This sample bassline was performed by Joseph Makwela of Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens8. The bass is played with a plectrum and the notes are played staccato. The drum set plays a steady kick drum9 on all four beats in the bar and plays a syncopated snare drum10 pattern that accentuates the staccato notes of the bass

more commonly used mbaqanga basslines used throughout the transcription. To describe mbaqanga derived basslines in terms of their construction is difficult as the basslines’ main focus is feel and groove while harmonically the bass only plays roots and sometimes the third degree of a chord. Mostly the bassline will focus on phrasing similar to those which might be sung by performers of this genre. As I understand it, as much inflection as possible is utilized in these basslines in order to mimic the nuances of the human voice. The first example of this kind of playing is in bars 10-13