[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!] High-Pitched Songs That Are Hard to Sing (21–30)
Having someone you likeJY
JY is the stage name used by Jiyoung, a former member of the Korean girl group KARA, when she performed as a solo singer.
“Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto” is her second solo single, released in August 2016.
As is common with Korean idols in general, her singing—including vocal projection and diction—is much more stable compared to Japanese idols.
The fact that it sounds a bit like an anime song might be due to that steady, polished vocal delivery.
That said, the song’s range isn’t particularly wide, so I think it should be relatively easy to sing for women with a bright, slightly higher voice similar to JY’s own.
Try it while paying attention to singing each note carefully and precisely.
You…Nishino Kana
Kana Nishino’s second single, released in October 2011.
It’s crafted to let you fully enjoy Nishino’s voice, which contains many strong high overtones, and it’s an excellent choice for high-voiced female singers to perform at karaoke.
If you forcefully belt out the high notes, you risk ruining the song’s mood, so find a key you can sing without strain and aim to sing with as light a touch as possible.
God of RomanceHirose Kōmi
When it comes to Kohmi Hirose, she was the queen of TV commercials in the ’90s! Many people probably heard this song in the ads for a certain ski shop.
“Romance no Kamisama” is Hirose’s third single, released in 1993, and it became a million-selling hit.
Hirose’s vocals are indeed distinctive—her high tones leave a strong impression.
It might be relatively easy for women with higher voices to sing, but Hirose’s own singing is very solid, backed by her classical training.
So when you try it, aim for singing that doesn’t lose the core of your voice—not only in the high notes of the chorus, but also in the verses.
danceAdo
It was selected as the theme song for NHK’s music program “Yakou Ongaku VocaloP 5min.” I hear the show features a different Vocaloid producer each time and introduces how Vocaloid music is made.
Among those songs, many people probably think, “I want to sing that!” when it’s a track sung not by a synthesized voice but by Ado.
I like ‘Odo’ too and used to sing it a lot, but when I thought, “Let’s sing it again after a while!” and tried it at karaoke the other day, the melody had completely slipped my mind and I couldn’t sing it at all…
It really drove home how, if you don’t listen regularly, you forget such a complex melody.
I get the impression it has dramatic pitch jumps and lots of melodic figures.
Still, the belted parts in the chorus are truly cool, and it feels great to sing—highly recommended!
Headless Angeljoōbachi
Queen Bee’s masterpiece “Headless Angel.” When you think of Queen Bee, you probably picture those striking vocals that incorporate an unusually high falsetto, right? This song is exactly one of those, featuring many phrases where you need to beware of the soaring high notes.
Among them, the chorus stands out as overwhelmingly difficult.
After a B-melody grounded in the mid-to-low range, you have to shoot the pitch up suddenly and sing the chorus in a very high falsetto—and keeping the pitch under control here is incredibly tough! On top of that, the falsetto section is long, so strong endurance is also required.
Rain and CappuccinoYorushika
A track from Yorushika’s second full album, “Elma,” by the male–female rock duo.
The band’s songs are composed by n-buna, known as a Vocaloid producer, and in this piece you can occasionally catch glimpses of a “Vocaloid-style” melodic development that differs a bit from typical vocal-driven pop songs, which makes it especially intriguing.
Even though it has those Vocaloid-like turns, the vocalist suis doesn’t have an “anime voice,” so it should be approachable for women with slightly higher voices.
One thing to watch out for is the presence of a few “leaps” typical of Vocaloid tracks.
If you can shift between falsetto and chest voice in a way that connects naturally, it’ll come out nicely.
Filmyama
Yama, a female singer-songwriter who’s gained popularity for her stylish musicality.
Her new track “Film” features a sound that blends R&B with 2-step and house, reminiscent of m-flo in the 2000s.
The vocal line centers on the higher register, and the chorus sustains an extended falsetto using a whispery tone.
While pitch control isn’t particularly difficult, the R&B style calls for techniques like falls and ad-libs, and the prolonged high phrases demand strong endurance.