[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!] High songs that are difficult to sing (221–230)
CharacterRyokushokushakai
A song by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, included on the album “Actor” released on January 26, 2022.
It was used as the CM song for Morinaga’s “in Jelly.” The track is crafted as an upbeat, energetic, and very refreshing number.
Contributing greatly to that sense of “freshness” is the voice of lead vocalist Haruko Nagaya.
Centered on a powerful, lively high tone, she skillfully switches to gentle falsetto in certain sections, delivering a truly wonderful vocal performance.
It’s a perfect song for women who are confident with high notes.
When singing it, try aiming your voice toward the upper palate at as quick a pace as possible—you’ll likely be able to recreate that sparkling tone she’s known for.
Give it a try!
Because the sun will rise againRyokushokushakai
This is Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s fifth single in total, released on April 20, 2022.
It was written as the theme song for Toho’s animated film Crayon Shin-chan: Mononoke Ninja Chinpūden.
It’s an upbeat, energetic, and fun track that really lets you enjoy vocalist Haruko Nagaya’s bright and lively singing.
I can confidently recommend it as a perfect karaoke pick for women who are strong in the high range! As a vocal coach and producer, I could write a lot about technique and things to watch out for when singing this song—but for this joyous tune, I won’t spoil the fun with nitpicking! Don’t worry about small mistakes; sing brightly and have fun!
Just a little moreYOASOBI
A digital-only single by YOASOBI released on May 10, 2021.
It was selected as the 2021 theme song for Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi TV.” I’m not sure if that tie-in led to the selection, but the track itself is crafted as a light, upbeat song that conveys the fresh feeling of a morning breeze.
What further accentuates the song’s “freshness” is Ikura’s vocals.
Her voice has a charming, girlish quality that’s truly wonderful.
The melody line doesn’t seem to include any extremely low parts, so it’s probably an ideal pick for higher-voiced women to sing at karaoke.
That said, since Vocaloid producer Ayase handled the production, the original audio applies what sounds like fairly strong pitch-correction effects, so despite being live vocals, many parts come across a bit Vocaloid-like.
Still, it’s best not to overthink that when singing—after all, that’s the one thing you can’t really replicate with live vocals!
my sweet darlin’Yaita Hitomi
Released in 2000 as Hitomi Yaida’s second single.
The song was used in a commercial for Nikon’s digital camera “COOLPIX 880,” became her first Top 10 hit, and propelled her name to nationwide recognition.
It’s an upbeat track with a memorable chorus that makes extensive use of falsetto.
Mirror feat. Kosuke Saitoieiri reo
It was released for streaming on October 8, 2025, and was written as the theme song for the NTV Wednesday drama “ESCAPE: It Was Supposed to Be a Kidnapping.” It’s a collaboration between Leo Ieiri and Kosuke Saito, the guitarist-vocalist of UNISON SQUARE GARDEN and TenTwenty.
Despite the very high vocal range, both of their voices soar in the same register, and the result is truly beautiful.
It’s wonderful as a solo, of course, but if possible you’ll want to sing it as a male-female duet! That said, finding a man who can sing this high is no easy task…
When you sing it, try to focus on using your breath and producing a strong tone.
If you aim to resonate in your head while you phonate, you’ll gradually get closer to the right sound.
Core strength matters, too!
Call meNovelbright
Although they are a rock band, Novelbright also enjoys idol-like popularity.
Among both men and women, many people in their teens to early twenties are likely fans.
Their new song “Call me” has a very refreshing melody.
While it’s pleasant to listen to, the difficulty level is quite high: in the repeated chorus sections, there’s a falsetto close to a mixed-voice quality.
For men with a typical vocal range, the hi D# is a pitch that easily flips, making it a high-tone phrase that’s tricky to control.
If you’re confident in your high notes, definitely give it a try.
[High Pitch Warning!] High songs that are hard to sing (231–240)
Silent JealousyX JAPAN
When people think of bands with lots of difficult songs, many probably imagine X JAPAN first.
TOSHI’s high-tone vocals are quite hard to replicate, and it’s no exaggeration to say most of their tracks are challenging.
Among X JAPAN’s songs, one I especially recommend is Silent Jealousy.
Its range is mid2B to hi C#, which isn’t particularly wide for X JAPAN, but most of the chorus sits between hi B and hi C#, making the chorus impressively high.
It’s a great practice piece for those looking to build endurance in their high-tone vocals.