[High-pitched warning!] Songs with high notes that are hard to sing
The Japanese music scene is known for having a relatively low emphasis on groove, but an unusually large number of high-pitched songs.
In particular, since Japan has finally started earnestly incorporating overseas music in recent years, the overall level of songs has risen dramatically.
With that in mind, this time we’ve picked out Japanese songs that are on the higher side.
From songs with a wide vocal range, to tracks that have pinpoint high parts, to songs that stay in the high register throughout, we selected from a broad set of perspectives—so be sure to find the tracks that suit you!
- Recommended karaoke songs for male vocalists with high voices
- [Taking on a song with a wide vocal range] An S-class challenge track
- A masterpiece with exhilarating high notes. An enchanting high-tone voice.
- [Feels Great to Listen To!] Popular Songs by Female Artists with Captivating High Notes
- I want to sing songs that use a lot of falsetto—tracks that are also good for practicing falsetto at karaoke.
- Recommended for great singers! A collection of impressive songs if you can sing them
- [If You Can Sing These, You're Amazing!] Cool Karaoke Songs for Women
- Pick out the challenging songs that will earn you respect if you can nail them at karaoke!
- [Karaoke] A roundup of songs that are easy for women to sing!
- Recommended for teenage girls! Easy-to-sing karaoke songs
- [Challenge] A Compilation of Anime Songs with High-Pitched Melodies and High-Tone Vocals
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- Great for karaoke song selection! Recommended easy-to-sing songs for Gen Z women
[High Notes Warning!] High Songs That Are Hard to Sing (61–70)
unfinishedieiri reo
It’s the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Absolute Zero: Pre-Crime Infiltration Investigation,” and it’s a song that demands intense emotional expression.
The overall vocal range is A3–D#5, and Leo Ieiri’s strong high notes and falsetto really shine in the chorus.
The A and B verses sit in a calmer range, so it’s best not to push and use them as a chance to rest your throat.
From the chorus, the chesty, full-voice feel ramps up, so make sure to engage your chest voice properly.
If you place a hand on your chest while singing, you’ll feel the resonance there, and your voice will carry without having to strain! Aim to “project your voice into the distance,” rather than simply “sing loudly,” for an easier, more resonant delivery.
promiseHirose Kōmi
She’s often called the “Queen of Winter,” and “promise” is also loved as part of that tradition during the winter season.
It features a passionate, dramatic melody and a structure that shows off vocal ability, with a chorus that leaps into the high register from the A and B sections.
I sing it often myself, but the tricky part is definitely the chorus.
It combines a brisk tempo, fast passages, and extremely high notes—all three at once.
Also, it’s easy to speed up in the chorus once you get into it, so aim to sing with enough composure.
When transitioning from the A/B sections to the chorus, try lifting your eyebrows and engaging your facial muscles so the shift in melody feels smoother.
Dear…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.
idolYOASOBI
This is YOASOBI’s 19th digital single, released in April 2023.
It’s used as the opening theme for the TV anime Oshi no Ko.
In the original track, the vocals feature a distinctly Vocaloid-like singing style and sound processing.
When singing this at karaoke, the key challenge is how well you can reproduce that “mechanical” feel.
I think it really comes down to that.
Study the original carefully and practice balancing the “human” feel in the spoken-like parts with the “mechanical” feel in the melodic sections.
Of course, precise pitch and rhythm are essential, which makes it quite difficult—but if you can pull it off, you’re sure to draw attention from everyone around you!
Merry XmasBoA
BoA is a female singer active not only in her native South Korea but also in Japan and the United States.
Her 15th single “Meri Kuri,” chosen as the CM song for Toshiba’s “au CDMA 1X WIN W21T,” became a major hit, thanks in part to its catchy title that quickly adopted the youth slang abbreviation for “Merry Christmas.” Be careful with the chorus, which uses falsetto and features large, sometimes consecutive interval leaps that make it easy to miss pitches.
For women who are good with high notes, this classic winter song is well worth practicing as a go-to piece for the Christmas season.
Destiny -Sunflower-Shimatani Hitomi
This is the 22nd single by the highly accomplished female singer Hitomi Shimatani, released in June 2006.
It was used as the opening theme for the Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV anime series Black Jack 21.
Since Shimatani started her career as an enka singer at 18 and has exceptionally strong vocal ability, being able to sing this song well may be quite difficult if your only advantage is a naturally high chest voice.
However, having a high chest voice does mean you’ve cleared the first hurdle for this song.
If possible, I recommend taking formal vocal training to learn proper vocal technique before attempting it.
If you absolutely must try it right now, sing with care to avoid losing power and intensity.
That said, never tense your throat or squeeze—absolutely not!
The summer you gave meieiri reo
This is singer-songwriter Leo Ieiri’s 10th single, released in August 2015.
It also served as the theme song for the Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Koinaka.” Ieiri has a very pleasant voice with rich high overtones, and if you’re a woman with a relatively high natural speaking voice, you may find it easier to sing in a similar style.
The key point is how softly you can handle the parts in the chorus that switch to falsetto.
When singing this song at karaoke, try to be careful not to let the high notes become too piercing or harsh.