[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 Pitch Warning!] High songs that are hard to sing (231–240)
CITRUSDa-iCE
Da-iCE’s “CITRUS” shot to fame as a high-tone song! I bet many of you, regardless of gender, have tried singing it.
The overall range of the song is F3–D5, which makes it a more comfortable key for women.
Da-iCE singing in such a high register is something many men look up to! The verses (A and B sections) sit in a relatively calm range, but the tricky part is how the chorus suddenly jumps up into the high notes.
When you’re hitting tones this high, if you can’t switch cleanly into head voice, you’ll strain your throat.
Keep the resonance focused in your head at all times—doing so naturally lifts your facial muscles, so don’t forget to stay mindful of that! You’ll also need explosive power, so project your voice as if you’re aiming far into the distance.
The final chorus modulates and goes even higher, so it’s okay to sing out more than you think you need!
QUEENLiSA
LiSA, a female singer leading today’s anisong scene, continues to release songs consistently, and her vocals that evoke a rich sense of world-building are striking.
Her new track is “QUEEN.” Compared to her previous works, this piece leans even more heavily into rock.
Accordingly, the vocal lines are arranged closer to hard rock, making it quite demanding.
It’s a difficulty that can’t be masked with superficial tricks, so if you’re confident in your fundamental vocal skills—long tones, vibrato, volume, and overtones—definitely give it a try.
BAD modeUtada Hikaru
This is the title track of Hikaru Utada’s album, released digitally in January 2022, about three years after her previous work.
Utada has been known for her exceptional talent since her debut, and her expressive vocal artistry shines in this song as well.
You can enjoy her voice, which has become even more refined and mature.
The song’s tempo and rhythm are very light and upbeat, so when you sing it at karaoke, be careful not to push too hard—aim for a light, resonant tone.
You’ll definitely catch people’s attention.
A good tip for achieving a beautiful sound is to place the voice as if it’s hitting the upper palate.
Give it a try!
Catarsis of a Nation’s DemiseALI PROJECT
This song by ALI PROJECT (Ari Project), hereafter AliPro, was released on May 24, 2006 as the unit’s 16th single.
It was produced as the ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime .hack//Roots.
Vocalist Arika Takarano is highly acclaimed for her singing ability, and that strength is fully showcased in this track, where she masterfully delivers an extremely complex melody and lyrics.
Many AliPro songs feature distinct, intricate melodies, so I’d love to see confident female singers take on the challenge.
However, to truly reproduce Takarano’s vocal performance, it may not be enough to simply be good at high notes—you’ll likely need a solid foundation in vocal technique as well.
DearREOL
Reol, whose sharp musical style has garnered support from a wide audience.
Since starting her solo career, she has been challenging herself with a harder musical direction and has produced numerous technically demanding tracks.
Her song “Dear” is no exception and is a high-difficulty piece.
The particularly tough part is the falsetto section right before the chorus.
It needs to be sung softly, yet it involves fairly long sustained notes.
Because of that, unlike her crisp, punchy style, it requires delicate vocal control.
Paradisenonoc
This is the seventh single by Japanese singer nonoc, released in August 2023.
It was used as the opening theme for the second season of the TV anime Spy Classroom.
The up-tempo backing track, the sharply rising and falling vocal melody, and the arrangement that unfolds in a very dynamic and dramatic way all come together to make it a very cool song, in my opinion.
It’s a piece with plenty of challenges for the average singer, but if you’re good at high notes, you’ve already cleared one of those hurdles! I definitely encourage you to give it a try.
ClickME:I
An 11-member girl group, ME:!.
Formed through the audition program PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS, the idol group is especially popular among teens and people in their 20s.
Among their songs, the one I especially recommend for its striking high notes is Click.
Rather than featuring extremely high peaks, this track frequently uses falsetto throughout.
If you want to develop a lower-range falsetto, definitely try using this song as your practice piece.