[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-Pitched Songs That Are Hard to Sing (81–90)
MHamasaki Ayumi
A song released in 2000 by Ayumi Hamasaki, one of the pop divas of the Heisei era.
Speaking of Ayu, she’s known for her distinctive tone and high vocals! Her songs are generally quite challenging for people with lower voices, but they’re perfect for those with a high range to really show their power.
The range between the chorus and the other sections is wide, but even the A verse and so on don’t go that low, so it’s a comfortable key for singers with higher voices.
Keep it relatively restrained until the chorus, then let it explode all at once!
A bouquet of flowers with loveSuperfly
This was Superfly’s fourth single, released in February 2008.
It was also the theme song for the TBS drama “Edison no Haha” (Edison’s Mother).
Now, Shiho Ochi, who serves as the vocalist for Superfly, is well known for her singing ability, and her dynamic voice and performance are fully on display in this track as well! It’s a song where you can thoroughly enjoy her powerful, expressive vocals that feel anything but typical for Japanese pop.
Choosing this for karaoke and delivering the same impactful high tones as the original might be a special privilege for women who excel at high notes! Just be careful not to force it and strain your throat—overexertion can damage your precious voice.
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!
fall from favor; leaving the capital in disgrace (metaphor for a decline in status or being sidelined)Yorushika
A song by Yorushika released in April 2023.
Regarding the mixed voice in this track, it’s used very effectively, especially in the brief moments where the pitch suddenly rises—most notably around the A-melody parts—to express a gently airy high tone.
This is not a head voice that relies on nasal resonance like typical falsetto; instead, try practicing by aiming the voice broadly toward the entire upper palate.
Since the sections using mixed voice are very short, I think this song is also useful for practicing smooth transitions between vocal registers.
Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO
All of SHISHAMO’s songs are cute and poppy, and singing them puts you in a fun mood! This track in particular is a beloved classic among both men and women, so if you can sing it, your karaoke session is sure to be a blast.
It really lifts the vibe, so you’ll definitely want to add it to your repertoire.
DearMrs. GREEN APPLE
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE is a band overwhelmingly supported by teens.
Because they consistently rank high on the charts, just about everyone has heard their songs.
Among their tracks, the one I especially recommend for its striking high notes is Dear.
True to the band’s style, falsetto appears frequently.
While the chorus falsetto seems challenging, the most difficult part is the bridge (C section).
The vocal line climbs upward, shifting from chest voice to falsetto, making it highly demanding.
[High notes warning!] Very high-pitched songs that are hard to sing (91–100)
Ghost of the SeaYonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu’s masterpiece “Umi no Yuurei,” released in June 2019, stands out among his songs for its distinctly Japanese flavor and ethereal melody.
The A and B sections are relatively calm, and the moment the chorus hits, the pitch movement suddenly becomes dramatic—making the song deceptively challenging even in its simplicity.
While the track calls for mixed voice, falsetto also appears very frequently, so rather than strictly matching the original, it’s better to switch between falsetto and mixed voice within your own comfortable range.