[High-pitched warning!] Songs with high notes that are hard to sing

Heralding springNEW!yama

yama – Harbinger of Spring (Official Video)

This song, Haru wo Tsugeru, is what suddenly brought yama into the spotlight.

Some of you might recognize the opening phrase.

That said, when you actually try singing it, it’s famous for being difficult because of the drastic ups and downs in pitch.

The rhythm is crucial and the tempo is on the faster side, so it’s best to learn it slowly, piece by piece, at first.

YouTube lets you change the playback speed, so I highly recommend using that! When you sing, try not to push on the high notes; if you stay relaxed, you’ll be able to make good use of your falsetto.

It might help to practice singing lightly, with a bouncy feel.

As you get a feel for the melody line, you’ll naturally figure out where to add accents and where to cut the sound.

Once you’re comfortable, try using a bit more breath; that should help you switch smoothly between chest voice and falsetto.

ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids)LiSA

LiSA『ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids)』MUSiC CLiP

The song “ReawakeR (feat.

Felix of Stray Kids)” is a collaboration between Stray Kids—an idol group popular among women across a wide range of ages—and LiSA, known as a leading figure among anison singers.

This piece is challenging in every respect: rap, sustained long notes, and falsetto.

The falsetto that appears during the sustained notes in the chorus is particularly difficult, requiring you to manage falsetto while maintaining strong volume.

If you’re confident in a powerful singing style, be sure to check it out.

unravelNEW!TK from Ling tosite sigure

TK from Ling tosite sigure “unravel” Music Video (Full Size)

Among TK from Ling tosite sigure’s songs, the masterpiece “unravel” is renowned for its exceptional difficulty.

Known as the theme song for the popular anime Tokyo Ghoul, many people may have discovered it through Ado’s cover as well.

The most challenging aspects of this song are, above all, its vocal range and expressive breadth.

The range spans an extraordinarily wide mid2 A# to hihi A#, with repeated hi G notes in the chorus.

On top of that, it demands a wide variety of vocal techniques, including scream-like phrases and trembling lines that make use of whisper voice.

Its level of difficulty is among the highest even within Japanese rock.

BOW AND ARROWKenshi Yonezu

Kenshi Yonezu – BOW AND ARROW

Kenshi Yonezu’s new song “BOW AND ARROW.” Rather than the catchy pop tunes he’s known for, this piece leans more toward an artcore vibe.

As a result, the overall tempo is fast, and some phrases demand abrupt pitch jumps.

The chorus, in particular, requires repeatedly switching between falsetto and chest voice, making it quite challenging—be sure to stay mindful of precise pitch control as you sing.

Definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.

Super Protagonist feat. Hatsune MikuPinocchioP

PinocchioP – Super Superhero feat. Hatsune Miku / Super Superhero

Currently popular in the Vocaloid community as a seemingly eccentric yet deeply meaningful masterpiece, “Super Protagonist feat.

Hatsune Miku” is a new song by the well-known Vocaloid producer PinocchioP, featuring an ostentatious, flashy melody.

While the vocal line contains no long sustained notes, it involves drastic pitch changes and stays in a consistently high range, making it highly challenging.

Rather than being difficult for hitting high notes per se, it’s the continuous production of high notes that poses the real challenge.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

IdentityMISAMO

MISAMO “Identity” M/V

MISAMO is a unit composed of the Japanese members of the globally popular K-pop idol group TWICE.

They’re known for showcasing a cool style you don’t usually see in the main group, and they keep delivering hit numbers every time.

Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is Identity.

It has a somewhat calm feel, but the part right before the chorus features a fairly high falsetto, so I think vocal control, including managing volume, is quite challenging.

If you’re confident in hitting high notes while keeping your volume restrained, definitely give it a try.

Call meNEW!Novelbright

Novelbright – Call me [Official Music Video]

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.