23-centimeter Cowbell instrument in various colors.

The cowbell, an idiophone hand percussion instrument, is used in various music genres, such as Latin and rock. It owes its name to the bell of the same name that is used by shepherds to determine the location of cows. Traditionally, the instrument is made of metal, but nowadays there are also variants made of synthetic materials. Tuned cowbells, or Almglocken ('Alm' stands for mountain pasture and 'Glocken' for bells in German), also known as Alpine bells, are usually spherical copper bells that are used to make music. They sometimes serve as a curiosity or tourist attraction in the northern Alps and are also used in classical music, such as in Richard Strauss' Alpine Symphony. These bells have different tunings to identify individual animals and can be collected "from the pasture"; however, there are also commercially available sets in equal temperament. The metal clapper is retained, and they sound considerably louder than handbells, which are used in a similar way in ensembles.