[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!
- [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
- [Karaoke] Songs That Make It Easy to Score High | From Classics to the Newest Hits
[High Notes Warning!] Difficult High-Pitched Songs to Sing (101–110)
The world is falling in loveCHiCO with HoneyWorks
CHiCO with HoneyWorks is a unit consisting of a female singer and a creator team.
Their debut single, “The World Is Falling in Love,” used as the opening theme for the TV anime Blue Spring Ride (Ao Haru Ride), is a pleasant track featuring a clear, piano-focused sound.
The melody rapidly rises and falls with few places to breathe, and the chorus makes heavy use of falsetto, making it difficult to maintain accurate pitch—so even women who are confident with high notes shouldn’t let their guard down.
With its catchy melody and cute lyrics, it’s a pop tune that, if you can pull it off, will draw attention from both men and women.
affectionKoyanagi Yuki
When it comes to Yuki Koyanagi, I think many people think of this song.
It was released in 2000, and she was only 18 at the time.
Her voice is so passionate and powerful, it’s hard to believe she was just 18! It overflows with the earnest feeling of “I want to be with the person I love.” She sings the end of the chorus in a very high register.
How about singing this at karaoke and amazing everyone around you?
guidelinesUru
This is Uru’s fifth digital-only single, released in May 2023.
It was selected as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Kazama Kimichika: Kyōjō 0.” Built on a symphonic backing track, it’s a beautiful ballad that lets you fully savor Uru’s very gentle yet powerful high-toned vocals.
Reproducing Uru’s singing in this track at karaoke is quite challenging for most people; it takes more than just being good at high notes.
Still, if you’re confident in your singing, it’s definitely a song worth attempting! Listen closely to the original for reference, and aim for a performance that is both strong and soft, maintaining clean, controlled tone even in the high passages.
Love seekerJO1
JO1 is one of Japan’s leading boy groups.
They boast talent on par with K-pop acts and have achieved global success, especially across Asia.
Among their songs, the one I particularly recommend for its striking high notes is Love seeker.
True to the style of recent idol tracks, it features a wide range of vocal expressions within a single song—from rap parts to falsetto and mixed voice.
If you can handle it solo, you can safely say you have solid vocal ability.
fragileEvery Little Thing
Every Little Thing is a beloved national band cherished by people of all ages.
Their song “fragile,” which took the No.
1 spot on the 2001 Oricon annual karaoke chart, carries the meaning of being delicate or breakable.
It’s a ballad that expresses the fragility of the human heart—how small triggers can lead to misunderstandings or cause things to fall apart.
With its overall slow tempo and minimal pitch variation, it’s easy to sing without straining your voice, which is one reason for its popularity.
It’s recommended to sing it with emotion that matches the lyrics.
[High Notes Warning!] Very High Songs That Are Hard to Sing (111–120)
LuluAdo
Ado’s recently released hit song “Lulu” is a piece that portrays defiance against society, crafted with an intensely aggressive sound that matches its lyrics.
Packed with Ado’s unique appeal, the track is highly challenging to perform.
The chorus, in particular, embodies that difficulty: the latter part alternates rapidly between high head voice and chest voice, demanding exceptional control of the throat.
The song also makes natural use of shouts, so if you’re confident in your vocal abilities, be sure to check it out.
I was the only one who liked it.suisou gurashi
This is the third single from the project Suisougurashi by composer s-num, released in September 2021.
It’s a song with a very brisk tempo that’s simply fun to listen to.
The singer for Suisougurashi, Eye, has a beautifully clear high tone, and in this track she skillfully uses mixed voice and falsetto to deliver a gentle, soft high register that matches the song’s atmosphere perfectly.
Falsetto (head voice) is sometimes seen as a “cop-out” when you can’t hit the high notes, but being able to control falsetto this well actually takes a great deal of skill.
To all the high-voiced female singers reading this, definitely give this song a try!