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

-ness; typicality; the quality/essence of being [X] (as in “X-ness” or “X-like character”)Official HIGE DANDism

Rashisa

This song, chosen as the theme for the animated feature film “100m.

,” is a quintessentially Higedan-style tough piece.

The rhythm is relatively steady, but there are lots of words, making breathing difficult, and the range is extremely wide.

In the C section and the chorus, many listeners will probably think, “It goes up here?” Once you start singing, there’s almost no break—the melody just keeps coming one after another—so you’ll need to be really prepared (lol).

First, make sure you thoroughly memorize the lyrics and melody! The A section seems manageable to sing gently, but from the B section on, it gets hard unless you plan your breathing spots.

Instead of singing everything at 100%, aim to release your voice little by little and then let it all out on the high notes—that balance works well! Don’t miss any fleeting moments where you can catch a breath.

Also, when dropping from high notes to low notes, pitch tends to fall and you might strain your throat, so try singing with your eyebrows kept raised!

Trace that dreamYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Tracing That Dream” Official Music Video

YOASOBI’s second digital-only single, released on January 18, 2020.

Written and composed based on Sota Ishiki’s novel “Yume no Shizuku to Hoshi no Hana,” posted on the novel-sharing site monogatary.

com.

The track was selected as the Monthly Song for the weather segment on Fuji TV’s “Tokudane!” in June 2020, and as the CM song for Daihatsu’s Taft commercial, “Kitto Ii Kaze” version.

YOASOBI’s vocalist ikura is a singer known for her charming voice—bright, cute, and rich in beautiful higher overtones.

That vocal quality is fully showcased in this song as well, where she delivers a powerful, cutting high tone throughout the upbeat, energetic track.

It’s a must-sing number for women confident in their high notes.

However, if your high register sounds weak, it can spoil the song’s lively feel, so make sure to sing with solid support and core in your voice.

Avoid throat-constricting techniques that strain the vocal cords—those can lead to injury, so they’re strictly off-limits!

Crackers on the back of my mindI wish it could stay midnight forever.

ZUTOMAYO “Cracker on the Brain” MV

Judging by the unit’s name alone, Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni is a very distinctive female vocal unit.

This is their second digital single, released in October 2018.

The vocalist ACA-ne (Akane) appears to possess highly advanced vocal technique, skillfully switching throughout the song between various tones—from powerful high notes using head voice to gentle highs using falsetto.

This variation is used very effectively, making the track an excellent reference and practice piece for singing high notes.

While it’s quite challenging to master, I’d strongly recommend it to anyone aiming to become a high-tone singer.

a hair's breadthUru

[Official] Uru “KAMI HITOE (A Fine Line)” TV Anime “Hell’s Paradise” Ending Theme

Uru’s digital-only single, released in April 2023.

It serves as the ending theme for the anime “Hell’s Paradise.” It’s a very beautiful ballad, and I think the key to singing this song lies in how well you can recreate the contrast between the whisper-like vocals in the quieter sections—such as the opening with minimal backing arrangement—and the expressive delivery in the rhythm-driven parts like the chorus.

The high notes in the chorus will be a showcase for singers who are strong in the upper register, but try taking on the challenge with power while being careful not to let the singing or your tone become rough.

LOVE NEVER DIESMISIA

MISIA – LOVE NEVER DIES (Official Music Video)

Released in May 2025, this track features a cool, signature MISIA sound.

It’s a song I personally want to learn, too! With a brass band backing, it really pumps you up and makes your body move on its own! Everyone admires MISIA’s vocal ability, but the key point isn’t just that she belts powerfully—it’s that she resonates her whole body like an instrument when she sings.

This point is important for any vocal technique, but MISIA is famous for her incredibly wide range, right? Being able to do that connects directly to this resonance and breath control!

ULTRA C ft. Rin & LenGiga & TeddyLoid

Giga & TeddyLoid – ULTRA C ft. Rin & Len [MV]

The track “ULTRA C ft.

Rin/Len,” by Giga—known as a former member of REOL—and TeddyLoid, who commands massive support from the Vocaloid scene with his high-sense musicality.

It’s a work bursting with that signature TeddyLoid flair, once again delivering a level of musical sophistication rarely seen in past Vocaloid tracks.

As a result, the vocal demands are also high, featuring a very challenging vocal line that weaves together soaring highs and deep lows reminiscent of K-pop.

Vocaloid is difficult to begin with, but this piece ranks among the most demanding—so definitely give it a try.

Keep on MovingNEXZ

NEXZ “Keep on Moving” M/V

NEXZ is a boy group formed by JYP and Sony Music.

While all the members grew up in Japan, their performances rival the best of K-pop.

Among their songs, the one I especially recommend as a challenging piece to sing is Keep on Moving.

Recent boy group tracks tend to be difficult across the board, but this one is particularly tough because it features many high notes.

Considering the low tones in the rap parts as well, it spans a fairly wide vocal range.

If you’re confident in your vocal range, definitely give it a try.