Metal
16	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fg.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:53	Bell	Bell Clock
17	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Dg.wav	Bell, Clock: Gound Level With Traffic In 1969. Three-quarters	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
18	Bell,Metal,Rhythmic,Soft,Medium.wav	Bell: Bell Metal Rhythmic Soft Medium	i	1.0	0:16	Bell	Bell
19	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
20	Tones-ChurchBellsFromNear_2.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	1:51	Bell	Bell Church
21	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Dc.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:46	Bell	Bell Clock
22	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ne.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
23	BellsCamel.BBC.EC25C.wav	Camel Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	2:07	Bell	Bell
24	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qe.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:47	Bell	Bell Clock
25	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ch.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:16	Bell	Bell Clock
26	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
27	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC91Hb.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Firing The Bells. (St. Clement Dane"s Church, The Strand, London.)	i	2.0	3:00	Bell	Bell Church
28	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jk.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
29	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Med,Loud.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Med Loud	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
30	Bells,Fairy,Gliss,Appear.wav	Bell: Bells Fairy Gliss Appear	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
31	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B9b.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Incomplete Cambridge Surprise Maximus, St. Sepulchre"s Church, High Holborn, Known As "bells Of Old Bailey"	i	2.0	4:49	Bell	Bell Church
32	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pf.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 6 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
33	Bells,Small,Door,Jingle,High.wav	Bell: Bells Small Door Jingle High	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Jingle
34	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_6.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 4 O"clock	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell Church
35	BellDeskHand_S08FO.121.wav	Foley, Bell, Desk, Hand, Small	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell
36	Bell,Small,Ring,Double Hit,x5.wav	Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Double Hit, X5	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell
37	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36De.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:26	Bell	Bell Clock
38	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_7.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
39	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
40	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Energy.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Energy	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
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	CathedralsWinch.BBC.EC91F.wav	Bell, Church: Winchester Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
43	Bell,Large,Old,Hit,One,Chaang.wav	Bell: Bell Large Old Hit One Chaang	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell
44	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Le.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
45	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
46	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
47	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Nj.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
48	BellsSleigh.BBC.EC25De.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Sleigh Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	1:07	Bell	Bell Sleigh
49	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qj.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:58	Bell	Bell Clock
50	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ae.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
51	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
52	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
53	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vi.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:46	Bell	Bell Clock
54	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Fast.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Fast	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
55	Bells,Carillon,Song,Sample.wav	Bell: Bells Carillon Song Sample	i	2.0	1:33	Bell	Bell
56	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
57	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_3.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 4 O"clock	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
58	Bells,Sleigh,Light,Jingley.wav	Bell: Bells Sleigh Light Jingley	i	1.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Jingle
59	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_11.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 10 O"clock	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Church
60	Sleigh,Bells,Clunky,Long.wav	Bell: Sleigh Bells Clunky Long	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell
61	Bell,Small,Ring,Clatter,Loose,Bored,x3.wav	Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Clatter, Loose, Bored, X3	i	2.0	0:20	Bell	Bell
62	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Dj.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
63	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_2.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
64	ChurchesFrance.BBC.ECD50b.wav	Bell, Church: St. Marie Church Bells, Church Clock Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Church
65	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Softly.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Softly	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
66	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
67	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
68	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC25Db.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell, Single, Double And Frantic Ringing.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Bicycle
69	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kh.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
70	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Cf.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
71	Cowbell,Ring,Jerky.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Lopsided	i	1.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Cowbell
72	EFX EXT Farm Bell 02.wav	Bell: Bell, Exterior, 1800"s Brass Bell Rings In Field With Insects Summer Day 60" Away	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell
73	ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14f.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Ticking.	i	2.0	1:01	Bell	Bell Clock
74	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Slow	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Bicycle
75	Bell,Antique,1800s,Hit,Excited,Light,Some faint BG birds.wav	Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Hit, Excited, Light, Some Faint BG Birds	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Antique
76	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sg.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Clock
77	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,Slow2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High Slow2	i	1.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Bicycle
78	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_9.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Triple Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
79	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Xd.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	1:04	Bell	Bell Clock
80	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ti.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
81	Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast,High.wav	Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast High	i	1.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Boxing
82	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
83	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
84	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104b.wav	Bell, Clock: French Clock (late 19th Century) - Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
85	Dings,Bell,Tings,Bend Up,Fast.wav	Bell: Dings Bell Tings Bend Up Fast	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell
86	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2C9a.wav	Bell, Church: Large Crowd: Outside St. Paul"s Cathedral, Mid-distant Perspective Recording, Wedding Of H.R.H. Prince Of Wales.	i	2.0	6:33	Bell	Bell Church
87	Bell,Medium,Interior,Ring,Constant,Fast.wav	Bell: Bell, Medium, Interior, Ring, Constant, Fast	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell
88	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Db.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
89	Tones-BellOnKitchenTimer-_1.wav	Tones - Bell On Kitchen Timer - C U - Old Fashioned Timer, Clanky Bing, Good Metal Bell, Some Not Isolated From Ticks	i	1.0	1:30	Bell	Bell
90	Abbeys.BBC.EC91Md.wav	Bell, Church: St. Albans Abbey Bells, Erin Cinques Ringing, Bells Stop.	i	2.0	3:19	Bell	Bell Church
91	Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Fast.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Fast	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
92	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bf.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Clock
93	BellsNorthMimms.BBC.EC91Aa.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Rounds, Firing, Ends With Rounds. (Location Unknown.)	i	2.0	2:44	Bell	Bell Church
94	BicyclesBells.BBC.EC1001Cb.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Bicycle
95	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gf.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
96	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Cd.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 1 O"clock	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Clock
97	Cowbell,Ring,Gentle,Casual.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Gentle Irregular	i	1.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Cowbell
98	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Ad.wav	Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At San Sabino, Rome.	i	2.0	0:42	Bell	Bell Church
99	EFX INT Bell Toy 01.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Bell Toy Rattle, Small Bells Jingle, Rattle And Roll Around	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Jingle
100	EFX INT Chinese Balls 03.wav	Bell: Chinese Balls, Interior, Meditation Balls With Bells Rolled In Hands Quickly, Balls Together	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell