An electronic stringed instrument includes strings (15₁ to 15₆), a plurality of metal frets (13₁ to 13₆), an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (16₁ to 16₆) and a fret discriminator (22). The strings are kept taut above an instrument body (11). The frets (13 i ) are arranged below the strings (15 i ) along their extension direction. When a player depresses a given string (15 i ) to be picked, at least one of the metal frets (13 i ) is brought into contact with the given string. The transmitter/receiver (16 i ) is coupled to specified positions of the strings (15 i ) and causes ultrasonic vibrations of the strings and receives an echo vibration generated as a reflection of the ultrasonic vibration at a fret contacting the given string. The fret discriminator (22) discriminates the fret contacting the string among the metal frets (13 i ) according to the time difference between the generation of the ultrasonic vibration and the receipt of the echo vibration by the transmitter/receiver (16 i ).