Cowbell (instrument): Difference between revisions

 

== Origins ==

[[File:Alpenglocken mittlere Oktave.jpg|thumb|A set of tuned cowbells.]]

While the cowbell is commonly found in musical contexts, its origin can be traced to freely roaming animals. In order to help identify the herd to which these animals belonged, herdsmen placed these bells around the animal's neck. As the animals moved about the bell would ring, thus making it easier to know of the animal's whereabouts. Though the bells were used on various types of animals, they are typically referred to as "cowbells" due to their extensive use with [[cattle]].<ref>{{cite web | title =The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2007 | publisher =Oxford University Press | url =http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cowbell.html | accessdate = 2007-11-04 }}</ref>