[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 caution!] Very high songs that are hard to sing (141–150)
early summerAdo
Ado’s new song “Shoka” (Early Summer).
All of her works boast an extraordinarily high level of difficulty, and this one is no exception.
Rather than the high notes being simply extremely hard, the song demands that you master frequent shouts throughout while also handling falsetto, so it’s not enough to just hit high notes—you need comprehensive vocal ability.
It also calls for a significant degree of expressiveness.
Given all these factors, it’s no exaggeration to say that fewer than 1% of people could truly pull this song off.
WithIkuta Rira
A female singer who is also active as a member of the music duo YOASOBI, Lila Ikuta released this digital-only single in October 2023.
It was produced as an inspiration song for the film ‘Analog.’ It’s a very beautiful ballad, and within this lovely track, Lila Ikuta showcases stunning high notes, starting with her crystal-clear falsetto.
This is definitely one of the best choices for women who are good at singing high notes to select for karaoke.
Pay attention to switching among chest voice, mixed voice, and falsetto—using a variety of high-tone techniques as you sing.
SignIkuta Rira
Rira Ikuta’s new song “Sign.” While YOASOBI tends to have a catchy sound, her solo work features songs that demand high technical skill.
Among them, this piece is particularly difficult.
The whole song is challenging, but above all, the pitch movement is extremely intense.
In addition to the rapid rises and falls in pitch, you also need to produce solid falsetto, so the level of pitch control required is on par with Vocaloid.
Definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.
[High Notes Warning!] Difficult High-Pitched Songs to Sing (151–160)
On a night when cherry blossoms fallaimyon
A song by Aimyon released exclusively for streaming in February 2021, written and composed by herself.
At first listen, it doesn’t seem to demand particularly high notes, but in the latter half of the chorus she skillfully showcases high-register singing.
This section might be where women with higher voices can really shine.
However, in the original recording these high notes are sung in falsetto, so if you plan to follow that approach, please pay close attention to making smooth transitions between registers when you sing.
The strong and fleeting onesCocco
A signature song by Cocco released in 1997.
Since the verses outside the chorus are sung in a soft, relaxed way, you might think the pitch is low.
However, when you try singing it, the key isn’t as low as you’d expect—nor is it too high—so you can sing without tension.
The chorus also lets you bring out your higher notes comfortably without straining, making it a great pick even for people who aren’t used to karaoke.
Blues in the Closetzutto mayonaka de ii no ni.
Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.
is a band that has won overwhelming support from young people with their catchy musicality and lyrics.
They’ve been consistently churning out hit songs, but among them are tracks that are tough to sing.
One I especially recommend is “Blues in the Closet.” It doesn’t have any insanely high parts, but once the chorus hits, the high notes just keep going, so the strain on your throat is far greater than it sounds.
Give it a try.
primary colorsYOASOBI
A song by the Japanese music duo YOASOBI, released digitally on July 2, 2021.
It was used in NTT Docomo’s “ahamo” commercial.
It’s an upbeat, very catchy track, and choosing it for karaoke will surely liven up the room.
YOASOBI’s vocalist, ikura, has a voice with a lot of high-frequency brightness, and the composition makes abundant use of high tones, so this could be a great showcase for women who are good at singing high notes.
However, the original recording seems to use fairly strong pitch-correction effects on the vocals, so trying to imitate that exactly could end up sounding odd.
It might be better not to sing it in an overly imitative way.