Learning how to ring is much like every other skill -- it requires hands-on practice.  Of course, the best way to learn your way around handbells is to find a local handbell ensemble that's willing to take you under its wing.  However, if this is not possible, here's your "official" guide to handbell ringing.

This page is also designed to answer any of those curious questions that pop up when watching a handbell ensemble perform.  If you have a question that is not answered here, please ask at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it    Do you have a question about something else?  See our Q&A page.

Ringing 101

If you are not so fortunate as to have handbells just lying around, many handbell ringers will suggest you break out some spoons.  Apparently, spoons of various sizes make fine substitutes bells.  (It has also been heard that some high school ringers practice during chemistry class with graduated cylinders, but there hasn't been a great movement of ringers switching from spoons to graduated cylinders.)  Whatever your implement of choice is, we wish you the best of luck.

Although these pictures show a gloved hand, which is traditional in many ensembles, the Allegro Handbell Ensemble does not wear gloves in rehearsal or performance.  For more, please see our notes on our About Handbells page. 

To properly hold a handbell, allow the handrest to sit on top of your thumb and pointer finger.  Wrap all fingers around the entire loop of the handle and hold the bell firmly but not too tight.  Look for the bell logo on the handle.  Be sure that it faces you, otherwise the bell will not ring.
When ringing a handbell, keep it as level as is practical.  A good way to think of this is that the handbell is full of water and you don't want to spill it.  (Kids, don't try this at home...water and bells generally don't mix...but there is one technique that actually uses water, see below.)  A handbell is cast so that the sound radiates off of it in a plane level with the top of the bell.  If the bell is turned too far, the sound all goes into the floor and ceiling, which more or less defeats the purpose.
Now hold the bell near your shoulder, tilt it just far enough back so that the clapper falls to the close side of the bell.  This is where the bell should be when it is at rest.
To ring, move your entire arm down and out in front of you.  This gets the clapper's inertia up so that it is ready to strike the bell.
When your arm is almost fully extended, tilt the bell ever slightly forward so that the clapper starts to fall forward.
At the moment the bell rings, begin to bring it back using an upwards arc.  Time the entire circle so that the bell rings on time (you have to start the entire bell in motion early), and the bell returns to your shoulder when the full value of the note has ended.  Touch the bell to your shoulder to damp it (silence it), and go back to step one.  Remember to keep the bell fairly level and to try to keep it in a steady, smooth motion at all times.

• In fast passages of music, ring the bell closer to the shoulder so that damping is more efficient.
• When you must play and accidental, put bell for the natural down and ring the accidental with the same hand.  For example, the hand ringing the 'D' handbell would play 'D#.'
• For more advanced techniques, see the Handbell Glossary.