A tone data search apparatus comprising: a storage section which stores therein a plurality of tone data sets each representative of a tone waveform and stores therein a plurality of character data sets in association with individual ones of the tone data sets, each of the character data sets representing content of the tone waveform, represented by a corresponding one of the tone data sets, in character quanta; a display control section which causes a display section to display an image indicative of, as selection candidates, some of the plurality of tone data sets stored in said storage section; a selection section for a user to select at least one of the tone data sets displayed on the display section as the selection candidates; an identification section which searches for and identifies, from said storage section, a plurality of the character data sets similar to the character data set corresponding to the at least one of the tone data sets selected by the user via said selection section; and a tone generation control section (113, 15) which causes audible generation of a tone represented by the tone data set selected by said selection section, wherein said display control section causes the display section to further display an image presenting, as selection candidates, a plurality of the tone data sets associated with the plurality of character data sets identified by said identification section, to thereby permit narrowed selection by the user via said selection section, characterized in that when identifying the plurality of character data sets, said identification section excludes the character data set corresponding to a tone data set for which a tone has already been audibly generated via said tone generation control section (113, 15). a storage section which stores therein a plurality of tone data sets each representative of a tone waveform and stores therein a plurality of character data sets in association with individual ones of the tone data sets, each of the character data sets representing content of the tone waveform, represented by a corresponding one of the tone data sets, in character quanta; a display control section which causes a display section to display an image indicative of, as selection candidates, some of the plurality of tone data sets stored in said storage section; a selection section for a user to select at least one of the tone data sets displayed on the display section as the selection candidates; an identification section which searches for and identifies, from said storage section, a plurality of the character data sets similar to the character data set corresponding to the at least one of the tone data sets selected by the user via said selection section; and a tone generation control section (113, 15) which causes audible generation of a tone represented by the tone data set selected by said selection section, wherein said display control section causes the display section to further display an image presenting, as selection candidates, a plurality of the tone data sets associated with the plurality of character data sets identified by said identification section, to thereby permit narrowed selection by the user via said selection section, characterized in that when identifying the plurality of character data sets, said identification section excludes the character data set corresponding to a tone data set for which a tone has already been audibly generated via said tone generation control section (113, 15).