[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 (251–260)
wanna Be A Dreammakerglobe
Released in 1998 as globe’s 13th single.
The song was used in the NISSEKI “Ena Card” campaign commercial, and its music video was created around the theme of “a nightmare KEIKO had.” It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, and at the 40th Japan Record Awards, globe won their first Grand Prize with this song.
[High-Pitch Warning!] Very High Songs That Are Hard to Sing (261–270)
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.
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.
KusushikiMrs. GREEN APPLE
When it comes to Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s vocalist Motoki Omori, he’s renowned for his exceptional singing ability.
Given how the band keeps releasing massive hits, it’s only natural their songs are hugely popular at karaoke—but many people have probably felt despair after trying to sing them and realizing they can’t sound like Omori at all.
The song Kusushiki, released in April 2025, is no exception: it’s fair to say it’s extremely difficult to sing the melody perfectly, as it navigates a wide vocal range with ease and seamlessly connects rhythmic sections with soaring, sustained lines.
Another hallmark of Omori’s singing is the delicate vibrato he applies to both low notes and falsetto, and since this song’s rhythm is also quite challenging, it’s a perfect pick for today’s theme.
PLAYERSYOASOBI
This song was created to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, with a theme centered around gaming.
Listening to it, you can really feel that distinctive YOASOBI style.
The chorus sits around E5, so the range is quite high, but there are constant call-and-response shouts in the backing vocals, which makes it nice because you can catch your breath while singing! That chorus is super cute and makes you want to dance, so it seems like it would hype up a live show too! When you sing it, enunciate clearly so the phrases don’t blur together—doing so will make it easier to hear and easier to sing.
Pay attention to your diction!
ifNishino Kana
“If” has a melody that conveys a poignant feeling right from the intro—it’s such a beautiful song.
It’s the piece my student practiced the most, and it holds special memories because they said, “I want to sing with a beautiful voice like Kana-yan’s!” and overcame their struggle with falsetto.
The highest note in this song is D#5, which is of course high, but I think the improvised falsetto lines at the beginning and end can be tough if you’re not used to them, since they’re sung with various articulations.
Those ad-lib sections sound so beautiful, so it’s worth nailing them.
With themes like “fateful encounters” and “hopes for the future,” I’d love for you to sing it to someone important to you.
Miracle Dreamlandshiki
A hidden gem known to those in the know: a track from Kyoto songstress (perhaps?) Shiki’s second album, “Miracle,” released in 2010.
A Berklee College of Music alum who also performed as a musical actress Off-Broadway, she masterfully shifts from powerful, soulful high notes to a gentle, embracing falsetto—delivering a richly colorful vocal performance.
The climactic shout at the end of the chorus in this song is simply stunning! If you’re good with high notes, definitely give it a try!
