Songs to Help Women Sing Better: Practice Tracks for Improving at Karaoke
Conditions for becoming a better singer.
Of course, acquiring correct and efficient vocal production is the most important point, but if you can’t apply the fundamentals you’ve learned to actual songs, it won’t amount to much.
To build that kind of “real-world ability,” it’s crucial to choose appropriate practice songs and, by singing them, develop the expressive skills needed to perform actual pieces.
In this article, I’ve selected songs that seem optimal for the goal of “getting better at singing.”
Even when someone says, “I want to become a better singer,” everyone’s current level varies, so I’ve chosen a wide range—from beginner-friendly songs to more difficult ones.
Some of the individual song introduction articles also include brief tips on how to sing them, so please use those as references and do your best to further improve your skills with the help of this article.
That said, the most important thing is to pick songs you love—the ones that make you think, “I want to sing this!” or “I want to be able to sing this!”—and enjoy singing them.
[For Women] Songs That Make You a Better Singer: Practice Tracks for Improving at Karaoke (1–10)
Feel fine!NEW!Kuraki Mai
Mai Kuraki’s signature song “Feel fine!” The title means “feeling good” in English, and it’s a perfect early-summer pop tune that was used in the 2002 SEA BREEZE commercial.
A hallmark of Mai Kuraki’s singing style is her breathy delivery, where the breath comes before the voice.
If you practice as though you’re singing with the “h” sound, you’ll be able to use more breath and should find high notes easier to sing.
Rather than power, aim for an overall light touch.
Since it leans toward an R&B groove, it might work well to sing with a smile while taking light steps!
MIRRORAdo
Ado’s hit number, “MIRROR.” When it comes to Ado, she’s highly acclaimed for her intense vocals with powerful shouts, but her downtempo tracks are top-notch as well.
This piece is a masterpiece where you can savor Ado’s downer-style vocals.
While the overall song leans toward a slightly lower register, it features occasional falsetto, resulting in a vocal line that seems simple yet is deeply nuanced.
If you want to master a whispery voice that blends in breathy tones, this track is an excellent one to practice with.
femme fatale Amurasaki ima
Ms.
Shiin, a female singer-songwriter whose refined musicality has earned acclaim not only from listeners but also from critics.
Influenced by R&B, her appeal lies in sophisticated songwriting that retains catchiness while subtly evoking Black music in places.
Her signature track, “Masho no Onna A,” is a masterpiece that blends Showa-era kayōkyoku with R&B.
Packed with intricate vocal techniques such as ad-libs, it’s perfect for improving your vocal skills.
BibbidebaHoshimachi Suisei
Suisei Hoshimachi’s song “Bibidaba” is a nationwide hit that many of you may already know.
It’s a perfect number for improving your vocal skills.
The track incorporates the trendy ‘Marunouchi progression,’ featuring a jazzy, glamorous melody.
The vocal line makes tasteful use of falsetto and vibrato, making it ideal for those who want to strengthen fundamental singing technique and pitch.
It also goes over well at karaoke, so be sure to check it out.
Dear…NEW!Nishino Kana
This single was released on December 2, 2009, and was used in commercials for DOCOMO supporting exam-takers, as well as in commercials for RecoChoku.
The song’s overall vocal range spans two octaves from F3 to F5, with the verse being quite low and then exploding into a very high register in the chorus.
Although Kana Nishino’s songs are generally perceived as consistently high, there are many tracks like “Dear…” that also use low notes, which makes the range broader.
However, because the tempo is relaxed, as long as you manage your breathing properly, you should be able to maintain the stamina to sing the whole song.
Rather than focusing only on the high notes, be mindful not to let the low notes in the verse sound muffled.
Low pitches tend to drop into the throat, so the key is to raise your eyebrows and project the voice forward as if pushing it out.
WaveShimizu Miisa
Misa Shimizu is a female singer who’s also active on variety shows.
With her charming personality she livens up living rooms across the country, but her vocal technique is the real deal—she even masters the highly challenging whistle register.
Among her songs, the one I especially recommend is Wave.
It has an R&B flavor, and while it doesn’t feature particularly difficult runs, it’s perfect for learning Black music techniques—like tasteful ad-libs—at a manageable level.
IYKYKXG
XG is currently reputed as the most skilled Japanese girl group.
Their stylish music and performances, infused with hip-hop and R&B, are stunning and on par with K-pop.
Among their tracks, the one I especially recommend is IYKYK.
Centered on hip-hop, the song is rich with Western influences.
With its detailed rap and occasional ad-libs, it’s an ideal track for mastering more advanced techniques.