3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: (c) reading back performance data in response to manipulation of a performance start operator independently from manipulation of the phrase select operator and generating a back performance musical tone signal.
1. A method of generating a musical tone signal, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting one of a plurality of phrases in response to a combination of simultaneous manipulations of phrase select operators by a user; and (b) reading performance data of the selected phrase from performance data pre-stored by phrase and generating musical tone signals of the read performance data in response to said manipulations.