[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-pitch warning!] Difficult high-range songs to sing (71–80)
Good-bye daysYUI
This is a song by YUI, a singer-songwriter from Fukuoka Prefecture.
It was released in 2006 as her fifth single.
It gained attention as the theme song for the film “Midnight Sun.” The A-melody, where you have to hit high notes without belting, can be difficult unless your natural vocal range is already high.
mixed nutsOfisharu Higedan Dism
Official HIGE DANDism’s hit “Mixed Nuts,” best known as the theme song for the popular anime SPY×FAMILY, is one of their most beloved tracks, yet it contains several elements that make it quite challenging despite its catchy melody.
Most notably, the vocal range: including the falsetto parts, it spans from mid1 D# to hihi A#, which is extremely wide, and the chorus repeatedly hits hi C#.
The song stands out for its overall high tessitura, making it a piece that demands strong vocal stamina.
Sunny dropNovelbright
A number known as a challenge piece for its wide range and continuous high notes.
The high leaps in the final chorus are especially an S‑tier difficulty point.
The overall vocal range spans roughly C#3 to F#5, which is quite wide, and you should pay particular attention to the switch into the high tones in the chorus.
Of course, if you just belt recklessly, you’ll wreck your throat, so be mindful of resonance placement and aim to let the highs come out comfortably.
In any range, keep the image of ringing the space behind your head, and as the pitch rises, increase your explosiveness.
Before singing, don’t forget to warm up with lip rolls, humming, and similar exercises!
[High Notes Warning!] High-Pitched Songs That Are Hard to Sing (81–90)
HeroYOASOBI
It’s the 20th digital single by the music duo YOASOBI, released in September 2023.
The song is used as the opening theme for the TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
It’s an up-tempo track built on a vocal melody that moves intensely and intricately up and down, and I feel it requires quite a high level of vocal ability and expressive control to sing well.
A precise sense of rhythm is also very important.
In addition to smooth and appropriate register transitions, the way you cut off notes and sustain them in each phrase is crucial.
I recommend writing out the lyrics, carefully marking where to cut notes and so on, and studying in advance before singing.
Feeling great!!miharu GT
This is the ninth single by miharu GT, a Japanese male-female music duo, released in March 2006.
Since it’s been used in commercials and as ending themes for TV programs, many of you may have heard it before.
True to its title, it’s a very light and pleasant track that lifts your mood just by listening! The vocalist hiroko’s voice is also wonderfully rich in high-order overtones and very captivating—many high-voiced female singers may aspire to a voice like this.
The vocal track seems to be sound-designed to have a slightly processed, mechanical feel, but when you sing it at karaoke, don’t worry too much about that—just have fun singing!
MisterYOASOBI
This is YOASOBI’s 14th digital-only single, released on February 16, 2022.
For high-voiced female singers performing this song at karaoke, the main highlight is without a doubt the high-pitched phrase that appears quite suddenly at the start of the chorus.
This is the key section when singing this track, so be careful not to let your voice crack.
Try to avoid tightening your throat and aim for a clear, resonant high tone!
things that have formShibasaki Kou
This is Kou Shibasaki’s sixth single—she’s also active as an actress—released in August 2004.
It was used as the theme song for the hugely popular TBS drama “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” so many of you have probably heard it.
It’s relatively easy to select for women with naturally high speaking voices, but the key to pulling it off lies in whether you can produce the soft, airy high tones that taper off at the very top—one of Shibasaki’s vocal hallmarks.
It’s a singing technique that can be quite difficult without formal vocal training, but it’s definitely worth the challenge.