Piano Cover of "Sewakhile"

"Sewakhile" by Hlengiwe Mhlaba is IsiZulu worship. The title translates to "You have built me." A rising verse that settles into a chorus which keeps returning home.

1. The key: G♭ major

G♭ major. Scale: G♭, A♭m, B♭m, C♭, D♭, E♭m, Fdim.

2. The chord shape

Verse: 1 to 2m to 3m to 4 to 5 to 1, a straight scale-degree climb. Chorus: 1 to 4 to 3m to 1 repeated, then 1 to 2m to 3m to 4 to 5 to 1. Watch the Hlengiwe recording for the phrasing.

3. The Sunday-ready play

• Right hand: triads stepping through the scale. Keep the top note singing.
• Left hand: bass walking G♭ to A♭ to B♭ to C♭ to D♭ to G♭.
• One move to add: voice the 3m (B♭m) as B♭m7 so it answers the 4, not just passes.

4. When the leader calls a different key

Hlengiwe songs travel wide. Numbers hold. Gig Mode.

Next step

Play Hallelujah Nkateko next. Same G♭, Joyous Celebration.