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Hey all. Started playing piano about a year ago by watching YouTube tutorials. I'm still a beginner right now but I like playing jazz improv most of the time.

I made something a little while ago and I am not sure if it's good, average, or straight up bad. I know some notes seem odd, but not sure if they're too odd to fit (as in they're straight up bad) or if they're okayish.

To be honest, I don't even remember most of the improvisation stuff that I make but I would really appreciate some feedback!

I am not a jazz player or fan, so you'll have to take this from one who might look at jazz differently than those who know it well.

I would look for two things in any improvisation:
1) a recognizable melody that follows a logical development or that leads somewhere and
2) a steady rhythmic pulse or pattern, slow or fast, that moves the music forward.

I don't hear either of these in your improv, so it doesn't hold my interest, although there are some "interesting" harmonies in the example.

Regards,

one way you might attempt to move in the direction that BruceD was suggesting ....

Would be to take a well known jazz standard .... like Autumn Leaves .... and play the chords in that tune in time and then attempt to add some phrases with the right hand that fit with those chords.

Timing is everything .... you have to have those chords keeping time for the listener .... The right hand just tells a story while those chords are being played.

Timing is everything .... steady .... no hesitating ....

Good Luck

The main issue for a jazz piece is the unsteady rythm. The odd notes are no bad but they are not resolved well, in the sense that they do jot seem to belong to a logical harmonic progression in a piece that sounds tonal.

The beginning could work as a melodic outline, but there is some work to do to format into a constructed phrase supported by a harmonic progression.

Thank you all for the advice! I think I have a good picture of where to go from here. Much love.

I like it. Your technique is nice.

If you have been self-taught on Youtube, and only for a year or so, I think you are doing great!
Sounds like the background music in a piano bar with the lights turned down low.

Hi
For someone only a year in thos sounds great I agree it does sound like background music in a piano bar.
Half way through you sounded a bit lost and then picked it up again . i would agree with Bruce D
A steady rythmic pulse and a melody thst is going somewhere are all important as is also the right harmonies .

IF you are learning from YouTube do you have a stucture to you learning with a specific YouTube course or is it happhazard .
A stuctured aproach is always better as you can ensure you dont miss anything in your lesrning even if its a self taught.
I wish you well on your piano journey