In order to understand the microwaviness (MW)-excited vibration of a thermal-flying-height control (TFC) head slider in the near-contact recording regime of hard disk drive (HDD) storage, the adhesion contact characteristics of a TFC head slider were investigated using various asperity adhesion contact models. The spacing variation of a single-degree-of (DOF) slider model with a second- pitch (P2) mode frequency was numerically simulated. It was found that if the total force acting on the slider has a negative stiffness region, the P2 mode frequency of 250 kHz shifts to a lower frequency of 〜100 kHz, and many frequency components are generated in a wide frequency range below 100 kHz. These frequencies could excite other modes of the slider-suspension system. The analytical results will help us understand MW-excited slider vibrations and spacing variations, which is critical in order to achieve the spacing of less than 1 nm that is necessary for high-density magnetic recording.