[J-Pop] A Collection of Japanese Songs with Difficult/Technical Guitar Parts [2026]
Guitarists who breeze through technical playing… so cool, right?
If you’ve found your way to this article, chances are you’ve been blown away by jaw-dropping tapping, cutting, or sweeping at some point.
This time, we’ve put together a list of Japanese songs with seriously challenging guitar parts.
From power-packed tunes by rock bands to acoustic numbers by solo guitarists, we’ve picked a wide range!
Will you discover that one track that hits you right in the heart?
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[J-Pop/J-Rock] A Collection of Japanese Songs with Difficult/Technical Guitar Parts [2026] (11–20)
HeavenRei
Rei’s August 2024 track, created by an artist who combines exceptional guitarist skills with singer-songwriter talent, is a work that poses profound questions about the meaning of life and one’s own vision of happiness.
Featured on the album XINGS, the song showcases dazzling guitar work that freely employs a wide range of techniques, including tapping, fingerpicking, and cutting.
Blending a unique soundscape that is pop yet tinged with dark fantasy elements with MONJOE of DATS’s meticulous arrangement, this track is highly recommended for those eager to take on advanced guitar work that artfully incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and rock.
everKrackGLAY
A work by GLAY, the four-piece rock band that has set numerous milestones—such as CD sales and concert attendance—and continues to lead the J-POP scene at the forefront.
It’s the opening track of their 43rd single, “G4・II -THE RED MOON-,” and it drew attention for being an A-side single composed by a member other than TAKURO, who had been the main composer since their debut.
With effects-laden, noisy backing and a brief yet impactful fast solo, the track showcases a depth to GLAY as a band that isn’t typically associated with a technical image.
It’s a number that differs from their pop and melodious songs, and one that really fires up the crowd live.
white noiseOfisharu Higedan Dism
The song by Official HIGE DANDism adopted as the opening theme for the anime Tokyo Revengers is a bold track that uses half-step-down tuning.
Throughout the piece, advanced techniques are embedded—such as intricate guitar riffs in the intro and interludes that contrast with the melodic main section, and offbeat rhythmic work that makes extensive use of syncopation.
Released in January 2023, the track was completed by adding new lyrics to a melody written ten years earlier, and it was also featured not only in the anime but in a DyDo Drinco commercial.
From basic to advanced guitar techniques—including slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs—the song incorporates a variety of playing styles, making it a recommended choice for guitarists looking to hone their skills.
Aerial AlienUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
This track opens the sixth album, Dr.Izzy, by the three-piece rock band UNISON SQUARE GARDEN.
Its irregular meter, combining 7/8 and 6/8, creates a powerful impact, to the point that even the 4/4 feel in the chorus almost sounds out of place.
Despite having to sing over these shifting time signatures, the guitar part darts between riffs, arpeggios, and rapidly changing phrases—making it exceptionally challenging to pull off.
It’s a high-difficulty rock number where the guitar shines with catchy yet thrilling playing, and it’s one that guitarists should try tackling at least once.
Soul DefenderLOVEBITES
A wake-you-up burst of ultra-technical power metal with the soul of traditional heavy metal running through it.
The godlike guitar work built on blistering twin leads deftly weaves neoclassical elements with fusion-style phrases, packing in every technique under the sun—sweep picking, tapping, even eight-finger runs.
The overwhelming guitar duo of Midori and Miyako has forged a one-of-a-kind style influenced by Yngwie Malmsteen and Timothy Henson.
Featured on the EP “LOVEBITES EP II,” released in August 2024, the track achieved an impressive No.
11 on the Oricon chart.
Its soul-stirring, grand melodies and weighty, battle-forged worldview make it a must-listen not only for power metal devotees but for any music fan captivated by advanced guitar technique.
CrescendoASTERISM
ASTERISM is an instrumental heavy metal band that continues to astonish the world with overwhelming technique and youthful energy.
Their song released in January 2025 is a high-powered, fast-paced work selected as the opening theme for the TV anime “The Unfavorable Job: Appraiser Was Actually the Strongest.” HAL-CA’s versatile guitar skills shine, packed with blistering techniques like rapid picking, tapping, and sweep picking.
The music video—shot at the foot of Mt.
Fuji in extreme cold at minus 7 degrees Celsius—also showcases their exceptional performance prowess.
This piece is a highly challenging track that demands advanced musicianship, making it perfect for those who want to master guitar technique or explore new possibilities in heavy metal music.
[Japanese Music] A Collection of Japanese Songs with Difficult/Technical Guitar Parts [2026] (21–30)
BAD FEELINGBOØWY
A four-piece rock band, BOØWY, that made a powerful impact on the J-pop scene in the 1980s and is still hailed as a legend today—their second single.
Covered by various artists, and even self-covered by BOØWY’s guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei in his solo career after the band’s breakup, it’s likely a song many listeners have heard at least once.
The intro’s cutting phrase, which Hotei explained as being played “on the premise that the sound is cut off,” creates a distinctive tension unlike typical guitar playing.
It’s a rock tune beloved to this day, copied by countless guitar kids.