[2025] Recommended for those who struggle with high notes! Enka by male singers that can be sung in a low register

Rose music boxKiyoshi Maekawa

Rose music box

One of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s signature solo songs, also performed at the 1997 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, is “Bara no Orugōru” (The Rose Music Box).

With its moody guitar phrases, an instantly catchy chorus, and Maekawa’s irresistibly masculine delivery that poignantly conveys a woman’s heartache, it’s the kind of classic that makes you want to sing it at karaoke.

The production straddles enka and mood kayō, and the overall melody line is easy to sing, so even beginners who struggle with straight enka should find it approachable.

That said, clearly projecting the low notes and adding vibrato like Maekawa does is surprisingly difficult, making this a great practice piece for those who aren’t confident with their lower register.

Chome-chomeHoriemon

Horiemon “Chome Chome” - Music Video -

This is a song by Takafumi Horie—aka Horiemon—whose unexpected debut as an enka singer made waves.

It was released in January 2025.

One of its charms is the catchy chorus that makes you want to sing along.

The lyrics pack a punch with a message like, “After working up a sweat, let’s cut loose and have a drink!” Coupled with its bright, festive sound, it’s the kind of track that leaves you feeling refreshed.

It’s a perfect number for resetting your mood!

The Blue Bird of HappinessJoji Yamamoto

Joji Yamamoto “Blue Bird of Happiness” Music Video (full ver.)

Many people might feel it sounds vaguely familiar, since it was performed at the 52nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in 2001.

Bluebird of Happiness is a single released that same year by Joji Yamamoto, with lyrics by Takashi Taka—who also teamed up on Miyuki Kawanaka’s smash hit Futari-zake—and composition by Tetsuya Gen.

It’s a masterpiece.

When Yamamoto, known as a devoted husband, sings lyrics filled with pure, unadulterated love, it carries a different kind of conviction.

It’s a bright, major-key enka number with an easy-to-remember melody, so anyone reasonably familiar with enka should be able to sing it without trouble.

I’d love for you to sing it to your partner the next time you go to karaoke together as a couple.

Michinoku’s Forgotten SnowJoji Yamamoto

Joji Yamamoto “Michinoku Wasureyuki” Music Video

The word “Michinoku” instantly grabs your attention, inevitably calling to mind Jōji Yamamoto’s huge hit “Michinoku Hitoritabi.” His “Michinoku Wasurayuki,” released as a single in 2023, also drew buzz among fans because it was composed by Tetsuya Gen, marking their first collaboration since Yamamoto’s 2017 song “Futari de Yokatta.” A guitar contest was even held as part of the “Jōji Yamamoto Metal-ization Project,” which helped raise the song’s profile among listeners who don’t usually listen to enka.

The song powerfully conveys the selfishness and melancholy of a man who leaves the woman he loves without a word—something that makes you want to try it at karaoke, emulating Yamamoto’s commanding delivery.

That said, the techniques like kobushi and vibrato, and especially the low notes, can be a hurdle for those who struggle with lower registers.

Try adjusting the key and practicing with a focus on producing that Yamamoto-style strong low tone.

A toast to the nameless flowerJoji Yamamoto

[MV] Joji Yamamoto / Cheers to the Nameless Flower (full ver.)

This is a superb masterpiece whose melody, crafted by the renowned composer Tetsuya Gen—who has provided many songs for Joji Yamamoto since the 2000s—radiates a universal appeal! Released as a single in 2005, it also features excellent lyrics by Rei Shirooka, who brilliantly depicts the image of a clumsy man.

Although the song is in a major key, it somehow carries a hint of wistfulness and melancholy, and Yamamoto’s performance—fully embodying the protagonist and delivering it flawlessly—is nothing short of remarkable.

While the fundamental techniques of enka appear throughout, it isn’t overly idiosyncratic; the vocal range is average and the overall key is low, making it perhaps an ideal practice song for beginners to enka.

Producing low notes like Yamamoto’s is surprisingly more difficult than the higher parts, so be sure to focus on vocalization that keeps the lyrics clearly intelligible!

In the distant Showa era...Akira Kobayashi

[MV] Akira Kobayashi / Distant Showa...

When it comes to Akira Kobayashi, his expansive high notes are striking, aren’t they? Of course, that’s part of his appeal, but his charm isn’t limited to the high register.

In “Tōki Shōwa no…,” you can fully savor the depth of his low tones.

As it’s a later-career work, his high notes were starting to fade, but that makes the low range all the more pronounced.

Simply removing long sustained high notes lowers the difficulty considerably, and on top of that, this piece has relatively little contour in the vocal line, making it an easy song to sing from multiple angles.

To my daughter...Ikuzo Yoshi

To my daughter...

The classic “To My Daughter,” which portrays a father thinking of his daughter as she departs for her new home.

Told from the perspective of the father seeing her off, the song features a melody that carries a subdued, rugged charm amid a wistful atmosphere.

Vocally, it relies heavily on repetition, with most of the piece built around similar vocal lines.

There are no difficult vocal ornaments; the phrases proceed plainly and similarly throughout, making it very easy once you get used to it.

The range is also very narrow, so for those with lower voices, it’s about as singable as it gets.