Taylor Swift’s songs are ideal for the kalimba because their emotional melodies pair naturally with the instrument’s gentle, soothing tone. From the longing of Cornelia Street to the nostalgia of All Too Well, her music expresses love, heartbreak, and self-discovery in a way that’s easy to feel and play. With simple, repetitive melodies across her country, pop, and indie-folk eras, these 25 songs become emotional time capsules of honesty and growth.
1. Safe and Sound
Safe & Sound is an indie-folk ballad written by Taylor Swift with the Civil Wars for The Hunger Games, told from Katniss Everdeen’s perspective as she protects the people she loves. With its sparse Appalachian sound, trembling vocals, and gentle harmonies, the song becomes a fragile lullaby that offers comfort amid fear, violence, and loss.
(A C° E°) E° D° D° C° C° (E G B)
G (F A C°) A G G (C E G)
(A C° E°) E° D° D° C° C° (E G B) G (F A) C°
(A C° E°) E° D° D° D° F° E° G°
(F A C°) A G G (C E G)
2. Sparks Fly
Pure chemistry and momentum. It’s about the thrill of surrendering logic to passion, showcasing her talent for turning impulsive emotion into melody.
F D F G F
F D F G F
F D F G F A G F
C A G G F F D F (F D) D C
C G A (A G) F G (G A)
3. Cornelia Street
Cornelia Street from Taylor Swift’s Lover album is a personal love song about fearing the loss of someone tied to a meaningful place. Inspired by the real Cornelia Street in New York City, where Swift lived while beginning her relationship with Joe Alwyn, it shows how love becomes linked to memory and location. “I’d never walk Cornelia Street again” means losing that love would make the place itself too painful, turning happiness into heartbreak.
(C E C°) (D B) (C E A) (C F)
G° G C° D° D° C°
(G) D° D° C° G
(D D°) D° D° D° D° C° B A°
(C E) (C F) G C° D° D°
C° G D° D° C°
4. Ours
C° C° D° E° C° D° E°
C°D°E°F°E°
C C D E C D E
C°D°E°A°G°
C°C°C°C°
C°D°D°D°C°C°
5. Wildest Dreams
Dreamlike and cinematic, it explores longing for something doomed. The hazy vocals and slow tempo make it beautifully bittersweet—love as memory.
C° C° C° C° D° C° D° E°
E° E° A A G G E° E° A A G
C° C° C° C° D° C° D°
E° E° E° A A G D° E° C° A°
A A E° A A A A E° A A E°
C° C° D° C° D° E° D° C° A°
6. Willow
G° F° E° F° F° E° D° E°
G° F° E° F° F° E° D° E°
G° F° E° F° F° E° D° E°
F° E° D° E° C° B A B C°
G G G A B B B G G B B G
G G G A B B B G G B B G
7. Lover
Gentle and timeless, Lover celebrates commitment and comfort after chaos. It’s her grown-up view of love: mutual, grounded, and safe.
(C°C) D° C° (GB)
C D E F F F G
(E°C°G) (DGBD°) (C°AE)
(DGB) (AFC) (DG)
(CE) E° D° E° D° E° D° (E°G) D°
8. Back to December
One of her rare apology songs. She owns up to hurting someone good, turning remorse into art. It’s a masterclass in emotional accountability.
C° D° E° E°
G° C° D° E° E°
G° C° D° E° G° F°
F G C° G° C° D° E° E°
G° C° D° E° E°
9. Enchanted
A pure love-at-first-sight song filled with awe. It’s her most romantic moment—vulnerable, hopeful, and wide-eyed. Every lyric glows with the excitement of connection.
(C E) C E C E C E C
(E G) E G E G E G E
(F A) F A F A F A G
(C E) C E C E C E C
(C° C E G) D° E° D° C° D° E° E
10. Speak Now
(C’ G) C’ (C’ G) C’ C’ C’ D’ (B D)
G G G (C’ E) C’ C’ C’ D’ E’ G G (A E) C’ C’ D’ C’
D’ (C’ G) C’ (C’ E) C’ C’ D’ (B D)
G G G (C’ E) C’ C’ D’ E’ (A E)
(C’ G) C’ (C’ G) C’ C’ C’ D’ (B D)
11. Blank Space
A satirical masterpiece about reputation and self-awareness. She weaponises media stereotypes to reclaim control, exposing both the toxicity of love and fame. It’s witty, dark, and brilliant.
F F F F F F F
G A A G F G F G (F D)
F F F F F F F
G A A G G F C F F C C A A
C F F C C A A
12. Foolish one
G' (G’ G) E’ G' E' A' G' G' G' G' D' D' G
E' G' (G’ C) E' A' G' G' G' D' D' E" C
D' (C” A) B’ E' D' C" B' G' C' C' C' B B A
(G’ G) G' E’ G' E' A' G' G' G' G' D' D' G
13. Cardigan
Mature and poetic, it depicts first love remembered through metaphor. It’s reflective rather than romantic—love as a lesson in tenderness.
E° D° C° (D°F)
(E°F) E° G° D G° A° D°
(E°F) E° G° D G° A° D°
(E°C) D° C° (E°C) D° C°
(E° C) D° C° (E°G) D°
14. Love Story
Love Story by Taylor Swift is a classic country-pop song inspired by Romeo and Juliet that tells the story of a young couple’s forbidden love. Released in September 2008 on the album Fearless, it follows two teens who are not allowed to be together but defy the odds and find a happy ending. With its upbeat melody and fairytale theme, the song turned tragedy into triumph, helping define Swift’s early career and becoming a lasting favorite at weddings and romantic moments.
(CEG) A° C° A° C° A° C° A°
(CEG) A° C° A° C° A° C° A°
(CEG) A° C° A° C° A° C° A°
(CEG) A° C° A° C° A° C° A°
C° C°(CEG) C° C° C°
15. Invisible String
B G G G G G G
G G G G G G G G E D
G B G G G G G G A G E
B G G G G G G
G G G G G G G G E D
16. All Too Well
The pinnacle of Swift’s storytelling. It captures heartbreak in forensic detail—memories, resentment, and lost innocence. Every verse cuts deeper, making it her most emotionally complex song about remembering someone you can’t forget.
C°-C C C E° D° D D D E°
C° C C C E° F C C C C
C C°-C C C E° D° D D D E°
C° C C C E° F°-F C C C C
C° C° C° G C C G
17. The Man
E’ E’ E’ E’ D’ G G G D’
C’ D’ E’ E’ D’ D’ C’ C’
B A G A A A A G
E’ E’ E’ E’ D’ G G G D’
C’ D’ E’ E’ D’ D’ C’ C’
18. Mr Perfectly Fine
E° D° C° D° D° E° D° C° D° D°
C° D° E° D° C° D° E° D° C° D°
E° D° C° D° E° G A
E° D° C° D° D° E° D° C° D° E°
D° C° D° D° G° D° C° D° E° D°
19. White Horse
C′ C′ G′ C′ C′ C′ G′ C′ C′ C′ G′ C′ A
F′ E′ C′ F F′ E′ C′ G F′ E′ C′ (D′ D)
F C′ E′ D′ C′ C′ D′ C′ E′ D′ C′ E′ D′
C′ D′ E′ D′ C′ G F E C D
F C′ E′ D′ C′ C′ D′ C′ E′ D′
20. All Too Well
C E E• D• D G E• C•
E A E• F A
C E E• D• D G E• C• E A E• F A
(C-C•) C• C• C• G G D G D• D• D•
C• (E-E•) E• E• E• D• C• F C F C•
21. Sweet Nothing
(F A C° C) C° C° G° E° G
(C E G C°) C° C° G° E° G
(D F A C°) C° C° D° E° D° C°
(C E G A) G E G (F A C° C) C° C° G° E° G
22. Carolina
E E G A (A-CE) C A E A C
A E• (GBD• -D) G
B C• B (DFA) D
D• E• D• (FAC•) F
C• D• C• (EGB) E
23. August
One of the Folklore trilogy songs, August captures fleeting summer romance and regret. The production mirrors nostalgia—soft, washed-out, and wistful.
C E′ (G′-E) F
C′ C′ F′ F′ E′ (D′-D)
E′ F′ E′ F′ E′ (F′-D) E′ F′ G′ E′ C
E′ (G′-E) F C′ F′ E′ D′ D
24. You Belong With Me
You Belong With Me was released in 2009 as a country-pop song written by Taylor Swift and Liz Rose and produced by Nathan Chapman. The song and its music video tell the story of a girl watching the boy she loves from her window as he dates the wrong girl, who is later revealed to be Swift herself in disguise. Built around themes of love, jealousy, and longing, it captures high-school heartbreak in a simple, catchy way, which is why it remains one of Swift’s most relatable and enduring songs.
D° B B B A G G D° D° B A B A
A D° D° B B D° B A B A
A C° B G A B B A G A B
A° B° A° B°
D° B B A G G D° D° B A B A
25. Style
Cool, cinematic, and magnetic—Style captures attraction that refuses to die. It’s not about resolution; it’s about chemistry that keeps returning. Smooth production mirrors emotional intoxication.
1. 2. 1. (1 2.) 2. 1. 2. 2.
(1 2.) 3. 2. 5. 1
1. (1 2) 1. 6
(4 2.) 2. 4 2. 2.
(4 2.) 3. 2. 5 .4
26. Anti-Hero
A brutally honest self-examination that acknowledges insecurity within success. It’s not about loving others but learning to love yourself despite flaws.
3’ 3’ 5’ (5’3’) 2’ 2’ 2’ 2’ (75) 7 7 7 6 7 1’
3’ 3’ 5’ (5’3’) 2’ 2’ 2’ (2’7)
3’ 3’ 5’ (5’3’) 2’ 2’ 2’ 2’ 7 7
6 7 6 7 1’ 3’ 3’ 5’ (5’3’) 2’ 2’ 2’ (2’7)
27. Delicate
Vulnerability disguised as a pop gem. It asks, “Can you still like me once you see the real me?”—a simple yet universal question about authenticity in love.
(5-2′) 2′ 1′ 1′ 2′ 2′ 1′ 2′ 2′
(4-2′) 2′ 1′ 1′ 2′ 2′ 1′ 2′ 2′
(6-2′) 2′ 1′ 1′ 2′ 2′ 1′ 2′ 2′ (4-1) (4-1) (4-1) (1-3)
(5-2′) 2′ 1′ 1′ 2′ 2′ 1′ 2′ 2′
28. Teardrops on My Guitar
Simple but heartfelt. Early Swift at her most transparent—aching for someone who doesn’t see her. It’s innocent pain that started it all.
C (D*D) C*-C (D*D) C*-C
G (F*FAC*) E* D* C* (F*F) E* C*
C G (D*D) C*-C G (D*D) C*-C
G-CE (F*FAC*) E* D* C* (F*F) E* C*-C
G* G* G* C* C* C*-F
29. Bejeweled
Post-breakup confidence anthem. It’s love redirected inward—sparkle as self-worth, not vanity.
3′ 3′ 3′ 5′ 5′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ (2’46) 2′
5 5 3′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ (2’46) 2′ 7 (63)
5 5 3′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ 2′ (1’35)
1′ 1′ 2′ 2′ 3′ 1′ 2′ 3′ 1′ 1′ (2’46) 2′ 2′ 2′
1′ 1′ 2′ (3’1′) 2′ 2′ 2′ (2’7) 1′ 1′
30. Mine
Mine by Taylor Swift is a largely fictional love story about a young woman shaped by her parents’ troubled relationship who fears love will fail, until she finds someone who proves it can last. Written during the Speak Now era, the song uses lines like “a careless man’s careful daughter” to show how her upbringing made her guarded and afraid of goodbye, even though the relationship in the song offers hope and stability. While not autobiographical, it draws on real emotions from the time, blending storytelling with personal feeling to imagine the kind of lasting, healthy love she wanted for her future.
5′ 7′ 6′ (6′-6) 5′
5′ 5′ (6′-1) 5′ 6′
(6′-6) 7′ 6′ 5′ 5
5′ 7′ 6′ (6′-6)
5′ 5′ 6′ 6
31. Fifteen
A reflective coming-of-age story that turns youthful heartbreak into wisdom. It’s mentorship disguised as memory.
D G B B D’ D’
B B D’ C’ B G C’
B G A E B B B B
G A C G
G G (DB) D’ D’ D’
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