Everyone has seen the famous Will Ferrell scene from Saturday Night Live where he is constantly told that he needs more cowbell, but when you actually need more cowbell in your setup, the options are endless and can be a little overwhelming.
Upon inspection, the cowbell can look like a simple noisemaker, but there are actually many different sizes and shapes, which produce specific sounds for specific uses.
Charanga Bell
The charanga bell is the smallest of the cowbell family. While its high pitch was originally intended for use within the Cuban style of music called charanga, this bell can serve really well as an accent instrument in any modern style of music or as a foot mounted bell to play the clave pattern.
Timbale Bell
The timbale bell, or mambo bell, functions in a salsa band in the same way that a ride cymbal would in a jazz setting. Timbale bells are often medium in size and pitch and can be a great all around choice for any drum setup. The body of this bell works great for clear, articulate rhythmic patterns, while the mouth of the bell can be played for loud and clear accents.
Cha-Cha Bell
The cha-cha bell, much like the charanga bell, was originally used in the musical style of the same name, but since the rise in popularity of the cha-cha-cha in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, the rhythms used within this music can be heard throughout many genres. The second smallest of the cowbell family, the sound of this bell can be heard in such popular songs as “Low Rider” and “Oye Como Va.”
Bongo Bell
This cowbell is usually the largest option, and in a traditional setting would be played by the person playing the bongos. This bell would normally be played by hand, but has become more and more common as a mounted bell and works really well when attached to a foot pedal. Bongo bells, with their low pitch are great for less intricate patterns that just keep a steady pulse and can work great in a rock setting.
Guataca
The guataca is actually a predecessor to using cowbells in latin music and is in reality just a hoe blade that is struck, giving a bell like tone and is used for timekeeping in many folkloric settings. Some companies have developed drumset mountable variations of this instrument for use in contemporary ensembles.
Now that you know the different types of cowbells, there still remains the question of what brand of cowbell to go with. Virtually every percussion manufacturer on the market has a range or ranges of cowbells, each with their own sonic characteristics and musical uses.
Latin Percussion
LP is one of the oldest manufacturers of cowbells in the world and they are probably the manufacturer with the most variety to their products. The LP Salsa Series cowbells are designed to replicate the sounds of classic New York salsa and have a bright clear tone that records well and blends well with brass instruments. Another innovation of LP is the Ridge Rider cowbell series, which has a plastic bar mounted across the mouth of the bell that helps cut down on overtones as well as saves sticks from wear and tear. These bells are perfect for harder hitting musical settings such as rock and metal.
Meinl
Meinl is a newer manufacturer to enter the American cowbell market, but they have some very innovative design features. The Russ Miller Artist Series Cowbell features an adjustable muffler on the inside of the mouth of the cowbell, giving the player greater sonic flexibility than any other cowbell on the market. Meinl also offers a line of hammered cowbells. The dimpled texture of these cowbells helps to bring out the fundamental tone and reduces overtones when played.
JCR Percussion
JCR Percussion is a small operation in the Bronx that makes all of their bells by hand. They have long been the choice of many professional percussionists the world over. A unique design that JCR makes is the half-moon bell. This bell has one side that is relatively flat and one side that is rounded. The flat side is great for use in place of a guataca for folkloric music, while the rounded side makes a great timbale bell. If you have the money and are able find them, these can be some of the best cowbells on the market.
Pearl
Pearl is another manufacturer, like Meinl, has greatly expanded their percussion lines within the last decade. Their newest line of cowbells, designed in collaboration with Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, is a complete line of all sizes of cowbell that sound great together. They have everything from a small cha-cha bell or charanga bell up to a large bongo bell. They have a removable drumset mount that allows them to be positioned anywhere as well as used as a handheld bell. Among their other lines of cowbells, Pearl makes a New Yorker Series of cowbells, very similar in design to the LP Salsa Bells mentioned above.
While this list is not a definitive list of all of the makes, models, and designs available, it hopefully gives you an idea of what is out there and gives you a starting point in your search for more cowbell.
Cowbells