[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
- Cool If You Can Sing! Popular Karaoke Songs Recommended 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-pitch warning!] Difficult high-range songs to sing (71–80)
ApollodorusMrs. GREEN APPLE
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s new song “Apollodorus.” Released on July 7, 2024 as a support song for the Paris Olympics, it features especially positive lyrics even among Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s catalog.
Despite its gentle lyrics, however, the vocal line is notoriously demanding: sections using lots of falsetto and mixed voice appear repeatedly.
Give it a try!
missing; whereabouts unknownAdo
This is Ado’s 18th digital-only single, released in October 2022.
It was reportedly produced as the theme song for the film “KARADA SAGASHI,” which opened nationwide on October 14.
By the way, the lyrics, composition, and arrangement were handled by Ringo Sheena.
Needless to say, this track is incredibly cool and stylish even with just a quick listen! Please try singing it with a nuanced delivery that shifts between soft and hard, just like Ado does.
I’m sure it’ll earn you a storm of praise from those around you! Just be careful not to strain your throat in the rougher, more forceful parts.
SenbonzakuraAbe Mao
Included on Mao Abe’s first cover album, “MY INNER CHILD MUSEUM,” which was released in January 2021.
The original song is a so-called Vocaloid track sung by Hatsune Miku, first published in 2011.
Vocaloid songs are originally composed without regard for the human vocal range, but Mao Abe masterfully delivers this kind of piece with her powerful high-tone voice.
This powerful high register isn’t something you can easily pull off just by “singing high,” so if you’re having trouble, it might be helpful to refer to the original Vocaloid version as well.
And if you want to further polish your proud high notes, I’ll be waiting for you in my vocal training sessions!
[High Notes Warning!] High-Pitched Songs That Are Hard to Sing (81–90)
Shunkan SentimentalSCANDAL
This is the fifth single by the Japanese girls’ rock band SCANDAL, released in February 2010.
Because vocalist HARUNA’s tone can sound slightly husky, you might not associate SCANDAL with a high‑tone vocal image, but listen closely and you’ll find that’s not the case at all! She skillfully switches between a very bright, punchy high register and a gentle falsetto, handling a high‑key song with impressive finesse.
If you’re a woman who’s good at singing high notes, definitely give it a try at karaoke!
I miss you so much, I want to see you.Nishino Kana
One of Kana Nishino’s signature songs.
The chorus with the title in it is really memorable! The overall key is high, so women with higher voices will find it easy to sing.
It captures the pain of heartbreak and really tightens your chest.
Anyone feels sad after a breakup, right? It’s a song about still having lingering feelings for your ex-boyfriend after breaking up.
That’s why I recommend singing it at a girls’ night out (lol).
InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE
When people hear “artists or bands with a wide vocal range,” many probably think of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE first.
Their song Inferno, released in 2019, features a distinctly stronger rock flavor compared to their more recent tracks.
The most challenging aspect of this piece is undoubtedly the chorus, which repeatedly alternates between chest voice and falsetto.
While advanced techniques like vibrato or vocal runs are hardly required, the pitch control is very demanding, making it a song that significantly narrows who can sing it well.
ultramarineYOASOBI
This is the fifth digital download-only single by the Japanese music duo YOASOBI, released in September 2020.
YOASOBI is a unit consisting of two members: the Vocaloid producer Ayase and the singer-songwriter ikura.
In “Gunjou,” their sound-making approach and skills characteristic of a Vocaloid producer are fully showcased; in particular, by applying assertive pitch-correction effects to the vocal parts, they successfully create a distinctive “Vocaloid-like” quality.
Reproducing this as-is when singing at karaoke is quite challenging—if not impossible—but try to make the most of your proud high notes and aim to sing with pitch as accurate as possible!