Style marker

The "T-Drop" (4̂-3̂-6̂)Taylor Swift

Swift has her own melodic signature [...]: a three-note melodic motif [usually descending from 4̂ to 3̂ and then to 6̂] that we've termed the "T Drop."

— Nate Sloan & Charlie Harding, Switched On Pop (2020), p. 22

It first appears in You Belong With Me (2008) and is a consistent feature of her writing since then.

You Belong With Me (2008)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

so

2

why

3

can't

2

you

1

see

4

e

3

e

6

Mean (2010)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

drunk

2

and

3

grum

2

blin'

3

o

2

on

1

a

1

bout

2

how

3

I

4

I

3

can't

3

sing

6

Innocent (2010)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

al

1

ways

2

a

3

bi

3

ig

4

ger

3

bed

6

State of Grace (2012)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

bus

3

y

3

stree

3

eets

2

and

1

bus

2

y

3

lives

3

and

1

all

4

we

3

know

6

All Too Well (2012)

Taylor Swift

6

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

fine

5

at

4

a

4

a

3

all

6

Begin Again (2012)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

but

3

I

4

I

3

do

6

You're On Your Own, Kid (2022)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

just

7

to

1

learn

1

that

1

you

3

nev

4

er

3

cared

6

Labyrinth (2022)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

the

1

who

4

ole

3

time

6

The Tortured Poets Department (2024)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

I

3

scratch

3

your

2

head

2

you

1

fall

4

a

3

sleep

6

Father Figure (2025)

Taylor Swift

5

4

3

2

1

7

6

u

3

u

4

used

3

to

6

• More on Taylor Swift

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Where am I?

SongPatterns.com is an encyclopedia of

• the musicological devices that contribute to the distinctive sounds of various artists, genres, and time periods
  Style marker

  

  The Dylan cadenceBob Dylan

  Bob Dylan adds a tender, vulnerable quality to many of his phrases by ending on 4 over a I chord with which it does not agree; this [...] is so frequently heard [...] that it might be referred to as the Dylan cadence.

  — Walter Everett, The Foundations of Rock (2009), p. 186

  

  Like a Rolling Stone (1965)

  Bob Dylan

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

  7

  V

  I

  oh

  1

  how

  4

  does

  3

  it

  1

  feel

  4

  

  Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (1965)

  Bob Dylan

  1

  7

  6

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

  V

  IV

  I

  they

  3

  got

  3

  some

  4

  hun

  5

  gry

  7

  wom

  5

  en

  4

  there

  5

  and

  4

  they

  4

  real

  4

  ly

  3

  make

  4

  a

  3

  mess

  4

  out

  1

  ta

  1

  you

  4

  

  Visions of Johanna (1966)

  Bob Dylan

  2

  1

  7

  6

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

  IV

  I

  V

  I

  and

  5

  these

  6

  vis

  1

  ions

  1

  of

  5

  Jo

  6

  han

  1

  na

  1

  that

  4

  co

  4

  o

  1

  on

  2

  quer

  1

  my

  4

  mind

  4

  

  Absolutely Sweet Marie (1966)

  Bob Dylan

  2

  1

  7

  6

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

  IV

  V

  I

  but

  5

  where

  6

  are

  5

  you

  1

  to

  1

  night

  1

  sweet

  6

  Ma

  1

  rie

  4

  

  If You See Her, Say Hello (1975)

  Bob Dylan

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

  7

  V

  I

  kiss

  3

  her

  2

  once

  1

  for

  1

  me

  4

  • More on Bob Dylan
• the elements that songwriters draw from preexisting songs
  Connection

  

  Hungry Like the Wolf (1982)

  Duran Duran

  2

  1

  7

  6

  5

  4

  3

  dark

  1

  in

  1

  the

  1

  cit

  1

  y

  3

  night

  4

  is

  3

  a

  4

  wire

  5

  steam

  1

  in

  1

  the

  1

  sub

  1

  way

  3

  earth

  4

  is

  3

  a

  4

  fire

  5

  

  Black Or White (1991)

  Michael Jackson

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

  7

  6

  5

  4

  3

  I

  5

  took

  1

  my

  3

  ba

  4

  by

  3

  on

  1

  a

  5

  Sat

  4

  ur

  3

  day

  4

  bang

  5

  "Boy

  5

  is

  5

  that

  1

  girl

  3

  with

  4

  you?"

  3

  yes

  1

  we're

  5

  one

  4

  and

  3

  the

  4

  same

  5