Low-frequency current drive in Z pinch equilibria is considered. Only n+or-1 waves can be used to drive current near the axis of the pinch. It is shown that two modes are excited in the plasma, a long-wave weakly-damped modes (closely related to the whistler mode) and a short-wave heavily-damped mode. For hot plasma and/or large pinch radius the wave field near the axis is very nearly pure long-wave mode and the profile of the equivalent steady e.m.f. generated by the r.f. field is remarkably hollow.