A musical tone control device capable of generating a hi-hat sound intended by the performer operates such that, when striking surface position information corresponds to a first position, instructions are provided to stop generating a musical tone with a first timbre (or that satisfies another predetermined condition), when the striking surface position has reached a predetermined second position higher than the first position after instructions are provided to generate the musical tone. Since, the performer's intention is reflected in the transition state of the striking surface position, a musical tone according to the performer's intention can be generated.