Bob Dylan

Style markers
- The Dylan cadence

Style marker

The Dylan cadence

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

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

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

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

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