A multiple language electronic keyboard system is disclosed for generating and modifying musical note information. The system includes a plurality of manually activated switches arranged in a matrix of rows and columns with the switches sufficiently close to allow a single finger of the user to activate a plurality of switches in a single stroke. A decoder detects and distinguishes between a first language and a second language of distinct switch activation patterns. Musical note information is generated by a processor which receives information from the decoder concerning the location of each activated switch and the language detected by the decoder. The versatility of this system is further enhanced by the addition of envelope and tone generators and also by visual display devices. In the preferred embodiment the keyboard is arranged to positionally and operationally emulate a guitar fret board.