An automated string playing system for a stringed instrument is provided. The instrument has a body, a neck having a fretboard, and a string. The system includes a fretting subsystem having first and second frame members, a drive belt, a drive belt motor, a drive belt pulley, a longitudinal guide rail, and a fretting assembly. The fretting assembly has a carriage member and a cam assembly. The carriage member is slidably coupled to the longitudinal guide rail and the drive belt. The drive belt motor moves the drive belt and the cam assembly to desired positions along the fretboard. The cam assembly has a cam that rotates such that a pad contacts the string to fret the string. The system includes a picking subsystem having a picking solenoid that moves a pick across the string of the stringed instrument to obtain a musical sound.