[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!] Very High-Pitched Songs That Are Hard to Sing (211–220)
Sunshine Girlmoumoon
This is a song by the male-female duo moumoon, featured as the commercial song for Shiseido’s “ANESSA” starring Yu Aoi.
The vocalist YUKA’s soft, soothing voice is captivating! With a key that’s neither too high nor too low and a gentle melody, anyone can sing it comfortably and relax.
The English hook in the chorus might be a bit challenging, but once you can sing it, the rhythm is so catchy you’ll find yourself humming it over and over—so give it a try!
Sad Girl Sex feat. Hatsune MikuDECO*27
DECO*27 is one of Japan’s leading Vocaloid producers.
In addition to his catchy musicality, his wide-ranging style that can handle any genre has earned strong support from many Vocaloid fans.
Among his tracks, the one I especially recommend is Sad Girl Sex feat.
Hatsune Miku.
The title is quite adult, and the vocal line is similarly mature.
While it doesn’t have flashy technical hurdles, the pitch jumps are intense and falsetto appears frequently, making it a sufficiently challenging song.
Answerieiri reo
A single by Leo Ieiri, released in May 2020.
It was originally scheduled for release in April, but seems to have been pushed to May due to the coronavirus situation.
That aside, the song showcases piercing high notes right from the start, and I imagine any woman confident in her high register would think, “I definitely want to sing this!” Moreover, that powerful, soaring high-tone voice is exhilarating to listen to all on its own.
[High Pitch Warning!] High songs that are difficult to sing (221–230)
Melody8LOOM
It’s the third single by 8LOOM, the in-show boy group from the TV drama “Kimi no Hana ni Naru,” and it was released to the public in November 2022 as a digital-only single.
As a song, it’s a classic pop track that really suits youthful-sounding vocals, and the vocal melody is very easy to sing.
I think it’s an excellent karaoke recommendation for men with higher voices.
It might be even more fun if you try imitating the slightly Vocaloid-style processed part at the beginning of the track when you sing it.
dandelionIkuta Rira
This is Rira Ikuta’s eighth digital-only single, released in January 2023.
It was selected as the theme song for the NHK drama “Ōoku.” Rira Ikuta is also active as Ikura, the singer of YOASOBI, a duo with Vocaloid producer Ayase.
With YOASOBI, her slightly inorganic vocal style, crafted with a Vocaloid-like sound design, is striking; however, in her solo work, she delivers a completely opposite, highly organic and expressively rich vocal tone.
Supporting that masterful vocal expression is the gentle falsetto used for high notes, which you can hear in this track as well.
When singing the higher sections that use falsetto, try to produce your voice as softly as possible.
A world where the sun does not riseAimer
This song, which is also the theme for “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: Chapter 1 Akaza’s Return,” spans roughly E3 to E5 and is quite advanced to sing on a first try.
When I first heard it, Aimer’s English-like diction made me think, “Is this a Western song?” but it’s firmly in Japanese (lol).
The A section is sung phrase by phrase in the lower register, but from around the B section it gradually becomes more emotional.
There are plenty of high notes, but rather than belting them in chest voice, using a strong head voice brings out both the poignancy and the power, matching the song’s mood.
From low to high notes, try singing with your eyebrows slightly raised to help stabilize pitch!
laser beamPerfume
This is a song used in the commercial for Kirin Chuhai Hyoketsu.
Perfume’s songs are easy to sing for people with higher voices.
Plus, even if you’re not confident in your singing ability, you can enjoy singing them.
It’s a song many people know, so it’s sure to liven up the atmosphere.