A small load on a bell usually changes the rapidity of beats and shifts the positions of nodal meridians. A study of the first three partials of one bell leads to the following conclusions. If the antinodal meridian nearest the position at which the load is to be applied is associated with the lower [higher] pitched of two beating components, the addition of the load increases [decreases]the rapidity of the beats, and also shifts the nearest antinodal meridian of the lower component toward the position of the load. Small increases in the load increase these effects.