An electronic stringed instrument is provided where the value of a pitch that has been currently detected and the value of a pitch that has been stored are compared. A determination is made as to whether or not the pitch has dropped roughly a half tone. In those cases where the currently detected pitch has dropped roughly a half tone from the pitch detected a specified period earlier, a tone generator begins the attenuation of a musical tone that is generated and the note height of the musical tone is controlled so that the note height does not change.